One friend deceives another and no one tells the truth. These people have trained themselves to tell lies. They do wrong and are unable to repent.

Their tongues are like deadly arrows. They are always telling lies. Friendly words for their neighbors come from their mouths. But their minds are thinking up ways to trap them.

Then I said to the people of Judah, “Listen and pay attention! Do not be arrogant! For the Lord has spoken.

And there are times when I promise to build up and establish a nation or kingdom.

The officials may hear that I have talked with you. They may come to you and say, ‘Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you. Do not hide anything from us. If you do, we will kill you.’

I answered, “Oh, Lord God, I really do not know how to speak well enough for that, for I am too young.”

You will not always be angry with me, will you? You will not be mad at me forever, will you?’ That is what you say, but you continually do all the evil that you can.”

No, a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding. Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.’

You people of Israel, listen to what the Lord has to say to you.

“Hear the terms of the covenant I made with Israel and pass them on to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem.

There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom.

The Lord told me, “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah. Give him a message from me there.

I did not send those prophets. Yet they were in a hurry to give their message. I did not tell them anything. Yet they prophesied anyway.

Each of you should merely ask the prophet, ‘What answer did the Lord give you? Or what did the Lord say?’

But listen to what I say to you and to all these people.

So here is what the Lord has to say about Israel and Judah.

The prophet Jeremiah told all this to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem.

Ebed Melech departed the palace and went to speak to the king. He said to him,

“We will not listen to what you claim the Lord has spoken to us!

The Lord spoke concerning Babylon and the land of Babylonia through the prophet Jeremiah.