⁶ There is wrong on wrong, deceit on deceit; they have given up the knowledge of me, says the Lord.

¹⁹ And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil.

²⁰ The light is hated by everyone whose acts are evil and he does not come to the light for fear that his acts will be seen.

¹⁰ These evil people who say they will not give ear to my words, who go on in the pride of their hearts and have become servants and worshippers of other gods, will become like this band which is of no use for anything.

²⁹ For they were haters of knowledge, and did not give their hearts to the fear of the Lord:

²⁴ Because your ears were shut to my voice; no one gave attention to my out-stretched hand;

¹⁴ Though they said to God, Go away from us, for we have no desire for the knowledge of your ways.

¹⁵ What is the Ruler of all, that we may give him worship? and what profit is it to us to make prayer to him?

³⁴ Be awake to righteousness and keep yourselves from sin; for some have no knowledge of God: I say this to put you to shame.

²⁸ And because they had not the mind to keep God in their knowledge, God gave them up to an evil mind, to do those things which are not right;

⁶ Destruction has overtaken my people because they have no knowledge; because you have given up knowledge, I will give you up, so that you will be no priest to me, because you have not kept in mind the law of your God, I will not keep your children in my memory.

¹⁰ For numbers of them say evil secretly in my hearing (there is fear on every side): they say, Come, let us give witness against him; all my nearest friends, who are watching for my fall, say, It may be that he will be taken by deceit, and we will get the better of him and give him punishment.

¹⁸ Then they said, Come, let us make a design against Jeremiah; for teaching will never be cut off from the priest, or wisdom from the wise, or the word from the prophet. Come, let us make use of his words for an attack on him, and let us give attention with care to what he says.

¹⁹ But I was like a gentle lamb taken to be put to death; I had no thought that they were designing evil against me, saying, Come and let us make trouble his food, cutting him off from the land of the living, so that there may be no more memory of his name.

⁵ Why do these people of Jerusalem go back, for ever turning away? they will not give up their deceit, they will not come back.

²⁷ As the fowl-house is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: for this reason they have become great and have got wealth.

² O Lord, be the saviour of my soul from false lips, and from the tongue of deceit.

³ What punishment will he give you? what more will he do to you, you false tongue?

⁴ Sharp arrows of the strong, and burning fire.

⁵ Sorrow is mine because I am strange in Meshech, and living in the tents of Kedar.

⁶ My soul has long been living with the haters of peace.