Jeremiah 5:2-13

2Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ still they are swearing falsely.”

3LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

4I thought, “These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God.

5So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God.” But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.

6Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.

7“Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.

8They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife.

9Should I not punish them for this?” declares the LORD . “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?

10“Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the LORD .

11The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me,” declares the LORD .

12They have lied about the LORD ; they said, “He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.

13The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.”