Jeremiah 8:1-12

New International Version

8 “‘At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones^(A) of the people of Jerusalem will be removed^(B) from their graves. ²They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served^(C) and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped.^(D) They will not be gathered up or buried,^(E) but will be like dung lying on the ground.^(F) ³Wherever I banish them,^(G) all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life,^(H) declares the Lord Almighty.’

Sin and Punishment

⁴“Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:

“‘When people fall down, do they not get up?^(I)
    When someone turns away,^(J) do they not return?
⁵Why then have these people turned away?
    Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;^(K)
    they refuse to return.^(L)
⁶I have listened^(M) attentively,
    but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent^(N) of their wickedness,
    saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course^(O)
    like a horse charging into battle.
⁷Even the stork in the sky
    knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
    observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know^(P)
    the requirements of the Lord.

⁸“‘How can you say, “We are wise,
    for we have the law^(Q) of the Lord,”
when actually the lying pen of the scribes
    has handled it falsely?
⁹The wise^(R) will be put to shame;
    they will be dismayed^(S) and trapped.^(T)
Since they have rejected the word^(U) of the Lord,
    what kind of wisdom^(V) do they have?
¹⁰Therefore I will give their wives to other men
    and their fields to new owners.^(W)
From the least to the greatest,
    all are greedy for gain;^(X)
prophets^(Y) and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.^(Z)
¹¹They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
“Peace, peace,” they say,
    when there is no peace.^(AA)
¹²Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame^(AB) at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when they are punished,^(AC)
says the Lord.^(AD)