Jeremiah 9:3–8
3 They bent their tongues like their bows;
lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land,
for they proceed from one evil to another,
and they do not take me into account.q
This is the Lord’s declaration.
4 Everyone has to be on guard against his friend.
Don’t trust any brother,
for every brother will certainly deceive,r
and every friend spread slander.s
5 Each one betrays his friend;t
no one tells the truth.
They have taught their tongues to speak lies;
they wear themselves out doing wrong.
6 You live in a world of deception.E,u
In their deception they refuse to know me.v
This is the Lord’s declaration.
7 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies says:
I am about to refine them and test them,w
for what else can I do
8 Their tongues are deadly arrows—
they speak deception.a
With his mouth
one speaks peaceably with his friend,
but inwardly he sets up an ambush.