This day I have told you what he said. But you do not want to obey the Lord by doing what he sent me to tell you.

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah about the nations.

The people of Gaza will shave their heads in mourning. The people of Ashkelon will be struck dumb. How long will you gash yourselves to show your sorrow, you who remain of Philistia’s power?

How long will you cry out, ‘Oh, sword of the Lord, how long will it be before you stop killing? Go back into your sheath! Stay there and rest!’

You who live in Aroer, stand by the road and watch. Question the man who is fleeing and the woman who is escaping. Ask them, ‘What has happened?’

For the Lord says, “Look! Like an eagle with outspread wings a nation will swoop down on Moab.

Why do you brag about your great power? Your power is ebbing away, you rebellious people of Ammon, who trust in your riches and say, ‘Who would dare to attack us?’

“Listen! I am opposed to you, you proud city,” says the Lord God who rules over all. “Indeed, your day of reckoning has come, the time when I will punish you.

A drought will come upon her land; her rivers and canals will be dried up. All of this will happen because her land is filled with idols. Her people act like madmen because of those idols they fear.

Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon, make sure you read aloud all these prophecies.

Nebuzaradan, the captain of the royal guard, took them and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.

ד (Dalet) The infant’s tongue sticks to the roof of its mouth due to thirst; little children beg for bread, but no one gives them even a morsel.

He said to me, “Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak with you.”

You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.

Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll.

He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front and back; written on it were laments, mourning, and woe.

At the end of seven days the word of the Lord came to me:

You must turn your face toward the siege of Jerusalem with your arm bared and prophesy against it.

They will know that I am the Lord; my threats to bring this catastrophe on them were not empty.’

“They have blown the trumpet and everyone is ready, but no one goes to battle, because my anger is against their whole crowd.