The people have planted wheat, but they have harvested only thorns. They have worked hard until they were very tired, but they have nothing for all their work. They are ashamed of their poor harvest, because the Lord’s terrible anger has caused this.”
Even your own brothers and members of your own family are making plans against you. They are crying out against you. Don’t trust them, even when they say nice things to you!
Can a person from Cush change the color of his skin? Can a leopard change his spots? In the same way, Jerusalem, you cannot change and do good, because you are accustomed to doing evil.
The Lord says, “My people are foolish. They do not know me. They are stupid children; they don’t understand. They are skillful at doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good.”
This is what the Lord All-Powerful says: “Babylon’s thick wall will be completely pulled down and her high gates burned. The people will work hard, but it won’t help; their work will only become fuel for the flames!”
Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and will not rise again because of the terrible things I will make happen here. Her people will fall.’ ” The words of Jeremiah end here.
So say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God. These people do nothing when I correct them. They do not tell the truth; it has disappeared from their lips.
“They use their tongues like a bow, shooting lies from their mouths like arrows. Lies, not truth, have grown strong in the land. They go from one evil thing to another. They do not know who I am,” says the Lord.
We all have the same father; the same God made us. So why do people break their promises to each other and show no respect for the agreement our ancestors made with God?