Jeremiah 9:9–14

Do you think I’m going to stand around and do nothing?”

God’s Decree.

“Don’t you think I’ll take serious measures

against a people like this?

^10–11“I’m lamenting the loss of the mountain pastures.

I’m chanting dirges for the old grazing grounds.

They’ve become deserted wastelands too dangerous for travelers.

No sounds of sheep bleating or cattle mooing.

Birds and wild animals, all gone.

Nothing stirring, no sounds of life.

I’m going to make Jerusalem a pile of rubble,

fit for nothing but stray cats and dogs.

I’m going to reduce Judah’s towns to piles of ruins

where no one lives!”

¹²I asked, “Is there anyone around bright enough to tell us what’s going on here? Anyone who has the inside story from God and can let us in on it?

“Why is the country wasted?

“Why no travelers in this desert?”

^13–15God’s answer: “Because they abandoned my plain teaching. They wouldn’t listen to anything I said, refused to live the way I told them to. Instead they lived any way they wanted and took up with the Baal gods, who they thought would give them what they wanted—following the example of their parents.”