9 These “wise people” refused to listen to the Lord’S teachings. So they are not really wise at all. These “wise people” were trapped. They became shocked and ashamed.
10 So I will give their wives to other men. I will give their fields to new owners. All the people of Israel want more and more money. All of them, from the least important to the most important, are like that. Even the prophets and priests tell lies.
11 They should bandage the wounds my people have suffered, but they treat their wounds like small scratches. They say, “It’s all right, everything is all right.” But it is not all right!
12 They should be ashamed of the evil things they do, but they are not ashamed at all. They don’t know enough to be embarrassed by their sins. So they will be punished with everyone else. They will be thrown to the ground when I punish the people.’” This is what the Lord said.
13 “‘I will take away their fruit and crops so that there will be no harvest, says the Lord. There will be no grapes on the vine and no figs on the fig tree. Even the leaves will become dry and die. I will take away the things I gave them.’”
14 “They will say, ‘Why are we just sitting here? Come, let’s run to the strong cities. If the Lord our God is going to make us die, then let’s die there. We have sinned against the Lord, so he has given us poisoned water to drink.
15 We hoped to have peace, but nothing good has come. We hoped that he would forgive us, but only disaster has come.