Jeremiah 5:1-9 ▼

1 Roam through the streets of Jerusalem. Investigate; search in her squares. If you find one person, any who acts justly, who pursues faithfulness, then I will forgive her.

2 When they say, “As the LORD lives,” they are swearing falsely.

3 LORD, don’t your eyes look for faithfulness? You have struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They made their faces harder than rock, and they refused to return.

4 Then I thought: They are just the poor; they have been foolish. For they don’t understand the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

5 I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God. However, these also had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.

6 Therefore, a lion from the forest will strike them down. A wolf from arid plains will ravage them. A leopard stalks their cities. Anyone who leaves them will be torn to pieces because their rebellious acts are many, their unfaithful deeds numerous.

7 Why should I forgive you? Your children have abandoned me and sworn by those who are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery; they gashed themselves at the prostitute’s house.

8 They are well-fed, eager stallions, each neighing after someone else’s wife.

9 Should I not punish them for these things? This is the LORD’s declaration. Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?