THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH

 

Jeremiah Chapter 8

1 ¶ At that time, says the LORD, they will take the bones of the kings of Judah, the bones of its officials, the bones of the priests, the bones of the prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, out of their graves:

2 And they will spread them out before the sun, the moon, and all the stars in the heavens, which they have loved and served, which they have sought and looked to for help, and whom they have worshipped: these bones will not be gathered up or buried; they will lie on the ground like manure.

3 And all who remain of this evil family will prefer death to life, in all the places where I have driven them, says the LORD of hosts.

4 ¶ Moreover you will say to them, The LORD says; Do men fall, and not get up? does one leave, and not come back?

5 Why then are these people of Jerusalem continually sliding backward? they cling to deception, and refuse to return.

6 I paid attention and listened, but they do not say the right thing: no one is sorry for his sin, saying, What have I done? They all go their own way, like horses charging into battle.

7 Even the stork in the sky knows her seasons; the turtledove, crane and swallow know when to migrate; but my people do not know the will of the LORD.

8 How can you say, We are wise, and the law of the LORD is with us? Look, the lying commentary of the scribes has made it into a lie.

9 The wise men will be put to shame, they will be confused and captured: for, they have rejected the word of the LORD; so what wisdom is in them?

10 Therefore I will give their wives to others, and their fields to those who will inherit them: for every one from the greatest to the least is given to covetousness, from the prophet to the priest every one deals dishonestly.

11 For they have treated the wound of my people superficially, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.

12 Were they ashamed when they did wicked things? no, they were not at all ashamed, nor could they blush: therefore they will fall among those who fall: at the time of their punishment they will be brought down, says the LORD.

13 ¶ I will surely consume them, says the LORD: there will not be any grapes on the vine, or figs on the fig tree, and the leaf will wither; and the things that I have given them will be lost to them.

14 Why are we sitting still? gather together, and let us go into the fortified cities, and let us die there: for the LORD our God has decreed our ruin, and given us bitter and deadly water to drink, because we have sinned against the LORD.

15 We hoped for peace, but no good came; and for a time of healing, but there is only trouble!

16 The snorting of the enemy’s horses can be heard from Dan: the entire country trembles at the sound of his neighing stallions; for they have come, and devour the land, and all that is in it; the city, and those who live in it.

17 For, behold, I am about to send serpents, poisonous vipers, among you, that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you, says the LORD.

18 How can I be cheered up in my sorrow, my heart is sick within me.

19 Listen to the sound of the daughter of my people, crying because of those who live in a distant land: Is not the LORD in Zion? is not her king in her? Why have they provoked me to anger with their graven images, and foreign idols?

20 The harvest is over, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.

21 I am crushed because of the wound to the daughter of my people; I mourn; and horror has taken hold of me.

22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no doctor there? why doesn’t the wound of the daughter of my people heal?