Chapter 8
1 " At that time ," says the LORD , " they will bring the bones of the kings of Judah , the bones of his princes , the bones of the priests , the bones of the prophets , and the bones of the inhabitants of Jerusalem , out of their graves .
2 They will spread them before the sun , the moon , and all the army of the sky , which they have loved, which they have served , after which they have walked , which they have sought , and which they have worshipped . They will not be gathered or be buried . They will be like dung on the surface of the earth .
3 Death will be chosen rather than life by all the residue that remain of this evil family , that remain in all the places where I have driven them ," says the LORD of Armies .
4 " Moreover you shall tell them , ‘ The LORD says : "‘ Do men fall , and not rise up again ? Does one turn away , and not return ?
5 Why then have the people of Jerusalem fallen back by a perpetual backsliding ? They cling to deceit . They refuse to return .
6 I listened and heard , but they didn’t say what is right . No one repents of his wickedness , saying , " What have I done ?" Everyone turns to his course , as a horse that rushes headlong in the battle .
7 Yes , the stork in the sky knows her appointed times . The turtledove , the swallow , and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people don’t know the LORD ’s law .
8 "‘ How do you say, " We are wise , and the LORD ’s law is with us "? But , behold , the false pen of the scribes has made that a lie .
9 The wise men are disappointed. They are dismayed and trapped. Behold , they have rejected the LORD ’s word . What kind of wisdom is in them ?
10 Therefore I will give their wives to others and their fields to those who will possess them . For everyone from the least even to the greatest is given to covetousness ; from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely .
11 They have healed the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly , saying, " Peace , peace ," when there is no peace .
12 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination ? No , they were not at all ashamed . They couldn’t blush . Therefore they will fall amongst those who fall . In the time of their visitation they will be cast down , says the LORD .
13 "‘ I will utterly consume them , says the LORD . No grapes will be on the vine , no figs on the fig tree , and the leaf will fade . The things that I have given them will pass away from them .’"
14 " Why do we sit still ? Assemble yourselves ! Let’s enter into the fortified cities , and let’s be silent there ; for the LORD our God has put us to silence , and given us poisoned water to drink , because we have sinned against the LORD .
15 We looked for peace , but no good came; and for a time of healing , and behold , dismay!
16 The snorting of his horses is heard from Dan . The whole land trembles at the sound of the neighing of his strong ones; for they have come , and have devoured the land and all that is in it , the city and those who dwell therein ."
17 " For , behold , I will send serpents , adders amongst you , which will not be charmed ; and they will bite you ," says the LORD .
18 Oh that I could comfort myself against sorrow ! My heart is faint within me .
19 Behold , the voice of the cry of the daughter of my people from a land that is very far off : "Isn’t the LORD in Zion ? Isn’t her King in her ?" " Why have they provoked me to anger with their engraved images , and with foreign idols ?"
20 " The harvest is past . The summer has ended , and we are not saved ."
21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people , I am hurt . I mourn . Dismay has taken hold of me .
22 Is there no balm in Gilead ? Is there no physician there ? Why then isn’t the health of the daughter of my people recovered ?