9. You seem like a man who has been attacked by surprise, like a soldier who does not have the power to save anyone. But, Lord, you are with us. We are called by your name, so don’t leave us without help!”
10. This is what the Lord says about the people of Judah: “The people of Judah really love to leave me. They don’t stop themselves from leaving me. So now the Lord will not accept them. Now he will remember the evil they do. He will punish them for their sins.”
11. Then the Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, don’t pray for good things to happen to the people of Judah.
12. They might begin to fast and pray to me, but I will not listen to their prayers. Even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings to me, I will not accept them. I will destroy the people of Judah with war. I will take away their food, and they will starve. And I will destroy them with terrible diseases.”