Jeremiah 6:9-17

9The Lord Almighty said this: ‘I will let the enemy take all the people from Israel, like a farmer who picks all the grapes from his vine. So check the vines carefully, to see if there are some grapes that you can save.’

10I replied, ‘If I speak to people and I warn them, nobody will listen to me. They have shut their ears so that they cannot hear. They hate the Lord's message. They do not want to hear it.

11I am as angry with them as you are, Lord. I can no longer control my anger.’ The Lord replied, ‘Tell everyone how angry you are! Tell the children who play in the streets, Tell the young men who meet together. Include all the men and their wives, as well as the old people, and those who are near to death.

12I will give their houses to other people to live in. Other people will take their fields and their wives. Yes, I will punish the people who live in this land.’ That is what the Lord says.

13‘They all cheat other people to get what they want. Important people and ordinary people do that. Prophets and priests do that. They love to deceive people.

14They tell my people that their wounds are not bad. They say to them, “No problem! You will have peace!” But there will be no peace for my people.

15They are not ashamed of the disgusting things that they do. They do not even know what shame is. They have forgotten how to be ashamed. So they will fall to the ground, as other people have fallen. When I decide to punish them, that will be the end of them.’ That is what the Lord says.

16The Lord said to his people, ‘Stand at the place where the roads cross, and look carefully. Ask where the ways of your ancestors are. Find the good way, and go along that way. Then you will live in peace.’ But the people said, ‘No, we will not go that way. ’

17The Lord said, ‘I sent my prophets to warn you of danger. They said, “Listen for the noise of the trumpet! That will tell you when danger is near.” But you said, “We do not want to listen.”