2. They will be exposed to the sun, the moon, and the whole heavenly host, which they have loved, served, followed, consulted, and worshiped. Their bones will not be collected and buried but will become like manure on the surface of the soil.
3. Death will be chosen over life by all the survivors of this evil family, those who remain wherever I have banished them.” This is the declaration of the Lord of Hosts.
4. “You are to say to them: This is what the Lord says:Do people fall and not get up again? If they turn away, do they not return?
5. Why have these people turned away?Why is Jerusalem always turning away?They take hold of deceit; they refuse to return.
6. I have paid careful attention.They do not speak what is right.No one regrets his evil,asking, ‘What have I done?’Everyone has stayed his courselike a horse rushing into battle.
7. Even the stork in the skyknows her seasons.The turtledove, swallow, and crane are aware of their migration,but My people do not knowthe requirements of the Lord.
8. “How can you claim, ‘We are wise;the law of the Lord is with us’?In fact, the lying pen of scribes has produced falsehood.
9. The wise will be put to shame;they will be dismayed and snared.They have rejected the word of the Lord, so what wisdom do they really have?
10. Therefore, I will give their wives to other men,their fields to new occupants,for from the least to the greatest, everyone is making profit dishonestly.From prophet to priest,everyone deals falsely.
11. They have treated superficially the brokennessof My dear people,claiming, ‘Peace, peace,’when there is no peace.
12. Were they ashamed when they acted so abhorrently?They weren’t at all ashamed.They can no longer feel humiliation.Therefore, they will fall among the fallen.When I punish them, they will collapse,” says the Lord.
13. I will gather them and bring them to an end. This is the Lord’s declaration.There will be no grapes on the vine,no figs on the fig tree,and even the leaf will wither.Whatever I have given them will be lost to them.
14. Why are we just sitting here?Gather together; let us enter the fortified citiesand perish there, for the Lord our God has destroyed us.He has given us poisoned water to drink, because we have sinned against the Lord.
15. We hoped for peace, but there was nothing good;for a time of healing, but there was only terror.