Jeremiah 5
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No One is Just

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1"Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.1Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her.1"Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, And look now and take note. And seek in her open squares, If you can find a man, If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth, Then I will pardon her.1Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.1Roam through the streets of Jerusalem. Look and take note; search in her squares. If you find one person, any who acts justly, who seeks to be faithful, then I will forgive her.
2Although they say, 'As surely as the LORD lives,' still they are swearing falsely."2Though they say, “As the LORD lives,” yet they swear falsely.2"And although they say, 'As the LORD lives,' Surely they swear falsely."2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.2When they say, "As the LORD lives," they are swearing falsely.
3LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.3O LORD, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent.3O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You have smitten them, But they did not weaken; You have consumed them, But they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.3O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.3 LORD, don't Your eyes look for faithfulness? You have struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They made their faces harder than rock, and they refused to return.
4I thought, "These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God.4Then I said, “These are only the poor; they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.4Then I said, "They are only the poor, They are foolish; For they do not know the way of the LORD Or the ordinance of their God.4Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.4Then I thought: They are just the poor; they have played the fool. For they don't understand the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.
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5So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God." But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.5I will go to the great and will speak to them, for they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.” But they all alike had broken the yoke; they had burst the bonds.5"I will go to the great And will speak to them, For they know the way of the LORD And the ordinance of their God." But they too, with one accord, have broken the yoke And burst the bonds.5I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.5I will go to the powerful and speak to them. Surely they know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God. However, these also had broken the yoke and torn off the chains.
6Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.6Therefore a lion from the forest shall strike them down; a wolf from the desert shall devastate them. A leopard is watching their cities; everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great.6Therefore a lion from the forest will slay them, A wolf of the deserts will destroy them, A leopard is watching their cities. Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces, Because their transgressions are many, Their apostasies are numerous.6Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.6Therefore, a lion from the forest will strike them down. A wolf from an arid plain will ravage them. A leopard keeps watch over their cities. Anyone who leaves them will be torn to pieces because their rebellious acts are many, their unfaithful deeds numerous.
7"Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.7“How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.7"Why should I pardon you? Your sons have forsaken Me And sworn by those who are not gods. When I had fed them to the full, They committed adultery And trooped to the harlot's house.7How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.7Why should I forgive you? Your children have abandoned Me and sworn by those who are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery; they gashed themselves at the prostitute's house.
8They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man's wife.8They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor’s wife.8"They were well-fed lusty horses, Each one neighing after his neighbor's wife.8They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.8They are well-fed, eager stallions, each neighing after someone else's wife.
9Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?9Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?9"Shall I not punish these people," declares the LORD, "And on a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?9Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?9Should I not punish them for these things? This is the LORD's declaration. Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?
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10"Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the LORD.10“Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the LORD’s.10"Go up through her vine rows and destroy, But do not execute a complete destruction; Strip away her branches, For they are not the LORD'S.10Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'S.10Go up among her vineyard terraces and destroy them, but do not finish them off. Prune away her shoots, for they do not belong to the LORD.
11The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me," declares the LORD.11For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me, declares the LORD.11"For the house of Israel and the house of Judah Have dealt very treacherously with Me," declares the LORD.11For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.11They, the house of Israel and the house of Judah, have dealt very treacherously with Me. This is the LORD's declaration.
12They have lied about the LORD; they said, "He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.12They have spoken falsely of the LORD and have said, ‘He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine.12They have lied about the LORD And said, "Not He; Misfortune will not come on us, And we will not see sword or famine.12They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:12They have contradicted the LORD and insisted, "It won't happen. Harm won't come to us; we won't see sword or famine."
13The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them."13The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!’”13"The prophets are as wind, And the word is not in them. Thus it will be done to them!"13And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.13The prophets become only wind, for the LORD's word is not in them. This will in fact happen to them.

Judgment Proclaimed

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14Therefore this is what the LORD God Almighty says: "Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.14Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of hosts: “Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.14Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of hosts, "Because you have spoken this word, Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire And this people wood, and it will consume them.14Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.14Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD of Hosts says: Because you have spoken this word, I am going to make My words become fire in your mouth. These people are the wood, and the fire will consume them.
15People of Israel," declares the LORD, "I am bringing a distant nation against you-- an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand.15Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the LORD. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say.15"Behold, I am bringing a nation against you from afar, O house of Israel," declares the LORD. "It is an enduring nation, It is an ancient nation, A nation whose language you do not know, Nor can you understand what they say.15Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.15I am about to bring a nation from far away against you, house of Israel. This is the LORD's declaration. It is an established nation, an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know and whose speech you do not understand.
16Their quivers are like an open grave; all of them are mighty warriors.16Their quiver is like an open tomb; they are all mighty warriors.16"Their quiver is like an open grave, All of them are mighty men.16Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.16Their quiver is like an open grave; they are all mighty warriors.
17They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds, devour your vines and fig trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.17They shall eat up your harvest and your food; they shall eat up your sons and your daughters; they shall eat up your flocks and your herds; they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; your fortified cities in which you trust they shall beat down with the sword.”17"They will devour your harvest and your food; They will devour your sons and your daughters; They will devour your flocks and your herds; They will devour your vines and your fig trees; They will demolish with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.17And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.17They will consume your harvest and your food. They will consume your sons and your daughters. They will consume your flocks and your herds. They will consume your vines and your fig trees. They will destroy with the sword your fortified cities in which you trust.
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18"Yet even in those days," declares the LORD, "I will not destroy you completely.18“But even in those days, declares the LORD, I will not make a full end of you.18"Yet even in those days," declares the LORD, "I will not make you a complete destruction.18Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.18"But even in those days"--this is the LORD's declaration--"I will not finish you off.
19And when the people ask, 'Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?' you will tell them, 'As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.'19And when your people say, ‘Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’”19"It shall come about when they say, 'Why has the LORD our God done all these things to us?' then you shall say to them, 'As you have forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.'19And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.19When people ask, 'For what offense has the LORD our God done all these things to us?' You will respond to them: Just as you abandoned Me and served foreign gods in your land, so will you serve strangers in a land that is not yours.
20"Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:20Declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah:20"Declare this in the house of Jacob And proclaim it in Judah, saying,20Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,20"Declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah, saying:
21Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:21“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not.21'Now hear this, O foolish and senseless people, Who have eyes but do not see; Who have ears but do not hear.21Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:21Hear this, you foolish and senseless people. They have eyes, but they don't see. They have ears, but they don't hear.
22Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.22Do you not fear me? declares the LORD. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it.22'Do you not fear Me?' declares the LORD. 'Do you not tremble in My presence? For I have placed the sand as a boundary for the sea, An eternal decree, so it cannot cross over it. Though the waves toss, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot cross over it.22Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?22Do you not fear Me? This is the LORD's declaration. Do you not tremble before Me, the One who set the sand as the boundary of the sea, an enduring barrier that it cannot cross? The waves surge, but they cannot prevail. They roar but cannot pass over it.
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23But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.23But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.23'But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; They have turned aside and departed.23But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.23But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts. They have turned aside and have gone away.
24They do not say to themselves, 'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.'24They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’24'They do not say in their heart, "Let us now fear the LORD our God, Who gives rain in its season, Both the autumn rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us The appointed weeks of the harvest."24Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.24They have not said to themselves, 'Let's fear the LORD our God, who gives the rain, both early and late, in its season, who guarantees to us the fixed weeks of the harvest.'
25Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.25Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you.25'Your iniquities have turned these away, And your sins have withheld good from you.25Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.25Your guilty acts have diverted these things from you. Your sins have withheld My bounty from you,
26"Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people.26For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men.26'For wicked men are found among My people, They watch like fowlers lying in wait; They set a trap, They catch men.26For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.26for wicked men live among My people. They watch like fowlers lying in wait. They set a trap; they catch men.
27Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful27Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich;27'Like a cage full of birds, So their houses are full of deceit; Therefore they have become great and rich.27As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.27Like a cage full of birds, so their houses are full of deceit. Therefore they have grown powerful and rich.
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28and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor.28they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy.28'They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, that they may prosper; And they do not defend the rights of the poor.28They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.28They have become fat and sleek. They have also excelled in evil matters. They have not taken up cases, such as the case of the fatherless, so they might prosper, and they have not defended the rights of the needy.
29Should I not punish them for this?" declares the LORD. "Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?29Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the LORD, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?”29Shall I not punish these people?' declares the LORD, 'On a nation such as this Shall I not avenge Myself?'29Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?29Should I not punish them for these things? This is the LORD's declaration. Should I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?
30"A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land:30An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land:30"An appalling and horrible thing Has happened in the land:30A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;30A horrible, terrible thing has taken place in the land.
31The prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?31the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?31The prophets prophesy falsely, And the priests rule on their own authority; And My people love it so! But what will you do at the end of it?31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule by their own authority. My people love it like this. But what will you do at the end of it?



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