The prophet mourns over the destruction to come. The people are in despair, and the destruction decreed by God is inevitable.

God asks us, "Don't people get up after they fall? Why can't my people change their ways after they made mistakes?" The laws God gives are laws that are natural, a corrupt society will fail, just as birds know their seasons, My people should know how to behave. So why do they persist and refuse to admit their mistakes?

Prayer without any self improvement is disgusting to God. God tells us, "I am not interested in your prayers if you continue to live corrupt lives. When I took you out of Egypt, it was to create a special bond of holiness between us, I wanted you to go in my ways and live holy lives. I was never interested in your sacrifices. Take the meat and eat it youselves!"

This is just a house, God says of the Temple. Don;t think you can come in here and pray and be saved from your sins if you don't make an effort to change your ways and live proper lives. If you won't do justice for the less fortunate, don't come in here to pray.

You had so many ways to learn the right path, but you chose not to listen. God turns to the nations of the world, indeed to all of nature. Why am I punishing the people who "worship" Me? Because the worship of fancy incense and sacrifices is not the type of worship I want. If you can't get rid of your impurities, your talebearing and your dishonesty, then to Me you are like silver that connot be purified. such people, I will reject.

The prophet is exhausted. No one listens, no one pays any attention. Destruction is coming, and the people continue to pretend that there is nothing wrong. When people aren't even ashamed of their corrupt, lying ways, there is no hope left for change.

The people have been so convinced by the false prophets that everything was going to be OK, that when the punishment comes, they will exlaim, "Why?" So God tells the prophet to explain very clearly why, so they have no excuse. You are full of corruption, abuse of the poor, lying and stealing. Now that you know why you are getting punished, the prophet challenges the people, "What are you going to do about it?"

God challenges the prophet to find even one man who seeks justice and trustworthiness. Sadly, there are none. The people just won't listen, nothing will turn them back to God. If no one can save the people, not even Jeremiah himself, then God will unleash a mighty and powerful nation to come and destroy Judah.

In an ongoing discussion between God and His prophet, Jeremiah sees destruction, and God explains why it has to be. In one astounding statement, called castigates His people for being foolish.

God, and then the prophet himself beseech the people to mend their ways to prevent the coming destruction. There is still a chance if you stop listening to the false prophets who tell you that everything will be fine. You must actually improve your ways to come back to God. If you do, you will be a source of justice and righteousness for the entire world to follow. If you don't, the the destroyers of nations will come to destroy instead of build.