Jeremiah 5:14-31 - Coming Judgment
14 Jehovah, the God of hosts says: Because you have spoken this word and I am making my words fire in your mouth. This people are wood and will be consumed. 15 I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel, declares Jehovah. It is an enduring nation. It is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know. You cannot understand (comprehend) (make sense of) what they say. 16 Their quiver is like an open grave. All of them are mighty men. 17 They will devour your harvest and your food. They will devour your sons and your daughters. They will devour your flocks and your herds. They will devour your vines and your fig trees. They will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.
18 Yet even in those days, says Jehovah, I will not make you a complete destruction. 19 They will ask: 'Why has Jehovah our God done all this to us?' Answer them: You have abandoned me and served foreign gods in your land. So you will serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.' 20 Declare this to the house of Jacob, and make this heard in Judah:
21 Hear this, you stupid and senseless people! You have eyes, but you cannot see. You have ears, but you cannot hear.' 22 Do you not reverence (respect) me? Asks Jehovah. Do you not tremble [with awe] in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, a permanent barrier it cannot cross. Although the waves toss continuously, they cannot break through. Although they roar, they cannot cross it. 23 These people are stubborn and rebellious. They have turned aside and departed from me. 24 They do not say in their hearts, to themselves: 'We should respect Jehovah our God. He sends rain at the right time, the autumn rain and the spring rain. He makes sure that we have harvest seasons.' 25 Your wickedness has turned these things away. Your sins have kept good things away from you. 26 Wicked men are found among my people. They lie in ambush like bird catchers. They set traps and catch men. 27 Like cages filled with birds, their houses are filled with deceit. That is why they become powerful and rich. 28 They grow big and fat. Their evil deeds have no limits. They have no respect for the rights of others. They have no respect for the rights of orphans. But they still prosper. They do not defend the rights of the poor. 29 I will punish them for these things, declares Jehovah. I will punish these people!
30 Something horrible and disgusting is happening in the land. 31 Prophets prophesy falsehoods. Priests rule under the prophets' directions, and my people love this. But what will you do when the end comes?'