Jeremiah 9:4-12 - A Nation Characterized By Deceit
4 Everyone beware of his neighbor, and do not trust any brother! For every brother will supplant his neighbor, and will walk with slanders. 5 And everyone will deceive his neighbor and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and they weary themselves to commit iniquity. 6 Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know Me, says Jehovah.
7 Therefore so says Jehovah of Hosts, Behold, I will melt them and try them; for what else can I do for the daughter of My people? 8 Their tongue is a slaughtering arrow; it speaks deceit; one speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in heart he lies in ambush. 9 Shall I not visit them for these things? says Jehovah; shall not My soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
10 I will take up a weeping and a wailing for the mountains, and a mourning for the pastures of the wilderness; because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; nor can men hear the voice of the cattle. Both the birds of the heavens and the beast have fled; they are gone. 11 And I will make Jerusalem ruins, a den of jackals; and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without a living soul.
12 Who is the wise man who may understand this? And who is he to whom the mouth of Jehovah has spoken, that he may declare it? Why does the land perish and burn up like a wilderness, so that none passes through?