Blessing Or Curse
1 "If you, Israel, want to come back," says the Lord, "if you want to come back to me you must get those disgusting idols out of my sight and must no longer go astray.
1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
1 “If you will (A)return, O Israel,” declares the Lord,“Then you should return to Me.And (B)if you will put away your detested things from My presence,And will not waver,
1 If you return,(a) Israel—this is the Lord’s declaration—you will return to Me,(A)if you remove your detestable idols(B)from My presenceand do not waver,
1 "Israel, if you return to me," declares the LORD, "Return to me, remove your detestable idols from my presence, and don't waver.
2 You must be truthful, honest and upright when you take an oath saying, 'As surely as the Lord lives!' If you do, the nations will pray to be as blessed by him as you are and will make him the object of their boasting."
2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
2 And you will (C)swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’(D)In truth, in justice and in righteousness;Then the (E)nations will bless themselves in Him,And (F)in Him they will glory.”
2 then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,”(C)in truth,(D) in justice, and in righteousness,(E)then the nations will be blessed(b) by Him(F)and will pride themselves in Him.(G)
2 If you swear, "as surely as the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations will be blessed by him, and in him they will boast."
The Lord Will Bring Destruction On Judah From The North
3 Yes, the Lord has this to say to the people of Judah and Jerusalem: "Like a farmer breaking up hard unplowed ground, you must break your rebellious will and make a new beginning; just as a farmer must clear away thorns lest the seed is wasted, you must get rid of the sin that is ruining your lives.
3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem,“(a)(G)Break up your fallow ground,And (H)do not sow among thorns.
3 For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:Break up the unplowed ground;(H)do not sow among the thorns.(I)
3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, "Break up your unplowed ground, and don't sow among thorns.
4 Just as ritual circumcision cuts away the foreskin as an external symbol of dedicated covenant commitment, you must genuinely dedicate yourselves to the Lord and get rid of everything that hinders your commitment to me, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. If you do not, my anger will blaze up like a flaming fire against you that no one will be able to extinguish. That will happen because of the evil you have done."
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
4 “(I)Circumcise yourselves to the LordAnd remove the foreskins of your heart,Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,Or else My (J)wrath will go forth like fireAnd burn with (K)none to quench it,Because of the evil of your deeds.”
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;remove the foreskin of your hearts,(J)men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem.Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fireand burn with no one to extinguish it(K)because of your evil deeds.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskin of your heart, you men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem, or else my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to put it out, because of your evil deeds."
An Invasion From The North
5 The Lord said, "Announce this in Judah and proclaim it in Jerusalem: 'Sound the trumpet throughout the land!' Shout out loudly, 'Gather together! Let us flee into the fortified cities!'
5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
5 Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,“(L)Blow the trumpet in the land;Cry aloud and say,‘(M)Assemble yourselves, and let us goInto the fortified cities.’
5 Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land.(L)Cry out loudly and say:Assemble yourselves,and let’s flee to the fortified cities.
5 Declare in Judah, make known in Jerusalem, by saying, "Blow the trumpet in the land, cry out, and say, "Gather together and let's go to the fortified cities!'
6 Raise a signal flag that tells people to go to Zion. Run for safety! Do not delay! For I am about to bring disaster out of the north. It will bring great destruction.
6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
6 “Lift up a (N)standard toward Zion!Seek refuge, do not stand still,For I am bringing (O)evil from the north,And great destruction.
6 Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.(M)Run for cover! Don’t stand still!For I am bringing disaster from the north—a great destruction.(N)
6 Raise a standard in the direction of Zion. Flee! Don't stand around! For I'm bringing calamity from the north, along with great destruction.
7 Like a lion that has come up from its lair the one who destroys nations has set out from his home base. He is coming out to lay your land waste. Your cities will become ruins and lie uninhabited.
7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
7 “A (P)lion has gone up from his thicket,And a (Q)destroyer of nations has set out;He has gone out from his placeTo (R)make your land a waste.Your cities will be ruinsWithout inhabitant.
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket;(O)a destroyer of nations has set out.He has left his lairto make your land a waste.Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.(P)
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to make your land a waste. Your cities will be ruined, and without inhabitants.
8 So put on sackcloth! Mourn and wail, saying, 'The fierce anger of the Lord has not turned away from us!'"
8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.
8 “For this, (S)put on sackcloth,Lament and wail;For the (T)fierce anger of the LordHas not turned back from us.”
8 Because of this, put on sackcloth;mourn and wail,(Q)for the Lord’s burning anger(R)has not turned away from us.
8 So, put on sackcloth, mourn and wail, because the burning anger of the LORD has not turned away from us."
9 "When this happens," says the Lord, "the king and his officials will lose their courage. The priests will be struck with horror, and the prophets will be speechless in astonishment."
9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
9 “It shall come about in that day,” declares the Lord, “that the (U)heart of the king and the heart of the princes will fail; and the priests will be appalled and the (V)prophets will be astounded.”
9 “On that day”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“the king and the officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be scared speechless.”
9 "On that day," declares the LORD, "the courage of the king and the leaders will fail. The priests will be appalled and the prophets astounded."
10 In response to all this I said, "Ah, Lord God, you have surely allowed the people of Judah and Jerusalem to be deceived by those who say, 'You will be safe!' But in fact a sword is already at our throats."
10 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
10 Then I said, “Ah, Lord (b)God! Surely You have utterly (W)deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘(X)You will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the (c)throat.”
10 I said, “Oh no, Lord God, You have certainly deceived(S) this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’(T) while a sword is at(c) our throats.”
10 Then I replied, "Ah, Lord GOD, you have completely deceived this people and Jerusalem when you said, "You will have peace,' while the sword is at their throat!"
11 "At that time the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be told, 'A scorching wind will sweep down from the hilltops in the desert on my dear people. It will not be a gentle breeze for winnowing the grain and blowing away the chaff.
11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
11 In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A (Y)scorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness in the direction of the daughter of My people—not to winnow and not to cleanse,
11 “At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A searing wind(U) blows from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to My dear(d) people. It comes not to winnow or to sift;
11 At that time, it will be told this people and to Jerusalem, "A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert is coming toward my people, and it's not for winnowing or cleansing.
12 No, a wind too strong for that will come at my bidding. Yes, even now I, myself, am calling down judgment on them.'
12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
12 a wind too strong for (d)this—will come (e)at My command; now I will also pronounce judgments against them.
12 a wind too strong for this comes at My call.(e) Now I will also pronounce judgments against them.’”(V)
12 A wind too strong for that is coming at my bidding. Now I'm judging them as I speak."
Judah Is Surrounded By Enemies
13 Look! The enemy is approaching like gathering clouds. The roar of his chariots is like that of a whirlwind. His horses move more swiftly than eagles." I cry out, "We are doomed, for we will be destroyed!"
13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.
13 “Behold, he (Z)goes up like clouds,And his (AA)chariots like the whirlwind;His horses are (AB)swifter than eagles.Woe to us, for (AC)we are ruined!”
13 Look, he advances like clouds;(W)his chariots are like a storm.(X)His horses are swifter than eagles.(Y)Woe to us, for we are ruined!(Z)
13 Look, he comes up like clouds, and his chariots are like a whirlwind. His horses are as swift as eagles. Woe to us we're destroyed!
14 "Oh people of Jerusalem, purify your hearts from evil so that you may yet be delivered. How long will you continue to harbor up wicked schemes within you?
14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
14 Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem,That you may be saved.How long will your (AD)wicked thoughtsLodge within you?
14 Wash the evil from your heart,(AA) Jerusalem,so that you will be delivered.How long will you harbormalicious thoughts within you?(AB)
14 Jerusalem, wash your evil from your heart so that you may be delivered. How long will you harbor evil schemes within you?
15 For messengers are coming, heralding disaster, from the city of Dan and from the hills of Ephraim.
15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.
15 For a voice announces from Dan,proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.
15 For a voice announces from Dan and declares disaster from Mount Ephraim.
16 They are saying, 'Announce to the surrounding nations, "The enemy is coming!" Proclaim this message to Jerusalem: "Those who besiege cities are coming from a distant land. They are ready to raise the battle cry against the towns in Judah."'
16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.
16 “Report it to the nations, now!Proclaim over Jerusalem,‘Besiegers come from a (AF)far country,And (AG)lift their voices against the cities of Judah.
16 Warn the nations: Look!Proclaim to Jerusalem:Those who besiege are comingfrom a distant land;(AC)they raise their voicesagainst the cities of Judah.
16 "Tell the nations, "Here they come!' Proclaim to Jerusalem, "The besieging forces are coming from a distant land. They cry out against the cities of Judah.
17 They will surround Jerusalem like men guarding a field because they have rebelled against me," says the Lord.
17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.
17 ‘Like watchmen of a field they are (AH)against her round about,Because she has (AI)rebelled against Me,’ declares the Lord.
17 They have her surrounded(AD)like those who guard a field,because she has rebelled against Me.(AE)This is the Lord’s declaration.
17 They have surrounded her like those guarding a field because they have rebelled against me,'" declares the LORD.
18 "The way you have lived and the things you have done will bring this on you. This is the punishment you deserve, and it will be painful indeed. The pain will be so bad it will pierce your heart."
18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.
18 “Your (AJ)ways and your deedsHave (f)brought these things to you.This is your evil. How (AK)bitter!How it has touched your heart!”
18 Your way of life and your actionshave brought this on you.(AF)This is your punishment. It is very bitter,because it has reached your heart!
18 "Your lifestyles and your actions have brought these things on you. This is your calamity it is indeed bitter, for it has reached your heart!"
Jeremiah's Sorrow For His People
19 I said, "Oh, the feeling in the pit of my stomach! I writhe in anguish. Oh, the pain in my heart! My heart pounds within me. I cannot keep silent. For I hear the sound of the trumpet; the sound of the battle cry pierces my soul!
19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
19 (AL)My (g)soul, my (h)soul! I am in anguish! (i)Oh, my heart!My (AM)heart is pounding in me;I cannot be silent,Because (j)you have heard, O my soul,The (AN)sound of the trumpet,The alarm of war.
19 My anguish, my anguish!(f) I writhe in agony!Oh, the pain in(g) my heart!(AG)My heart pounds;I cannot be silent.For you, my soul,have heard the sound of the ram’s horn—the shout of battle.
19 "My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the aching of my heart! My heart pounds within me; I cannot keep silent. For I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm for war.
20 I see one destruction after another taking place, so that the whole land lies in ruins. I see our tents suddenly destroyed, their curtains torn down in a mere instant.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
20 (AO)Disaster on disaster is proclaimed,For the (AP)whole land is devastated;Suddenly my (AQ)tents are devastated,My curtains in an instant.
20 Disaster after disaster(AH) is reportedbecause the whole land is destroyed.Suddenly my tents are destroyed,my tent curtains, in a moment.
20 Disaster upon disaster is proclaimed, for the entire land is devastated. Suddenly, my tent is destroyed, in a moment my curtains.
21 "How long must I see the enemy's battle flags and hear the military signals of their bugles?"
21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
21 How long must I see the standardAnd hear the sound of the trumpet?
21 How long must I see the signal flagand hear the sound of the ram’s horn?
21 How long will I see the battle standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 The Lord answered, "This will happen because my people are foolish. They do not know me. They are like children who have no sense. They have no understanding. They are skilled at doing evil. They do not know how to do good."
22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
22 “(AR)For My people are foolish,They know Me not;They are stupid childrenAnd have no understanding.They are shrewd to (AS)do evil,But to do good they do not know.”
22 “For My people are fools;they do not know Me.They are foolish children,without understanding.(AI)They are skilled in doing what is evil,but they do not know how to do what is good.”(AJ)
22 "For my people are foolish, they don't know me. They're stupid children, they have no understanding. They're skilled at doing evil, but how to do good, they don't know."
Jeremiah's Vision Of The Coming Destruction
23 "I looked at the land and saw that it was an empty wasteland. I looked up at the sky, and its light had vanished.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was (k)(AT) formless and void;And to the heavens, and they had no light.
23 I looked at the earth,and it was formless and empty.(AK)I looked to the heavens,and their light was gone.(AL)
23 I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void, at the heavens, and there was no light there.
24 I looked at the mountains and saw that they were shaking. All the hills were swaying back and forth!
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were (AU)quaking,And all the hills (l)moved to and fro.
24 I looked at the mountains; they were quaking, and all the hills moved back and forth.
26 I looked and saw that the fruitful land had become a desert and that all of the cities had been laid in ruins. The Lord had brought this all about because of his blazing anger.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
26 I looked, and behold, (m)the (AW)fruitful land was a wilderness,And all its cities were pulled downBefore the Lord, before His fierce anger.
26 I looked, and the fertile field(AP) was a wilderness.(AQ)All its cities were torn downbecause of the Lordand His burning anger.(AR)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land had become a desert. All its towns were broken down because of the LORD, because of his burning anger.
27 All this will happen because the Lord said, "The whole land will be desolate; however, I will not completely destroy it.
27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
27 For thus says the Lord,“The (AX)whole land shall be a desolation,Yet I will (AY)not execute a complete destruction.
27 For this is what the Lord says:The whole land will be a desolation,(AS)but I will not finish it off.(AT)
27 For this is what the LORD says: "The entire land will be devastated, but I won't completely destroy it.
28 Because of this the land will mourn and the sky above will grow black. For I have made my purpose known and I will not relent or turn back from carrying it out."
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
28 “For this the (AZ)earth shall mournAnd the (BA)heavens above be dark,Because I have (BB)spoken, I have purposed,And I will not (n)change My mind, nor will I turn from it.”
28 Because of this, the earth will mourn;(AU)the skies above will grow dark.(AV)I have spoken; I have planned,and I will not relent or turn back from it.(AW)
28 Because of this, the land will mourn, and the heavens above will be dark. Because I have spoken and decided, I won't turn back from doing it."
29 At the sound of the approaching horsemen and archers the people of every town will flee. Some of them will hide in the thickets. Others will climb up among the rocks. All the cities will be deserted. No one will remain in them.
29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.
29 At the sound of the horseman and bowman (BC)every city flees;They (BD)go into the thickets and climb among the rocks;(BE)Every city is forsaken,And no man dwells in them.
29 Every city flees(AX)at the sound of the horseman and the archer.They enter the thicketsand climb among the rocks.(AY)Every city is abandoned;no inhabitant is left.
29 At the sound of the horseman and the archer the entire city flees. Its residents go into the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned, and no one lives in them.
30 And you, Zion, city doomed to destruction, you accomplish nothing by wearing a beautiful dress, decking yourself out in jewels of gold, and putting on eye shadow! You are making yourself beautiful for nothing. Your lovers spurn you. They want to kill you.
30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
30 And you, O desolate one, (BF)what will you do?Although you dress in scarlet,Although you decorate yourself with ornaments of gold,Although you (BG)enlarge your eyes with paint,In vain you make yourself beautiful.Your (o)(BH)lovers despise you;They seek your life.
30 And you, devastated one, what are you doing(AZ)that you dress yourself in scarlet,that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry,that you enlarge your eyes with paint?(BA)You beautify yourself for nothing.Your lovers reject you;(BB)they want to take your life.(BC)
30 You are ruined! What are you doing dressing in scarlet, putting on golden ornaments, and highlighting your eyes with makeup? You are making yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers reject you they're out to kill you.
31 In fact, I hear a cry like that of a woman in labor, a cry of anguish like that of a woman giving birth to her first baby. It is the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, reaching out for help, saying, "I am done in! My life is ebbing away before these murderers!"
31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
31 For I heard a (p)cry as of a woman in labor,The anguish as of one giving birth to her first child,The (q)cry of the daughter of Zion (BI)gasping for breath,(BJ)Stretching out her (r)hands, saying,“Ah, woe is me, for (s)I faint before murderers.”
31 I hear a cry like a woman in labor,(BD)a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child.The cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath,stretching out her hands:(BE)Woe is me, for my life is wearybecause of the murderers!
31 I heard a cry like that of a woman in labor, anguish like one giving birth to her firstborn, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for air, stretching out her hand: "Woe is me! I'm about to faint in front of killers!"