Jeremiah 8:1-19

Jeremiah 8:1-19

[1] 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:  [2] 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.  [3] 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.  [4] Moreover thou shalt say  the LORD;  Shall they fall,  and not arise?  shall he turn away,  [5] Why then is this people  of Jerusalem  slidden back  backsliding?  they hold  fast deceit,  they refuse  to return.  [6] 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.  [7] 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.  [8] 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.  [9] The wise  they are dismayed  and taken:  lo, they have rejected  the word  of the LORD;  and what wisdom  is in them? [10] 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.  [11] For they have healed  the hurt  of the daughter  of my people  slightly,  saying,  Peace,  [12] Were they ashamed  when they had committed  abomination?  nay, they were not at all  neither could  they blush:  therefore shall they fall  in the time  of their visitation  they shall be cast down,  saith  the LORD.  [13] I will surely  consume  them, saith  there shall be no grapes  on the vine,  nor figs  and the leaf  shall fade;  and the things that I have given  them shall pass away  [14] 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.  [15] We looked  for peace,  but no good  came; and for a time  of health,  and behold trouble!  [16] 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. [17] For, behold, I will send  serpents,  cockatrices,  among you, which will not be charmed,  and they shall bite  you, saith  the LORD.  [18] When I would comfort  myself against sorrow,  my heart  is faint  [19] 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?