Jeremiah 8

1At that time, declares Yahweh, they will bring out the bones of Judah's kings and princes, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones of Jerusalem's inhabitants from their graves.

2They will lay them out before the sun and the moon and the whole array of heaven, which they loved and served, which they followed and sought and worshiped; they will not be collected or buried but will become manure strewn across the ground.

3Death will be chosen rather than life by all the remnant remaining of this wicked family, those remaining in all the places where I have driven them, declares Yahweh of hosts.

4Tell them also, "Yahweh declares: Do people fall without rising again? Does one stray without turning back?"

5Why has the people of Jerusalem turned back in perpetual rebellion? They cling to deceit and refuse to return.

6I listened attentively, but they said nothing upright—no one turns from his evil, asking, “What have I done?” Each pursues his own path, like a horse charging wildly into battle.

7Even the stork in the heavens recognizes her seasons, and the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane watch for their migration time, but my people ignore Yahweh's justice.

8How do you say, "We are wise, and the law of Yahweh is with us"? Look, the lying pen of the scribes has worked deceit.

9The wise are shamed, dismayed, and snared—see, they have spurned Yahweh's word; what insight do they possess?

10So I will hand their wives over to others and their fields to new owners, because everyone from lowest to highest chases greed, from prophet to priest—all act deceitfully.

11They have superficially healed the wound of the daughter of my people, saying, “Peace, peace,” when there is no peace.

12Did they feel shame over their detestable deeds? Not at all—they knew no shame and could not even blush. So they will stumble with the stumbling; at their time of reckoning they will be hurled down, declares Yahweh.

13I will completely remove them, declares Yahweh—no grapes on the vine, no figs on the fig tree, the leaves will wither, and everything I provided them will vanish from their grasp.

14Why are we just sitting here? Let's gather and retreat to the fortified cities, staying quiet there—for Yahweh our God has silenced us and made us drink poisoned water, because we have sinned against Yahweh.

15We hoped for peace, but no good arrived; for a season of healing, but terror came instead.

16From Dan comes the snorting of his horses; the whole land quakes at the neighing of his stallions, for they have arrived and ravaged the land and everything in it, the city and its inhabitants.

17Look, I will send serpents and vipers among you, ones that cannot be charmed, and they will bite you, declares Yahweh.

18How I long for comfort amid my grief—my heart fails me within.

19Listen—the anguished cry of my people’s daughter echoes from a distant land: “Is Yahweh not in Zion? Is her King not there?” Why do they rouse my anger with carved idols and foreign nothings?

20The harvest is over, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.

21I am broken for the brokenness of the daughter of my people; I mourn, seized by dismay.

22Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no healer there? Why then has my people's daughter not regained her health?