Jeremiah 9:4-9

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

⁴ Beware of your neighbors,
    and put no trust in any of your kin,
for all your kin are supplanters,
    and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer.^(A)
5 They all deceive their neighbors,
    and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongues to speak lies;
    they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent.^[a](B)
6 Oppression upon oppression, deceit^[b] upon deceit!
    They refuse to know me, says the Lord.^(C)

⁷ Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:
I will now refine and test them,
    for what else can I do with the daughter of my people?^(D)
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
    it speaks deceit through the mouth.
They all speak friendly words to their neighbors
    but inwardly are planning to lay an ambush.^(E)
9 Shall I not punish them for these things? says the Lord,
    and shall I not bring retribution
    on a nation such as this?^(F)