4. How long will the ground be dryand the pasture lands parched?The birds and animalsare dead and gone.And all this happened becausethe people are so sinful.They even boast, “God can't seethe sins we commit.”
5. Jeremiah, if you get tiredin a race against people,how can you possibly runagainst horses?If you fall in open fields,what will happen in the forestalong the River Jordan?
6. Even your own familyhas turned against you.They act friendly,but don't trust them.They're out to get you,and so is everyone else.
7. I loved my people and chose themas my very own.But now I will reject themand hand them overto their enemies.
8. My people have turned against meand roar at me like lions.That's why I hate them.
9. My people are like a hawksurrounded and attackedby other hawks.Tell the wild animalsto come and eat their fill.
10. My beautiful land is ruinedlike a field or a vineyardtrampled by shepherdsand stripped bareby their flocks.
11. Every field I see lies barren,and no one cares.
12. A destroying armymarches along desert roadsand attacks everywhere.They are my deadly sword;no one is safe from them.
13. My people, you planted wheat,but because I was furious,I let only weeds grow.You wore yourselves outfor nothing!