Jeremiah 4:18-28

New International Version

¹⁸ “Your own conduct and actions^(A)
    have brought this on you.^(B)
This is your punishment.
    How bitter^(C) it is!
    How it pierces to the heart!”

¹⁹ Oh, my anguish, my anguish!^(D)
    I writhe in pain.^(E)
Oh, the agony of my heart!
    My heart pounds^(F) within me,
    I cannot keep silent.^(G)
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;^(H)
    I have heard the battle cry.^(I)
20 Disaster follows disaster;^(J)
    the whole land lies in ruins.^(K)
In an instant my tents^(L) are destroyed,
    my shelter in a moment.
²¹ How long must I see the battle standard^(M)
    and hear the sound of the trumpet?^(N)

²² “My people are fools;^(O)
    they do not know me.^(P)
They are senseless children;
    they have no understanding.^(Q)
They are skilled in doing evil;^(R)
    they know not how to do good.”^(S)

²³ I looked at the earth,
    and it was formless and empty;^(T)
and at the heavens,
    and their light^(U) was gone.
²⁴ I looked at the mountains,
    and they were quaking;^(V)
    all the hills were swaying.
²⁵ I looked, and there were no people;
    every bird in the sky had flown away.^(W)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;^(X)
    all its towns lay in ruins^(Y)
    before the Lord, before his fierce anger.^(Z)

“The whole land will be ruined,^(AA)
    though I will not destroy^(AB) it completely.
²⁸ Therefore the earth will mourn^(AC)
    and the heavens above grow dark,^(AD)
because I have spoken and will not relent,^(AE)
    I have decided and will not turn back.^(AF)”