Jeremiah 5:20-31

Let Evil-doers Fear Yahweh. The folly of not fearing Yahweh is rebuked by a reminder of the power of Him who has set an impassable limit even to the sea (cf. the rebuke of Job's presumption by the description of Nature as Yahweh's work, Job 38-41). Because they have not feared Him who gives the regular rains (the former in October, the latter in March-April), and the resultant harvest (Jeremiah 5:24), they have lost these gifts. Punishment is brought down on the nation by evil-doers, who fill their houses with (the gains of) deceit, as bird-catchers their cages with birds, and by the same arts; evil-doers who are prosperous and sleek, and unjust to the helpless. Horrible in Yahweh's eyes is the degeneracy of the prophets who ought to teach the truth, and of the priests who follow the suggestions of the prophets (Jeremiah 5:31 mg.), and of the people who are satisfied with all this; what of the issue?

Jeremiah 5:24. The dependence of Palestine on the periodic rains for its fertility was felt to link it to Yahweh in a unique degree; cf. Deuteronomy 11:10.

Jeremiah 5:28. shine: i.e. with fat; cf. Job 15:27; Psalms 73:7).