Judah’s Sin and Punishment

1At that time, sayeth the Lorde, they shal bring out the bones of the Kings of Iudah, and the bones of their princes, & the bones of the Priests and the bones of the Prophets, and the bones of the inhabitants of Ierusalem out of their graues. 2And they shal spread them before the sunne and the moone, and all the host of heauen, whom they haue loued, and whome they haue serued, and whome they haue followed, and whome they haue sought, and whome they haue worshipped: they shall not be gathered nor be buried, but shall be as doung vpon the earth. 3And death shall bee desired rather then life of all the residue that remaineth of this wicked familie, which remaine in all the places where I haue scattered them, sayeth the Lorde of hostes.

4Thou shalt say vnto them also, Thus sayeth the Lorde, Shall they fall and not arise? shall he turne away and not turne againe?

5Wherefore is this people of Ierusalem turned backe by a perpetuall rebellion? they gaue themselues to deceit, and would not returne.

6I hearkened and heard, but none spake aright: no man repented him of his wickednesse, saying, What haue I done? euery one turned to their race, as the horse rusheth into the battell.

7Euen the storke in the aire knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallowe obserue the time of their comming, but my people knoweth not the iudgement of the Lorde.

8Howe doe yee say, Wee are wise, and the Lawe of the Lorde is with vs? Loe, certeinly in vaine made hee it, the penne of the scribes is in vaine.

9The wise men are ashamed: they are afraid and taken. loe, they haue reiected the word of the Lorde, and what wisdome is in them?

10Therefore will I giue their wiues vnto others, and their fieldes to them that shall possesse them: for euery one from the least euen vnto the greatest is giuen to couetousnesse, and from the Prophet euen vnto the Priest, euery one dealeth falsely.

11For they haue healed the hurt of the daughter of my people with sweete woordes, saying, Peace, peace, when there is no peace.

12Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not ashamed, neither coulde they haue any shame: therefore shall they fall among the slaine: when I shall visite them, they shall be cast downe, sayeth the Lorde.

13I wil surely consume them, sayth the Lord: there shalbe no grapes on the vine, nor figges on the figtree, and the leafe shall fade, and the things that I haue giuen them, shal depart from them.

The People Respond

14Why doe we stay? assemble your selues, and let vs enter into the strong cities, and let vs be quiet there: for the Lorde our God hath put vs to silence and giuen vs water with gall to drinke, because we haue sinned against the Lord.

15We looked for peace, but no good came, & for a time of health, and behold troubles.

16The neying of his horses was heard from Dan, the whole lande trembled at the noyse of the neying of his strong horses: for they are come, and haue deuoured the land with all that is in it, the citie, and those that dwell therein.

17For beholde, I will sende serpents, and cockatrices among you, which will not be charmed, and they shal sting you, sayth the Lord.

Jeremiah Weeps for His People

18I would haue comforted my selfe against sorowe, but mine heart is heauie in me.

19Behold, the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people for feare of them of a farre countrey, Is not the Lorde in Zion? is not her king in her? Why haue they prouoked mee to anger with their grauen images, and with the vanities of a strange god?

20The haruest is past, the sommer is ended, and we are not holpen.

21I am sore vexed for the hurt of ye daughter of my people: I am heauie, & astonishment hath taken me.

22Is there no balme at Gilead? is there no Physition there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recouered.