Wail, you people in Heshbon, because Ai in Ammon is destroyed. Cry out in anguish, you people in the villages surrounding Rabbah. Put on sackcloth and cry out in mourning. Run about covered with gashes. For your god Milcom will go into exile along with his priests and officials.

I, the Lord, say: ‘That is how I will deal with this city and its citizens. I will make it like Topheth.

Moreover, the Lord says, “Both the prophets and priests are godless. I have even found them doing evil in my temple!

‘Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.’

Then Jeremiah told Baruch, “I am no longer allowed to go into the Lord’s temple.

King Zedekiah said to them, “Very well, you can do what you want with him. For I cannot do anything to stop you.”

I will have compassion on you so that he in turn will have mercy on you and allow you to return to your land.’

“You must not disobey the Lord your God by saying, ‘We will not stay in this land.’

Why do you constantly go about changing your political allegiances? You will get no help from Egypt just as you got no help from Assyria.

They are saying, ‘Announce to the surrounding nations, “The enemy is coming!” Proclaim this message to Jerusalem: “Those who besiege cities are coming from a distant land. They are ready to raise the battle cry against the towns in Judah.”’

And you have acted even more wickedly than your ancestors! Each one of you has followed the stubborn inclinations of your own wicked heart and not obeyed me.

Before two years are over, I will bring back to this place everything that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took from it and carried away to Babylon.

How long will you vacillate, you who were once like an unfaithful daughter? For I, the Lord, promise to bring about something new on the earth, something as unique as a woman protecting a man!’”

“Indeed, a time is coming,” says the Lord, “when I will cause people and animals to sprout up in the lands of Israel and Judah.

For the Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, “Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.”’

“Come back to me, my wayward sons,” says the Lord, “for I am your true master. If you do, I will take one of you from each town and two of you from each family group, and I will bring you back to Zion.

“Stand in the gate of the Lord’s temple and proclaim this message: ‘Listen, all you people of Judah who have passed through these gates to worship the Lord. Hear what the Lord has to say.

Then you come and stand in my presence in this temple I have claimed as my own and say, “We are safe!” You think you are so safe that you go on doing all those hateful sins!

Why should you be like someone who is helpless, like a champion who cannot save anyone? You are indeed with us, and we belong to you. Do not abandon us!”

Then I said, “Oh, Lord God, look! The prophets are telling them that you said, ‘You will not experience war or suffer famine. I will give you lasting peace and prosperity in this land.’”