Jeremiah 9:21–26

21 Death has climbed in through our windowsy

and has entered our fortresses;

it has removed the children from the streets

and the young menz from the public squares.

22 Say, “This is what the Lord declares:

“ ‘Dead bodies will lie

like dunga on the open field,

like cut grain behind the reaper,

with no one to gather them.’ ”

23 This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdomb

or the strong boast of their strengthc

or the rich boast of their riches,d

24 but let the one who boasts boaste about this:

that they have the understanding to knowf me,

that I am the Lord,g who exercises kindness,h

justice and righteousnessi on earth,

for in these I delight,”

declares the Lord.

25 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will punish all who are circumcised only in the fleshj—26 Egypt, Judah, Edom, Ammon, Moab and all who live in the wilderness in distant places.e k For all these nations are really uncircumcised,l and even the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.m”