Jeremiah 5:1-13 ▼

1 “Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, And look now, and take note. And seek in her open squares, If you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, Then I will pardon her.

2 “And although they say, ‘As the LORD lives,’ Surely they swear falsely.”

3 O LORD, do not Thine eyes look for truth? Thou hast smitten them, But they did not weaken; Thou hast consumed them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.

4 Then I said, “They are only the poor, They are foolish; For they do not know the way of the LORD Or the ordinance of their God.

5 “I will go to the great And will speak to them, For they know the way of the LORD, And the ordinance of their God.” But they too, with one accord, have broken the yoke And burst the bonds.

6 Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them, A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them, A leopard is watching their cities. Everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many, Their apostasies are numerous.

7 “Why should I pardon you? Your sons have forsaken Me And sworn by those who are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, They committed adultery And trooped to the harlot’s house.

8 “They were well-fed lusty horses, Each one neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

9 “Shall I not punish these people,” declares the LORD, “And on a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?

10 “Go up through her vine rows and destroy, But do not execute a complete destruction; Strip away her branches, For they are not the LORD’S.

11 “For the house of Israel and the house of Judah Have dealt very treacherously with Me,” declares the LORD.

12 They have lied about the LORD And said, “Not He; Misfortune will not come on us; And we will not see sword or famine.

13 “And the prophets are as wind, And the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!”