Jeremiah 4:19–31

^19–21I’m doubled up with cramps in my belly—

a poker burns in my gut.

My insides are tearing me up,

never a moment’s peace.

The ram’s horn trumpet blast rings in my ears,

the signal for all-out war.

Disaster hard on the heels of disaster,

the whole country in ruins!

In one stroke my home is destroyed,

the walls flattened in the blink of an eye.

How long do I have to look at the warning flares,

listen to the siren of danger?

Experts at Evil

²²“What fools my people are!

They have no idea who I am.

A company of half-wits,

dopes and donkeys all!

Experts at evil

but klutzes at good.”

^23–26I looked at the earth—

it was back to pre-Genesis chaos and emptiness.

I looked at the skies,

and not a star to be seen.

I looked at the mountains—

they were trembling like aspen leaves,

And all the hills

rocking back and forth in the wind.

I looked—what’s this! Not a man or woman in sight,

and not a bird to be seen in the skies.

I looked—this can’t be! Every garden and orchard shriveled up.

All the towns were ghost towns.

And all this because of God,

because of the blazing anger of God.

^27–28Yes, this is God’s Word on the matter:

“The whole country will be laid waste—

still it won’t be the end of the world.

The earth will mourn

and the skies lament

Because I’ve given my word and won’t take it back.

I’ve decided and won’t change my mind.”

You’re Not Going to Seduce Anyone

²⁹Someone shouts, “Horsemen and archers!”

and everybody runs for cover.

They hide in ditches,

they climb into caves.

The cities are emptied,

not a person left anywhere.

^30–31And you, what do you think you’re up to?

Dressing up in party clothes,

Decking yourselves out in jewelry,

putting on lipstick and rouge and mascara!

Your primping goes for nothing.

You’re not going to seduce anyone. They’re out to kill you!

And what’s that I hear? The cry of a woman in labor,

the screams of a mother giving birth to her firstborn.

It’s the cry of Daughter Zion, gasping for breath,

reaching out for help:

“Help, oh help me! I’m dying!

The killers are on me!”