The two questions in Jeremiah 10:4 suggest that normally people learn from their mistakes. So why has Judah not learnt form hers?
asks the Lord. Why then has this people turned away in perpetual backsliding?
Instead of turning back they keep turning away; they keep moving further and further away from the Lord1 The Lord answers his own question. The people hold fast to deceit; they refuse to return.
The Hebrew word tarmit is translated as deceit.
Jeremiah uses it twice (Jeremiah 14:14; Jeremiah 23:26) to describe the false prophets. He is therefore probably speaking here of Judah’s stubborn rejection of his message of coming judgment as they hold fast
to the false prophet’s message that judgment is not coming and all will be well.2
5 Pourquoi donc ce peuple de Jérusalem s'abandonne-t-il A de perpétuels égarements? Ils persistent dans la tromperie, Ils refusent de se convertir.