Jeremiah 9:2-9
2
Oh, that I had in the desert
a lodging place for travelers,
so that I might leave my people
and go away from them;
for they are all adulterers,
a crowd of unfaithful people.
3
“They make ready their tongue
like a bow, to shoot lies;
it is not by truth
that they triumph in the land.
They go from one sin to another;
they do not acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.
4
“Beware of your friends;
do not trust your brothers.
For every brother is a deceiver,
and every friend a slanderer.
5
Friend deceives friend,
and no one speaks the truth.
They have taught their tongues to lie;
they weary themselves with sinning.
6
You live in the midst of deception;
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.
7
Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:
“See, I will refine and test them,
for what else can I do
because of the sin of my people?
8
Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
it speaks with deceit.
With his mouth each speaks cordially to his neighbor,
but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
9
Should I not punish them for this?”
declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge myself
on such a nation as this?”