At that time, saith
the LORD
, they shall bring out
the bones
of the kings
of Judah
, and the bones
of his princes
, and the bones
of the priests
, and the bones
of the prophets
, and the bones
of the inhabitants
of Jerusalem
, out of their graves
:
And they shall spread them before the sun
, and the moon
, and all the host
of heaven
, whom they have loved
, and whom they have served
, and after
whom they have walked
, and whom they have sought
, and whom they have worshipped
: they shall not be gathered
, nor be buried
; they shall be for dung
upon the face
of the earth
.
And death shall be chosen
rather than life
by all the residue
of them that remain
of this evil
family
, which remain
in all the places
whither I have driven
them, saith
the LORD
of hosts
.
Moreover thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith
the LORD
; Shall they fall
, and not arise
? shall he turn away
, and not return
?
Why then is this people of Jerusalem
slidden back
by a perpetual
backsliding
? they hold
fast deceit
, they refuse
to return
.
I hearkened and heard
, but they spake not aright
: no man
repented
him of
his wickedness
, saying
, What have I done
? every one turned
to his course
, as the horse
rusheth
into the battle
.
Yea, the stork in the heaven
knoweth
her appointed times
; and the turtle
and the crane
and the swallow
observe
the time
of their coming
; but my people
know
not the judgment
of the LORD
.
How do ye say, We are wise
, and the law
of the LORD
is with us? Lo, certainly
in vain
made
he it ; the pen
of the scribes
is in vain
.
The wise men are ashamed
, they are dismayed
and taken
: lo, they have rejected
the word
of the LORD
; and what wisdom
is in them?
Therefore will I give their wives
unto others
, and their fields
to them that shall inherit
them : for every one from the least
even unto the greatest
is given
to covetousness
, from the prophet
even unto the priest
every one dealeth
falsely
.
For they have healed the hurt
of the daughter
of my people
slightly
, saying
, Peace
, peace
; when there is no peace
.
Were they ashamed when they had committed
abomination
? nay, they were not at all
ashamed
, neither could
they blush
: therefore shall they fall
among them that fall
: in the time
of their visitation
they shall be cast down
, saith
the LORD
.
I will surely consume
them, saith
the LORD
: there shall be no grapes
on the vine
, nor figs
on the fig tree
, and the leaf
shall fade
; and the things that I have given
them shall pass away
from them.
Why do we sit still? assemble
yourselves, and let us enter
into the defenced
cities
, and let us be silent
there: for the LORD
our God
hath put us to silence
, and given us water
of gall
to drink
, because we have sinned
against the LORD
.
We looked for peace
, but no good
came; and for a time
of health
, and behold trouble
!
The snorting of his horses
was heard
from Dan
: the whole land
trembled
at the sound
of the neighing
of his strong ones
; for they are come
, and have devoured
the land
, and all
that is in it; the city
, and those that dwell
therein.
For, behold, I will send serpents
, cockatrices
, among you, which will not be charmed
, and they shall bite
you, saith
the LORD
.
When I would comfort myself against sorrow
, my heart
is faint
in me.
Behold the voice of the cry
of the daughter
of my people
because of them that dwell in a far
country
: Is not the LORD
in Zion
? is not her king
in her? Why have they provoked me to anger
with their graven images
, and with strange
vanities
?
The harvest is past
, the summer
is ended
, and we are not saved
.
For the hurt of the daughter
of my people
am I hurt
; I am black
; astonishment
hath taken hold
on me.
Is there no balm in Gilead
; is there no physician
there? why then
is not the health
of the daughter
of my people
recovered
?