Jeremiah 5:19-31

19So it will come to pass that when you ask, ‘Why has Adonai Eloheinu done all these things to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’

20“Declare this in the house of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah, saying:

21‘Hear this you foolish people who have no understanding, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear.

22Do you not fear Me?’ says Adonai. ‘Do you not tremble in My presence?’ For I made the sand a boundary of the sea, an everlasting decree that cannot be broken. Though the waves roll, they cannot prevail. Though they roar, they cannot cross it.

23But this people have a stubborn and rebellious heart. They have turned aside and gone away.

24They do not say in their heart, ‘Let us now fear Adonai Eloheinu, who gives rain in its season —fall rain and spring rain— who reserves for us the appointed weeks of harvest.’

25Your iniquities have turned these away, your sins have deprived you of bounty.

26For among My people are wicked men, watching like bait-layers lying in wait. They set a trap—they catch men.

27As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit. That is why they grew great and rich.

28They grew fat and sleek. They also overlooked evil deeds. They do not uphold a cause— the cause of an orphan to prosper— nor do they defend the right of the poor.

29Should I not punish them?” says Adonai. “On such a nation should I not avenge Myself?

30An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land.

31The prophets prophesy falsely, the kohanim rule by their own authority, and My people love it this way! But what will you do in the end?”