Jeremiah 6:18-30

18Therefore hear, O nations, And know, O congregation, what is among them.191Hear, O earth: behold, I am bringing disaster on this people, The 2fruit of their 3plans, Because they have not listened to My words, And as for My law, they have 4rejected it also.205For what purpose does 6frankincense come to Me from Sheba And the 78sweet cane from a distant land? 9Your burnt offerings are not acceptable And your sacrifices are not pleasing to Me.”21Therefore, thus says the Lord, “Behold, 10I am 11laying stumbling blocks before this people. And they will stumble against them, 12Fathers and sons together; Neighbor and 13friend will perish.”

22Thus says the Lord, “Behold, 14a people is coming from the north land, And a great nation will be aroused from the 15remote parts of the earth.23They seize 16bow and spear; They are 17cruel and have no mercy; Their voice 18roars like the sea, And they ride on horses, Arrayed as a man for the battle Against you, O daughter of Zion!”24We have 19heard the report of it; Our hands are limp. 20Anguish has seized us, Pain as of a woman in childbirth.2521Do not go out into the field And 22do not walk on the road, For the enemy has a sword, 23Terror is on every side.26O daughter of my people, 24put on sackcloth And 25roll in ashes; 2627Mourn as for an only son, A lamentation most bitter. For suddenly the destroyer Will come upon us.

27“I have 28made you an assayer and a tester among My people, That you may know and assay their way.”28All of them are stubbornly rebellious, 29Going about as a talebearer. They are 30bronze and iron; They, all of them, are corrupt.29The bellows blow fiercely, The lead is consumed by the fire; In vain the refining goes on, But the 31wicked are not 32separated.3033They call them rejected silver, Because the 34Lord has rejected them.