Jeremiah 12:7-17

7“I have abandoned my nation. I have left my own people. I have handed the people I love over to their enemies.

8My people have turned on me like a lion in the forest. They roar at me, so I hate them.

9My people are like a colorful bird of prey. Other birds of prey surround it. Go, gather all the animals in the field, and bring them to devour it.

10Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard. They’ve trampled my property. They’ve turned my pleasant property into a wasteland.

11They’ve left it a wasteland. Devastated, it mourns in my presence. The whole land is destroyed, but no one takes this to heart.

12Looters swarm all over the bare hills in the desert. The Lord’s sword destroys them from one end of the land to the other. No one will be safe.

13My people planted wheat, but they harvested thorns. They worked until they became sick, but they gained nothing by it. They were disappointed by their harvests because of the burning anger of the Lord.

14“This is what I, the Lord, say about all my evil neighbors who take the inheritance that I gave my people Israel: I am going to uproot those neighbors from their lands. I will also uproot the people of Judah from among them.

15After I’ve uprooted them, I will have compassion on them again. I will return them to their inheritance and to their lands.

16Suppose they learn carefully the ways of my people. Suppose they take an oath in my name, ‘As the Lord lives …’ as they taught my people to take an oath in ⌞the name of⌟ Baal. Then they will build homes among my people.

17But suppose they don’t listen. Then I will uproot that nation and destroy it,” declares the Lord.