7. Even the birds in the sky know the right time to do things. The storks, doves, swifts, and thrushes know when it is time to fly to a new home. But my people don’t know what the Lord wants them to do.
8. “‘You keep saying, “We have the Lord’S teachings. So we are wise!” But this is not true, because the scribes have lied with their pens.
9. These “wise people” refused to listen to the Lord’S teachings. So they are not really wise at all. These “wise people” were trapped. They became shocked and ashamed.
10. So I will give their wives to other men. I will give their fields to new owners. All the people of Israel want more and more money. All of them, from the least important to the most important, are like that. Even the prophets and priests tell lies.
11. They should bandage the wounds my people have suffered, but they treat their wounds like small scratches. They say, “It’s all right, everything is all right.” But it is not all right!
12. They should be ashamed of the evil things they do, but they are not ashamed at all. They don’t know enough to be embarrassed by their sins. So they will be punished with everyone else. They will be thrown to the ground when I punish the people.’” This is what the Lord said.