1
1Oh that my head were waters, and my eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of 2the daughter of my people!
2
Oh that I had in the desert a travelers' lodging place, that I might leave my people and go away from them! For they are all 3adulterers, a company of 4treacherous men.
3
5They bend their tongue like a bow; falsehood and not truth has grown strong in the land; for they proceed from evil to evil, 6and they do not know me, declares the LORD.
4
7Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, for every 8brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor 9goes about as a slanderer.
5
Everyone deceives his neighbor, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves committing iniquity.
6
Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit, 10they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.
7
Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: "Behold, 11I will refine them and 12test them, for what else can I do, 13because of my people?
8
14Their tongue is a deadly arrow; 15it speaks deceitfully; with his mouth 16each speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart 17he plans an ambush for him.
9
18Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?
10
"I will take up weeping and wailing for the mountains, and a lamentation for 19the pastures of the wilderness, 20because they are laid waste so that no one passes through, and the lowing of cattle is not heard; 21both the birds of the air and the beasts have fled and are gone.
11
22I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, 23a lair of jackals, 24and I will make the cities of Judah a desolation, without inhabitant."