Light
Dark
Font Family
Default
Arial
Verdana
Helvetica
Tahoma
Georgia
Times New Roman
Font Size
Default
1.0
1.2
1.5
2
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Bible Version
ESV
NIV
NASB
CSB
NLT
KJV
NKJV
Book
Jeremiah
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
Chapter
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
Verse
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
Jeremiah chapter 4
English Standard Version
1
"If you return, O Israel, declares the
Lord
,
to me you should return.
If you remove your detestable things from my presence,
and do not waver,
2
and if you swear, ‘As the
Lord
lives,’
in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,
then nations shall bless themselves in him,
and in him shall they glory."
3
For thus says the
Lord
to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
"Break up your fallow ground,
and sow not among thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to the
Lord
;
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;
lest my wrath go forth like fire,
and burn with none to quench it,
because of the evil of your deeds."
5
Declare in Judah, and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,
"Blow the trumpet through the land;
cry aloud and say,
‘Assemble, and let us go
into the fortified cities!’
6
Raise a standard toward Zion,
flee for safety, stay not,
for I bring disaster from the north,
and great destruction.
7
A lion has gone up from his thicket,
a destroyer of nations has set out;
he has gone out from his place
to make your land a waste;
your cities will be ruins
without inhabitant.
8
For this put on sackcloth,
lament and wail,
for the fierce anger of the
Lord
has not turned back from us."
9
"In that day, declares the
Lord
, courage shall fail both king and officials. The priests shall be appalled and the prophets astounded."
10
Then I said, "Ah, Lord
God
, surely you have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘It shall be well with you,’ whereas the sword has reached their very life."
11
At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, "A hot wind from the bare heights in the desert toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow or cleanse,
12
a wind too full for this comes for me. Now it is I who speak in judgment upon them."
13
Behold, he comes up like clouds;
his chariots like the whirlwind;
his horses are swifter than eagles —
woe to us, for we are ruined!
14
O Jerusalem, wash your heart from evil,
that you may be saved.
How long shall your wicked thoughts
lodge within you?
15
For a voice declares from Dan
and proclaims trouble from Mount Ephraim.
16
Warn the nations that he is coming;
announce to Jerusalem,
"Besiegers come from a distant land;
they shout against the cities of Judah.
17
Like keepers of a field are they against her all around,
because she has rebelled against me, declares the
Lord
.
18
Your ways and your deeds
have brought this upon you.
This is your doom, and it is bitter;
it has reached your very heart."
19
My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain!
Oh the walls of my heart!
My heart is beating wildly;
I cannot keep silent,
for I hear the sound of the trumpet,
the alarm of war.
20
Crash follows hard on crash;
the whole land is laid waste.
Suddenly my tents are laid waste,
my curtains in a moment.
21
How long must I see the standard
and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22
"For my people are foolish;
they know me not;
they are stupid children;
they have no understanding.
They are ‘wise’ — in doing evil!
But how to do good they know not."
23
I looked on the earth, and behold, it was without form and void;
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
24
I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking,
and all the hills moved to and fro.
25
I looked, and behold, there was no man,
and all the birds of the air had fled.
26
I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a desert,
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the
Lord
, before his fierce anger.
27
For thus says the
Lord
, "The whole land shall be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
28
"For this the earth shall mourn,
and the heavens above be dark;
for I have spoken; I have purposed;
I have not relented, nor will I turn back."
29
At the noise of horseman and archer
every city takes to flight;
they enter thickets; they climb among rocks;
all the cities are forsaken,
and no man dwells in them.
30
And you, O desolate one,
what do you mean that you dress in scarlet,
that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold,
that you enlarge your eyes with paint?
In vain you beautify yourself.
Your lovers despise you;
they seek your life.
31
For I heard a cry as of a woman in labor,
anguish as of one giving birth to her first child,
the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands,
"Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers."
New International Version
1
"If you, Israel, will return,
then return to me,"
declares the
Lord
.
"If you put your detestable idols out of my sight
and no longer go astray,
2
and if in a truthful, just and righteous way
you swear, ‘As surely as the
Lord
lives,’
then the nations will invoke blessings by him
and in him they will boast."
3
This is what the
Lord
says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:
"Break up your unplowed ground
and do not sow among thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to the
Lord
,
circumcise your hearts,
you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done—
burn with no one to quench it.
5
"Announce in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem and say:
‘Sound the trumpet throughout the land!’
Cry aloud and say:
‘Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities!’
6
Raise the signal to go to Zion!
Flee for safety without delay!
For I am bringing disaster from the north,
even terrible destruction."
7
A lion has come out of his lair;
a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his place
to lay waste your land.
Your towns will lie in ruins
without inhabitant.
8
So put on sackcloth,
lament and wail,
for the fierce anger of the
Lord
has not turned away from us.
9
"In that day," declares the
Lord
,
"the king and the officials will lose heart,
the priests will be horrified,
and the prophets will be appalled."
10
Then I said, "Alas, Sovereign
Lord
! How completely you have deceived this people and Jerusalem by saying, ‘You will have peace,’ when the sword is at our throats!"
11
At that time this people and Jerusalem will be told, "A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert blows toward my people, but not to winnow or cleanse;
12
a wind too strong for that comes from me. Now I pronounce my judgments against them."
13
Look! He advances like the clouds,
his chariots come like a whirlwind,
his horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us! We are ruined!
14
Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved.
How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?
15
A voice is announcing from Dan,
proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.
16
"Tell this to the nations,
proclaim concerning Jerusalem:
‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land,
raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.
17
They surround her like men guarding a field,
because she has rebelled against me,’ "
declares the
Lord
.
18
"Your own conduct and actions
have brought this on you.
This is your punishment.
How bitter it is!
How it pierces to the heart!"
19
Oh, my anguish, my anguish!
I writhe in pain.
Oh, the agony of my heart!
My heart pounds within me,
I cannot keep silent.
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet;
I have heard the battle cry.
20
Disaster follows disaster;
the whole land lies in ruins.
In an instant my tents are destroyed,
my shelter in a moment.
21
How long must I see the battle standard
and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22
"My people are fools;
they do not know me.
They are senseless children;
they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil;
they know not how to do good."
23
I looked at the earth,
and it was formless and empty;
and at the heavens,
and their light was gone.
24
I looked at the mountains,
and they were quaking;
all the hills were swaying.
25
I looked, and there were no people;
every bird in the sky had flown away.
26
I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert;
all its towns lay in ruins
before the
Lord
, before his fierce anger.
27
This is what the
Lord
says:
"The whole land will be ruined,
though I will not destroy it completely.
28
Therefore the earth will mourn
and the heavens above grow dark,
because I have spoken and will not relent,
I have decided and will not turn back."
29
At the sound of horsemen and archers
every town takes to flight.
Some go into the thickets;
some climb up among the rocks.
All the towns are deserted;
no one lives in them.
30
What are you doing, you devastated one?
Why dress yourself in scarlet
and put on jewels of gold?
Why highlight your eyes with makeup?
You adorn yourself in vain.
Your lovers despise you;
they want to kill you.
31
I hear a cry as of a woman in labor,
a groan as of one bearing her first child—
the cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands and saying,
"Alas! I am fainting;
my life is given over to murderers."
New American Standard Bible
1
'If you will return, Israel,' declares the
Lord
,
'
Then
you should return to Me.
And if you will put away your detestable things from My presence,
And will not waver,
2
And
if
you will swear, ‘As the
Lord
lives,’
In truth, in justice, and in righteousness;
Then the nations will bless themselves in Him,
And in Him they will boast.'
3
For this is what the
Lord
says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem:
'Break up your uncultivated ground,
And do not sow among thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to the
Lord
And remove the foreskins of your hearts,
Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Or else My wrath will spread like fire
And burn with no one to quench it,
Because of the evil of your deeds.'
5
Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,
'Blow the trumpet in the land;
Cry aloud and say,
‘Assemble, and let’s go
Into the fortified cities.’
6
Raise a flag toward Zion!
Take refuge, do not stand
still,
For I am bringing evil from the north,
And great destruction.
7
A lion has gone up from his thicket,
And a destroyer of nations has set out;
He has gone out from his place
To make your land a waste.
Your cities will be ruins,
Without an inhabitant.
8
For this, put on sackcloth,
Mourn and wail;
For the fierce anger of the
Lord
Has not turned away from us.'
9
And it shall come about on that day,' declares the
Lord
, 'that the heart of the king and the hearts of the leaders will fail; and the priests will tremble, and the prophets will be astonished.'
10
Then I said, 'Oh, Lord
God
! Surely You have utterly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace’; yet a sword touches the throat.'
11
At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, 'A 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,
12
a wind too strong for this—will come at My command; now I will also pronounce judgments against them.'
13
'Behold, he goes up like clouds,
And his chariots like the whirlwind;
His horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us, for we are ruined!'
14
Wash your heart from evil, Jerusalem,
So that you may be saved.
How long will your wicked thoughts
Lodge within you?
15
For a voice declares from Dan,
And proclaims wickedness from Mount Ephraim.
16
'Report
it
to the nations, now!
Proclaim to Jerusalem,
‘ Enemies are coming from a remote country,
And they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
17
Like watchmen of a field they are against her all around,
Because she has rebelled against Me,’ declares the
Lord
.
18
Your ways and your deeds
Have brought these things upon you.
This is your evil. How bitter!
How it has touched your heart!'
19
My soul, my soul! I am in anguish! Oh, my heart!
My heart is pounding in me;
I cannot keep silent,
Because, my soul, you have heard
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20
Disaster upon disaster is proclaimed,
For the whole land is devastated;
Suddenly my tents are devastated,
And
my curtains in an instant.
21
How long must I see the flag
And hear the sound of the trumpet?
22
'For My people are foolish,
They do not know Me;
They are foolish children
And have no understanding.
They are skillful at doing evil,
But they do not know how to do good.'
23
I looked at the earth, and behold,
it was
a formless and desolate emptiness;
And to the heavens, and they had no light.
24
I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were quaking,
And all the hills jolted back and forth.
25
I looked, and behold, there was no human,
And all the birds of the sky had fled.
26
I looked, and behold, the fruitful land was a wilderness,
And all its cities were pulled down
Before the
Lord
, before His fierce anger.
27
For this is what the
Lord
says:
'The whole land shall be a desolation,
Yet I will not execute a complete destruction.
28
For this the earth will mourn,
And the heavens above will become dark,
Because I have spoken, I have purposed,
And I have not changed My mind, nor will I turn from it.'
29
At the sound of the horseman and archer every city flees;
They go into the thickets and climb among the rocks;
Every city is abandoned,
And no one lives in them.
30
And you, desolate one, what will you do?
Although you dress in scarlet,
Although you adorn
yourself with
jewelry of gold,
Although you enlarge your eyes with makeup,
In vain you make yourself beautiful.
Your
lovers despise you;
They seek your life.
31
For I heard a voice
cry
as of a woman in labor,
The anguish as of one giving birth to her first child.
The voice of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
Stretching out her hands,
saying,
'Ah, woe to me, for I faint before murderers.'
Christian Standard Bible
1
If you return, Israel— this is the
Lord
’s declaration— you will return to me,
if you remove your abhorrent idols
from my presence
and do not waver,
2
then you can swear, "As the
Lord
lives,"
in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,
then the nations will be blessed by him
and will pride themselves in him.
3
For this is what the
Lord
says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
Break up the unplowed ground;
do not sow among the thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to the
Lord
;
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem.
Otherwise, my wrath will break out like fire
and burn with no one to extinguish it
because of your evil deeds.
5
Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:
Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land.
Cry out loudly and say:
Assemble yourselves,
and let’s flee to the fortified cities.
6
Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.
Run for cover! Don’t stand still!
For I am bringing disaster from the north—
a crushing blow.
7
A lion has gone up from his thicket;
a destroyer of nations has set out.
He has left his lair
to make your land a waste.
Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.
8
Because of this, put on sackcloth;
mourn and wail,
for the
Lord
’s burning anger
has not turned away from us.
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."
10
I said, "Oh no, Lord
God
, you have certainly deceived this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’ while a sword is at our throats."
11
"At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A searing wind blows from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to my dear people. It comes not to winnow or to sift;
12
a wind too strong for this comes at my call. Now I will also pronounce judgments against them.’"
13
Look, he advances like clouds;
his chariots are like a storm.
His horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us, for we are ruined!
14
Wash the evil from your heart, Jerusalem,
so that you will be delivered.
How long will you harbor
malicious thoughts?
15
For a voice announces from Dan,
proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.
16
Warn the nations: Look!
Proclaim to Jerusalem:
Those who besiege are coming
from a distant land;
they raise their voices
against the cities of Judah.
17
They have her surrounded
like those who guard a field,
because she has rebelled against me. This is the
Lord
’s declaration.
18
Your way and your actions
have brought this on you.
This is your punishment. It is very bitter,
because it has reached your heart!
19
My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in agony!
Oh, the pain in my heart!
My heart pounds;
I cannot be silent.
For you, my soul,
have heard the sound of the ram’s horn—
the shout of battle.
20
Disaster after disaster is reported
because the whole land is destroyed.
Suddenly my tents are destroyed,
my tent curtains, in a moment.
21
How long must I see the signal flag
and hear the sound of the ram’s horn?
22
"For my people are fools;
they do not know me.
They are foolish children,
without understanding.
They are skilled in doing what is evil,
but they do not know how to do what is good."
23
I looked at the earth,
and it was formless and empty.
I looked to the heavens,
and their light was gone.
24
I looked at the mountains,
and they were quaking;
all the hills shook.
25
I looked, and there was no human being,
and all the birds of the sky had fled.
26
I looked, and the fertile field was a wilderness.
All its cities were torn down
because of the
Lord
and his burning anger.
27
For this is what the
Lord
says:
The whole land will be a desolation,
but I will not finish it off.
28
Because of this, the earth will mourn;
the skies above will grow dark.
I have spoken; I have planned,
and I will not relent or turn back from it.
29
Every city flees
at the sound of the horseman and the archer.
They enter the thickets
and climb among the rocks.
Every city is abandoned;
no inhabitant is left.
30
And you, devastated one, what are you doing
that you dress yourself in scarlet,
that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry,
that you enhance your eyes with makeup?
You beautify yourself for nothing.
Your lovers reject you;
they intend to take your life.
31
I hear a cry like a woman in labor,
a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child.
The cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands:
"Woe is me, for my life is weary
because of the murderers!"
New Living Translation
1
'O Israel,' says the
Lord
,
'if you wanted to return to me, you could.
You could throw away your detestable idols
and stray away no more.
2
Then when you swear by my name, saying,
‘As surely as the
Lord
lives,’
you could do so
with truth, justice, and righteousness.
Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,
and all people would come and praise my name.'
3
This is what the
Lord
says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:
'Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!
Do not waste your good seed among thorns.
4
O people of Judah and Jerusalem,
surrender your pride and power.
Change your hearts before the
Lord
,
or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire
because of all your sins.
5
'Shout to Judah, and broadcast to Jerusalem!
Tell them to sound the alarm throughout the land:
‘Run for your lives!
Flee to the fortified cities!’
6
Raise a signal flag as a warning for Jerusalem :
‘Flee now! Do not delay!’
For I am bringing terrible destruction upon you
from the north.'
7
A lion stalks from its den,
a destroyer of nations.
It has left its lair and is headed your way.
It’s going to devastate your land!
Your towns will lie in ruins,
with no one living in them anymore.
8
So put on clothes of mourning
and weep with broken hearts,
for the fierce anger of the
Lord
is still upon us.
9
'In that day,' says the
Lord
,
'the king and the officials will tremble in fear.
The priests will be struck with horror,
and the prophets will be appalled.'
10
Then I said, 'O Sovereign
Lord
,
the people have been deceived by what you said,
for you promised peace for Jerusalem.
But the sword is held at their throats!'
11
The time is coming when the
Lord
will say
to the people of Jerusalem,
'My dear people, a burning wind is blowing in from the desert,
and it’s not a gentle breeze useful for winnowing grain.
12
It is a roaring blast sent by me!
Now I will pronounce your destruction!'
13
Our enemy rushes down on us like storm clouds!
His chariots are like whirlwinds.
His horses are swifter than eagles.
How terrible it will be, for we are doomed!
14
O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart
that you may be saved.
How long will you harbor
your evil thoughts?
15
Your destruction has been announced
from Dan and the hill country of Ephraim.
16
'Warn the surrounding nations
and announce this to Jerusalem:
The enemy is coming from a distant land,
raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah.
17
They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field,
for my people have rebelled against me,'
says the
Lord
.
18
'Your own actions have brought this upon you.
This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!'
19
My heart, my heart — I writhe in pain!
My heart pounds within me! I cannot be still.
For I have heard the blast of enemy trumpets
and the roar of their battle cries.
20
Waves of destruction roll over the land,
until it lies in complete desolation.
Suddenly my tents are destroyed;
in a moment my shelters are crushed.
21
How long must I see the battle flags
and hear the trumpets of war?
22
'My people are foolish
and do not know me,' says the
Lord
.
'They are stupid children
who have no understanding.
They are clever enough at doing wrong,
but they have no idea how to do right!'
23
I looked at the earth, and it was empty and formless.
I looked at the heavens, and there was no light.
24
I looked at the mountains and hills,
and they trembled and shook.
25
I looked, and all the people were gone.
All the birds of the sky had flown away.
26
I looked, and the fertile fields had become a wilderness.
The towns lay in ruins,
crushed by the
Lord
’s fierce anger.
27
This is what the
Lord
says:
'The whole land will be ruined,
but I will not destroy it completely.
28
The earth will mourn
and the heavens will be draped in black
because of my decree against my people.
I have made up my mind and will not change it.'
29
At the noise of charioteers and archers,
the people flee in terror.
They hide in the bushes
and run for the mountains.
All the towns have been abandoned —
not a person remains!
30
What are you doing,
you who have been plundered?
Why do you dress up in beautiful clothing
and put on gold jewelry?
Why do you brighten your eyes with mascara?
Your primping will do you no good!
The allies who were your lovers
despise you and seek to kill you.
31
I hear a cry, like that of a woman in labor,
the groans of a woman giving birth to her first child.
It is beautiful Jerusalem
gasping for breath and crying out,
'Help! I’m being murdered!'
King James Version
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.
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.
3
For thus saith the
Lord
to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
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.
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.
6
Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
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.
8
For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the
Lord
is not turned back from us.
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.
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.
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,
12
Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
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.
14
O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
15
For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.
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.
17
As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the
Lord
.
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.
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.
20
Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
21
How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
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.
23
I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24
I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25
I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
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.
27
For thus hath the
Lord
said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
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.
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.
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.
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.
New King James Version
1
“If you will return, O Israel,” says the
Lord
,
“Return to Me;
And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight,
Then you shall not be moved.
2
And you shall swear, ‘The
Lord
lives,’
In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness;
The nations shall bless themselves in Him,
And in Him they shall glory.”
3
For thus says the
Lord
to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
“Break up your fallow ground,
And do not sow among thorns.
4
Circumcise yourselves to the
Lord
,
And take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Lest My fury come forth like fire,
And burn so that no one can quench
it,
Because of the evil of your doings.”
5
Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:
“Blow the trumpet in the land;
Cry, ‘Gather together,’
And say, ‘Assemble yourselves,
And let us go into the fortified cities.’
6
Set up the standard toward Zion.
Take refuge! Do not delay!
For I will bring disaster from the north,
And great destruction.”
7
The lion has come up from his thicket,
And the destroyer of nations is on his way.
He has gone forth from his place
To make your land desolate.
Your cities will be laid waste,
Without inhabitant.
8
For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth,
Lament and wail.
For the fierce anger of the
Lord
Has not turned back from us.
9
“And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the
Lord
,
“
That
the heart of the king shall perish,
And the heart of the princes;
The priests shall be astonished,
And the prophets shall wonder.”
10
Then I said, “Ah, Lord
God
!
Surely You have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem,
Saying, ‘You shall have peace,’
Whereas the sword reaches to the heart.”
11
At that time it will be said
To this people and to Jerusalem,
“A dry wind of the desolate heights
blows
in the wilderness
Toward the daughter of My people—
Not to fan or to cleanse—
12
A wind too strong for these will come for Me;
Now I will also speak judgment against them.”
13
“Behold, he shall come up like clouds,
And his chariots like a whirlwind.
His horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us, for we are plundered!”
14
O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness,
That you may be saved.
How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
15
For a voice declares from Dan
And proclaims affliction from Mount Ephraim:
16
“Make mention to the nations,
Yes, proclaim against Jerusalem,
That
watchers come from a far country
And raise their voice against the cities of Judah.
17
Like keepers of a field they are against her all around,
Because she has been rebellious against Me,” says the
Lord
.
18
“Your ways and your doings
Have procured these
things
for you.
This
is
your wickedness,
Because it is bitter,
Because it reaches to your heart.”
19
O my soul, my soul!
I am pained in my very heart!
My heart makes a noise in me;
I cannot hold my peace,
Because you have heard, O my soul,
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20
Destruction upon destruction is cried,
For the whole land is plundered.
Suddenly my tents are plundered,
And
my curtains in a moment.
21
How long will I see the standard,
And
hear the sound of the trumpet?
22
“For My people
are
foolish,
They have not known Me.
They
are
silly children,
And they have no understanding.
They
are
wise to do evil,
But to do good they have no knowledge.”
23
I beheld the earth, and indeed
it was
without form, and void;
And the heavens, they
had
no light.
24
I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled,
And all the hills moved back and forth.
25
I beheld, and indeed
there was
no man,
And all the birds of the heavens had fled.
26
I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land
was
a wilderness,
And all its cities were broken down
At the presence of the
Lord
,
By His fierce anger.
27
For thus says the
Lord
:
“The whole land shall be desolate;
Yet I will not make a full end.
28
For this shall the earth mourn,
And the heavens above be black,
Because I have spoken.
I have purposed and will not relent,
Nor will I turn back from it.
29
The whole city shall flee from the noise of the horsemen and bowmen.
They shall go into thickets and climb up on the rocks.
Every city
shall be
forsaken,
And not a man shall dwell in it.
30
“And
when
you
are
plundered,
What will you do?
Though you clothe yourself with crimson,
Though you adorn
yourself
with ornaments of gold,
Though you enlarge your eyes with paint,
In vain you will make yourself fair;
Your
lovers will despise you;
They will seek your life.
31
“For I have heard a voice as of a woman in labor,
The anguish as of her who brings forth her first child,
The voice of the daughter of Zion bewailing herself;
She spreads her hands,
saying,
‘Woe
is
me now, for my soul is weary
Because of murderers!’
What does Jeremiah chapter 4 mean?
Coming Soon!
Expand
Book Summary
Coming Soon!
Expand
Chapter Context
Coming Soon!
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app: