The Lord answered, “This will happen because my people are foolish. They do not know me. They are like children who have no sense. They have no understanding. They are skilled at doing evil. They do not know how to do good.”

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.

The people to whom they are prophesying will die through war and famine. Their bodies will be thrown out into the streets of Jerusalem and there will be no one to bury them. This will happen to the men and their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out on them the destruction they deserve.”

Rich and poor alike will die in this land. They will not be buried or mourned. People will not cut their bodies or shave off their hair to show their grief for them.

They are worthless, mere objects to be mocked. When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.

Can people make their own gods? No, what they make are not gods at all.”

They are worthless, objects to be ridiculed. When the time comes to punish them, they will be destroyed.

Has a nation ever changed its gods (even though they are not really gods at all)? But my people have exchanged me, their glorious God, for a god that cannot help them at all!

The Lord commanded the enemy, “March through the vineyards of Israel and Judah and ruin them. But do not destroy them completely. Strip off their branches for these people do not belong to the Lord.

Yet even then I will not completely destroy you,” says the Lord.

I reported, “All of them are the most stubborn of rebels! They are as hard as bronze or iron. They go about telling lies. They all deal corruptly.

Do you see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

But I am not really the one being troubled!” says the Lord. “Rather they are bringing trouble on themselves to their own shame!

Listen to what they are saying to me. They are saying, “Where are the things the Lord threatens us with? Come on! Let’s see them happen!”

You will never come back to this land to which you will long to return!”

They are prophesying lies to you and claiming my authority to do so. But I did not send them. I, the Lord, affirm it!’

But they will be subject to the Lord their God and to the Davidic ruler whom I will raise up as king over them.

Out of those places you will hear songs of thanksgiving and the sounds of laughter and merriment. I will increase their number and they will not dwindle away. I will bring them honor and they will no longer be despised.

“When that time comes, people will no longer say, ‘The parents have eaten sour grapes, but the children’s teeth have grown numb.’

But I will most surely heal the wounds of this city and restore it and its people to health. I will show them abundant peace and security.