They turn,[but] not upward,They are like a deceitfulbow;Their princeswill fallby the swordBecauseof the insolenceof their tongue.This[will be] their derisionin the landof Egypt.
May the LORDcutoffallflatteringlips,The tonguethat speaksgreatthings;
Whohave said,"With our tonguewe will prevail;Our lipsare our own; whois lordover us?"
"Becauseof the devastationof the afflicted,becauseof the groaningof the needy,NowI will arise,"saysthe LORD;"I will sethim in the safetyfor which he longs."
They have closedtheir unfeeling[heart], With their mouththey speakproudly.
Your tonguedevisesdestruction,Like a sharprazor,O workerof deceit.
My soulis amonglions;I must lieamong those who breatheforthfire,[Even] the sonsof men,whose teethare spearsand arrowsAnd their tonguea sharpsword.
They have settheir mouthagainst the heavens,And their tongueparadesthrough the earth.
For their heartwas not steadfasttowardHim, Norwere they faithfulin His covenant.
But turnedbackand actedtreacherouslylike their fathers;They turnedasidelike a treacherousbow.
For Jerusalemhas stumbledand Judahhas fallen,Becausetheir speechand their actionsare againstthe LORD,To rebelagainst His gloriouspresence.
Then they said,"Comeand let us deviseplansagainstJeremiah.Surelythe lawis not going to be lostto the priest,norcounselto the sage,northe [divine] wordto the prophet!Comeon and let us strikeat him with [our] tongue,and let us givenoheedto anyof his words."
"Yetin spite of allthisher treacheroussisterJudahdid not returnto Me with allher heart,but ratherin deception,"declaresthe LORD.
For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,"As My angerand wrathhave been pouredout on the inhabitantsof Jerusalem,soMy wrathwill be pouredout on you when you enterEgypt.And you will becomea curse,an objectof horror,an imprecationand a reproach;and you will seethisplacenomore."
"Thussaysthe LordGOD,You will drinkyour sister'scup,Which is deepand wide.You will be laughedat and held in derision;It containsmuch.
"When they cameto the nationswherethey went,they profanedMy holyname,because it was saidof them, 'Theseare the peopleof the LORD;yet they have comeout of His land.'
He will speakout againstthe MostHighand weardownthe saintsof the HighestOne,and he will intendto makealterationsin timesand in law;and they will be giveninto his handfor a time,times,and halfa time.
They will not returnto the landof Egypt;But Assyria--he will be their kingBecausethey refusedto return[to Me].
So My peopleare benton turningfrom Me. Though they callthem to [the One] on high,Noneat allexalts[Him].
Whatshall I dowith you, O Ephraim?Whatshall I dowith you, O Judah?For your loyaltyis like a morningcloudAnd like the dewwhich goesaway early.
Woeto them, for they have strayedfrom Me! Destructionis theirs, for they have rebelledagainst Me! I would redeemthem, but they speakliesagainstMe.
They will not remainin the LORD'Sland,But Ephraimwill returnto Egypt,And in Assyriathey will eatunclean[food].
They will not pourout drinkofferingsof wineto the LORD,Their sacrificeswill not pleaseHim. [Their bread will] [be] like mourners'bread;Allwho eatof it will be defiled,For their breadwill be for themselves[alone]; It will not enterthe houseof the LORD.
For behold,they will gobecauseof destruction;Egyptwill gatherthem up, Memphiswill burythem. Weedswill takeovertheir treasuresof silver;Thorns[will be] in their tents.
"Your wordshave beenarrogantagainstMe," saysthe LORD."Yet you say,'Whathave we spokenagainstYou?'
"You have said,It is vainto serveGod;and whatprofitis it that we have keptHis charge,and that we have walkedin mourningbeforethe LORDof hosts?
"But I tellyou that everycarelesswordthat peoplespeak,they shall givean accountingfor it in the dayof judgment.
"Those on the rocky[soil are] those who,whenthey hear,receivethe wordwith joy;and thesehaveno[firm] root;they believefor a while,and in timeof temptationfall away.
Soalsothe tongueis a smallpartof the body, and [yet] it boastsof great things.Seehowgreata forestis set aflameby such a smallfire!
(for by what he sawand heard[that] righteousman,while livingamongthem, felt[his] righteoussoultormenteddayafterdayby [their] lawlessdeeds),
There was givento him a mouthspeakingarrogantwords and blasphemies,and authorityto actfor forty-twomonthswas givento him.
