Jeremiah 9:1–8

If my head were a flowing spring,

my eyes a fountain of tears,

I would weep day and nightm

over the slain of my dearA people.

2 If only I had a traveler’s lodging place

in the wilderness,n

I would abandon my people

and depart from them,

for they are all adulterers,o

a solemn assembly of treacherous people.p

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.

IMMINENT RUIN AND EXILE

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.B,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

because of my dearC people?D

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.