Jeremiah 45:5 But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war."

◄ Jeremiah 45:5 ►

New International Version
Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. For I will bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD, but wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.’”

New Living Translation
Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don’t do it! I will bring great disaster upon all these people; but I will give you your life as a reward wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken!’”

English Standard Version
And do you seek great things for yourself? Seek them not, for behold, I am bringing disaster upon all flesh, declares the LORD. But I will give you your life as a prize of war in all places to which you may go.”

Berean Standard Bible
But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

King James Bible
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

New King James Version
And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.” ’ ”

New American Standard Bible
But as for you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the LORD, ‘but I will give your life to you as plunder in all the places where you may go.’”

NASB 1995
But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the LORD, ‘but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go.’”

NASB 1977
‘But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring disaster on all flesh,’ declares the LORD, ‘but I will give your life to you as booty in all the places where you may go.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
But as for you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I am going to bring calamity on all flesh,’ declares Yahweh, ‘but I will give your life to you as spoil in all the places where you may go.’”

Amplified Bible
And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring disaster on all flesh,’ says the LORD, ‘but I will give your life to you [as your only reward and] as a prize of war wherever you go.’”

Christian Standard Bible
But as for you, do you pursue great things for yourself? Stop pursuing! For I am about to bring disaster on all humanity”—this is the LORD’s declaration—“but I will grant you your life like the spoils of war wherever you go.” ’ ” Prophecies against the Nations

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I am about to bring disaster on every living creature—this is the LORD’s declaration— ‘but I will grant you your life like the spoils of war wherever you go.’”

American Standard Version
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not; for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith Jehovah; but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Contemporary English Version
I am bringing disaster everywhere, so don't even think about making any big plans for yourself. However, I promise that wherever you go, I will at least protect you from death. I, the LORD, have spoken.

English Revised Version
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Are you looking for great things for yourself? Don't look for them, because I'm going to bring disaster on all people, declares the LORD. But wherever you go I will let you escape with your life.'"

Good News Translation
Are you looking for special treatment for yourself? Don't do it. I am bringing disaster on all people, but you will at least escape with your life, wherever you go. I, the LORD, have spoken."

International Standard Version
Are you seeking great things for yourself? Don't seek them. Indeed, I'm about to bring disaster on all flesh,' declares the LORD, 'but your life will be spared wherever you go.'"

Majority Standard Bible
But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

NET Bible
Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for such things. For I, the LORD, affirm that I am about to bring disaster on all humanity. But I will allow you to escape with your life wherever you go."'"

New Heart English Bible
Do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for, look, I will bring disaster on all flesh, says the LORD; but your life will I give to you for a reward in all places where you go."'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give to thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

World English Bible
Do you seek great things for yourself? Don’t seek them; for, behold, I will bring evil on all flesh,’ says Yahweh, ‘but I will let you escape with your life wherever you go.’”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And you seek for great things—do not seek, for behold, I am bringing calamity on all flesh—a declaration of YHWH—and I have given your life to you for a spoil, in all places to where you go.”

Young's Literal Translation
And thou -- thou seekest for thee great things -- do not seek, for lo, I am bringing in evil on all flesh -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- and I have given to thee thy life for a spoil, in all places whither thou goest.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And thou, wilt thou seek great things to thyself? thou shalt not seek: for behold me bringing evil upon all flesh, says Jehovah: and I gave to thee thy soul for a booty to all the places where thou shalt go there.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And dost thou seek great things for thyself ? Seek not : for behold I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord ! but I will give thee thy life, and save thee in all places whithersoever thou shalt go.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not choose to seek them. For behold, I will lead evil over all that is flesh, says the Lord. But I will give your life to you unto salvation, in every place, wherever you may travel.”

New American Bible
And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them! I am bringing evil on all flesh—oracle of the LORD—but I will grant you your life as spoils of war, wherever you may go.

New Revised Standard Version
And you, do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for I am going to bring disaster upon all flesh, says the LORD; but I will give you your life as a prize of war in every place to which you may go.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And as for you who once sought great things for yourself, seek nothing that is of great value: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, says the LORD, but I will let you save your life in all countries where you go.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And you, (but you have sought for yourself great things; you shall not seek what is greater than you, because, behold, I am bringing evil on everybody, says LORD JEHOVAH), and I shall grant you that you shall save your life in all places wherever you will go”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not; for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD; but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And wilt thou seek great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but I will give to thee thy life for a spoil in every place whither thou shalt go.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Jeremiah's Message to Baruch
…4Thus Jeremiah was to say to Baruch: “This is what the LORD says: Throughout the land I will demolish what I have built and uproot what I have planted. 5But as for you, do you seek great things for yourself? Stop seeking! For I will bring disaster on every living creature, declares the LORD, but wherever you go, I will grant your life as a spoil of war.”

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.

Philippians 2:3-4
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or empty pride, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. / Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

James 4:10
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.

1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Matthew 23:12
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Timothy 6:6-8
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Hebrews 13:5
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.

1 Corinthians 7:29-31
What I am saying, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; / those who weep, as if they did not; those who are joyful, as if they were not; those who make a purchase, as if they had nothing; / and those who use the things of this world, as if not dependent on them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Isaiah 57:15
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in a high and holy place, and with the oppressed and humble in spirit, to restore the spirit of the lowly and revive the heart of the contrite.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 131:1-2
A song of ascents. Of David. My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty. I do not aspire to great things or matters too lofty for me. / Surely I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with his mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

Ecclesiastes 5:10
He who loves money is never satisfied by money, and he who loves wealth is never satisfied by income. This too is futile.

Treasury of Scripture

And seek you great things for yourself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil on all flesh, said the LORD: but your life will I give to you for a prey in all places where you go.

seekest

2 Kings 5:26
And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?

Romans 12:16
Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.

1 Corinthians 7:26-32
I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be…

seek

Matthew 6:25-32
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? …

I will bring

Jeremiah 25:26
And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

Genesis 6:12
And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.

Isaiah 66:16
For by fire and by his sword will the LORD plead with all flesh: and the slain of the LORD shall be many.

thy life

Jeremiah 21:9
He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

Jeremiah 38:2
Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

Jeremiah 39:18
For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.

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Jeremiah 45

1. Baruch being dismayed
4. Jeremiah instructs and comforts him

Berean Study Bible

But as for you
This phrase is a direct address to Baruch, the scribe of Jeremiah. In Hebrew, the personal nature of this address emphasizes God's intimate knowledge of Baruch's heart and situation. It serves as a reminder that God sees and understands the individual amidst the broader narrative of judgment and prophecy. This personal attention from God is both comforting and convicting, reminding us that God is aware of our personal struggles and ambitions.

do you seek great things for yourself?
The Hebrew root for "seek" (בקש, baqash) implies a diligent pursuit or desire. This question challenges Baruch's motivations and ambitions. In the historical context, Baruch might have been tempted to seek personal advancement or recognition, especially as he was closely associated with the prophet Jeremiah. The phrase serves as a caution against self-centered ambitions, urging believers to examine their hearts and align their desires with God's will rather than personal gain.

Do not seek them
This command is a direct prohibition against pursuing personal glory or success. The repetition of the root "seek" underscores the seriousness of the warning. In a broader scriptural context, this echoes the biblical theme of humility and the call to prioritize God's kingdom over personal ambition (Matthew 6:33). It serves as a timeless reminder that true fulfillment and security come from God, not from worldly achievements.

For behold, I will bring disaster on all flesh
The word "behold" (הנה, hinneh) is an attention-grabbing term, often used in prophetic literature to signal the importance of the following statement. "Disaster" (רעה, ra'ah) refers to the impending judgment that God is about to unleash. The phrase "all flesh" indicates the universality of this judgment, emphasizing that no one is exempt from God's righteous decrees. This serves as a sobering reminder of God's sovereignty and the reality of divine judgment.

declares the LORD
This phrase is a prophetic formula that authenticates the message as coming directly from Yahweh, the covenant-keeping God of Israel. It underscores the authority and certainty of the prophecy. In the conservative Christian perspective, this reaffirms the belief in the inerrancy and divine inspiration of Scripture, reminding believers to heed God's word with reverence and obedience.

but I will grant you your life as a spoil of war
The imagery of "spoil of war" (שׁלל, shalal) suggests something taken as a prize or reward. In this context, God promises Baruch preservation amidst the coming calamity. This assurance highlights God's grace and protection for those who remain faithful, even when surrounded by chaos and destruction. It serves as an encouragement to trust in God's provision and faithfulness, regardless of external circumstances.

wherever you go
This phrase emphasizes the comprehensive nature of God's promise to Baruch. It assures him of divine protection and presence, no matter his location or situation. This reflects the biblical theme of God's omnipresence and His commitment to be with His people always (Joshua 1:9). For believers, it is a comforting reminder that God's care and guidance are not limited by geography or circumstance.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 5. - Seekest thou great things, etc.? All around is passing through a sore crisis, and canst thou expect a better lot? It is no time for personal ambition, when the very foundations of the state are crumbling. In all places whither thou goest. This seems to indicate that Baruch's time of exile would be a restless one; it would nowhere be safe for him to take up a settled habitation.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But as for you,
וְאַתָּ֛ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

do you seek
תְּבַקֶּשׁ־ (tə·ḇaq·qeš-)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

great things for yourself?
גְדֹל֖וֹת (ḡə·ḏō·lō·wṯ)
Adjective - feminine plural
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

Stop
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

seeking!
תְּבַקֵּ֑שׁ (tə·ḇaq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

For
כִּ֡י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I will bring
מֵבִ֨יא (mê·ḇî)
Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

disaster
רָעָ֤ה (rā·‘āh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

on
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

every
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

living creature,
בָּשָׂר֙ (bā·śār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1320: Flesh, body, person, the pudenda of a, man

declares
נְאֻם־ (nə·’um-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5002: An oracle

the LORD,
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3069: YHWH

but wherever
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

you go
תֵּֽלֶךְ־ (tê·leḵ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

I will grant
וְנָתַתִּ֨י (wə·nā·ṯat·tî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

your life
נַפְשְׁךָ֙ (nap̄·šə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

as plunder.”
לְשָׁלָ֔ל (lə·šā·lāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7998: A prey, spoil, plunder, booty

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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 45:5 Seek you great things for yourself? Don't (Jer.)