Jeremiah 16:1–9

Day of Disaster

16Then the word of the Lord came to me: ²“You must not marryⁱ and have sons or daughters in this place.” ³For this is what the Lord says about the sons and daughters born in this land and about the women who are their mothers and the men who are their fathers:^{j 4}“They will die of deadly diseases. They will not be mourned or buried^k but will be like dung lying on the ground.^l They will perish by sword and famine,^m and their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.”ⁿ

⁵For this is what the Lord says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal; do not go to mourn or show sympathy, because I have withdrawn my blessing, my love and my pity^o from this people,” declares the Lord. ⁶“Both high and low will die in this land.^p They will not be buried or mourned,^q and no one will cut^r themselves or shave^s their head for the dead. ⁷No one will offer food^t to comfort those who mourn^u for the dead—not even for a father or a mother—nor will anyone give them a drink to console^v them.

⁸“And do not enter a house where there is feasting and sit down to eat and drink.^{w 9}For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds^x of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride^y and bridegroom in this place.^z