4 “Watch your friends.Don’t trust your own brothers.This is because every brother is a cheater.And every friend tells lies about you.
5 Everyone lies to his friend.No one speaks the truth.The people of Judah have taught their tongues to lie.They become tired from sinning.
6 Jeremiah, you live in the middle of evil.And lies follow lies.The people have refused to know me,” says the Lord.
7 So this is what the Lord of heaven’s armies says:“I will test the people of Judah as a person tests metal in a fire.I have no other choice.My people have sinned.
8 Their tongues are like sharp arrows.Their mouths speak lies.Everyone speaks nicely to his neighbor.But he is secretly planning to attack him.
9 Shouldn’t I punish the people for doing this?” says the Lord.“Shouldn’t I give them the punishment they deserve?”
10 I, Jeremiah, will cry loudly for the mountains.I will sing a funeral song for the empty fields.They are empty, and no one passes through.The mooing of cattle cannot be heard.The birds have flown away,and the animals are gone.