Jeremiah 9:9–11

Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord,

and shall I not avenge myself

on a nation such as this?

“I will take up weeping and wailing for the mountains,

and a lamentation for the pastures of the wilderness,

because they are laid waste so that no one passes through,

and the lowing of cattle is not heard;

both the birds of the air and the beasts

have fled and are gone.

I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins,

a lair of jackals,

and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation,

without inhabitant.”

Should I not punish them for this?”

declares the Lord.

“Should I not avenge myself

on such a nation as this?”

I will weep and wail for the mountains

and take up a lament concerning the wilderness grasslands.

They are desolate and untraveled,

and the lowing of cattle is not heard.

The birds have all fled

and the animals are gone.

“I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins,

a haunt of jackals;

and I will lay waste the towns of Judah

so no one can live there.”

Should I not punish them for these things?

This is the Lord’s declaration.

Should I not avenge myself

on such a nation as this?

I will raise weeping and a lament

over the mountains,

a dirge over the wilderness grazing land,

for they have been so scorched

that no one passes through.

The sound of cattle is no longer heard.

From the birds of the sky to the animals,

everything has fled—they have gone away.

I will make Jerusalem a heap of rubble,

a jackals’ den.

I will make the cities of Judah a desolation,

an uninhabited place.

Because of these things shall I not punish them?” declares Yahweh,

“On a nation that is like this shall I not take revenge?

For the mountains I lift up weeping and wailing,

and for the pastures of the desert a lament,

because they are laid waste so that no man passes through.

And the sounds of cattle are not heard,

from the birds of heaven to the animals

they have fled, they are gone.

And I will make Jerusalem as heaps of ruins, a lair of jackals,

and the towns of Judah I will make a desolation, without inhabitants.

Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord:

Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing,

And for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation,

Because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them;

Neither can men hear the voice of the cattle;

Both the fowl of the heavens and the beast

Are fled; they are gone.

And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons;

And I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.