Jeremiah 6 Parallel Bible Translations

Jeremiah 6 ▼
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1 |Take cover, people of Benjamin! Run away from Jerusalem! Blow the ram's horn in Tekoa. Raise the flag over Beth Hakkerem, because disaster and widespread destruction are coming from the north. Flee for safety, O people of Benjamin, from the midst of Jerusalem! Blow the trumpet in Tekoa, and raise a signal on Beth-haccherem, for disaster looms out of the north, and great destruction. “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin! Flee from Jerusalem! Sound the trumpet in Tekoa! Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem! For disaster looms out of the north, even terrible destruction.
2 |My people Zion are like lovely pastures. The lovely and delicately bred I will destroy, the daughter of Zion. I will destroy Daughter Zion, so beautiful and delicate.
3 With their flocks, shepherds will come to them, pitch their tents all around them, and each of them will tend his own flock. Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her; they shall pitch their tents around her; they shall pasture, each in his place. Shepherds with their flocks will come against her; they will pitch their tents around her, each tending his own portion.”
4 [The shepherds say,] 'Prepare yourselves for war against Zion. Let's attack at noon! How horrible it will be for us. The day is passing, and the shadows of evening are growing longer. “Prepare war against her; arise, and let us attack at noon! Woe to us, for the day declines, for the shadows of evening lengthen! “Prepare for battle against her! Arise, let us attack at noon! But, alas, the daylight is fading, and the shadows of evening grow long.
5 Let's attack at night and destroy its palaces.'| Arise, and let us attack by night and destroy her palaces!” So arise, let us attack at night and destroy her fortresses!”
6 This is what the LORD of Armies says: Cut down its trees. Build up dirt mounds to attack Jerusalem. This city must be punished. There is nothing but oppression in it. For thus says the LORD of hosts: “Cut down her trees; cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem. This is the city that must be punished; there is nothing but oppression within her. This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Cut down the trees and build siege ramps against Jerusalem. This city must be punished; it is filled with oppression.
7 As a well keeps its water fresh, so Jerusalem keeps its evil fresh. Violence and destruction can be heard in it. I see that it is sick and wounded. As a well keeps its water fresh, so she keeps fresh her evil; violence and destruction are heard within her; sickness and wounds are ever before me. As a well pours out its water, so she pours out her wickedness. Violence and destruction resound in her; her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
8 Pay attention to my warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you. I will make your land desolate, a land where no one will live. Be warned, O Jerusalem, lest I turn from you in disgust, lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.” Take warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn away from you and make your land desolate so no one can live in it.”
9 This is what the LORD of Armies says: Thoroughly pick through the faithful few of Israel like someone picks through a grapevine. Like someone picking grapes, pass your hand over its branches again. Thus says the LORD of hosts: “They shall glean thoroughly as a vine the remnant of Israel; like a grape gatherer pass your hand again over its branches.” This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Let them glean the remnant of Israel as thoroughly as a vine; pass your hand over the branches again, like one gathering grapes.”
10 Whom can I speak to? Whom can I give a warning to? Who will listen? Their ears are plugged, and they aren't able to pay attention. When the LORD speaks his word to them, they show contempt for it and object to it. To whom shall I speak and give warning, that they may hear? Behold, their ears are uncircumcised, they cannot listen; behold, the word of the LORD is to them an object of scorn; they take no pleasure in it. To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it.
11 I am filled with the anger of the LORD. I am tired of holding it in. |Pour it out on the children in the street and on the gangs of young men. A man and his wife will be taken away as well as very old people. Therefore I am full of the wrath of the LORD; I am weary of holding it in. “Pour it out upon the children in the street, and upon the gatherings of young men, also; both husband and wife shall be taken, the elderly and the very aged. But I am full of the wrath of the LORD, and I cannot hold it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street and on the young men gathered together; both husband and wife will be caught in it, and the old, those weighed down with years.
12 Their households, their fields, and their wives will be turned over to others. I will use my power against those who live in the land,| declares the LORD. Their houses shall be turned over to others, their fields and wives together, for I will stretch out my hand against the inhabitants of the land,” declares the LORD. Their houses will be turned over to others, together with their fields and their wives, when I stretch out my hand against those who live in the land,” declares the LORD.
13 |All of them, from the least important to the most important, are eager to make money dishonestly. All of them, from prophets to priests, act deceitfully. “For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain; and from prophet to priest, everyone deals falsely. “From the least to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; prophets and priests alike, all practice deceit.
14 They treat my people's wounds as though they were not serious, saying, 'Everything is alright! Everything is alright!' But it's not alright. They have healed the wound of my people lightly, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious. ‘Peace, peace,’ they say, when there is no peace.
15 Are they ashamed when they do disgusting things? No, they're not ashamed. They don't even know how to blush. So they will die with those who die. They will be brought down when I punish them,| says the LORD. Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the LORD. Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; they will be brought down when I punish them,” says the LORD.
16 This is what the LORD says: Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask which paths are the old, reliable paths. Ask which way leads to blessings. Live that way, and find a resting place for yourselves. But you said that you wouldn't live that way. Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I posted watchmen over you. Pay attention to the sound of the ram's horn. But you said that you wouldn't pay attention. I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Pay attention to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not pay attention.’ I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’
18 Listen, you nations, and learn, you witnesses, what will happen to them. Therefore hear, O nations, and know, O congregation, what will happen to them. Therefore hear, you nations; you who are witnesses, observe what will happen to them.
19 Listen, earth! I'm going to bring disaster on these people. It is the result of their own plots, because they won't pay attention to my words. They reject my teachings. Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not paid attention to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it. Hear, you earth: I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes, because they have not listened to my words and have rejected my law.
20 Incense that comes from Sheba is no good to me. Sugar cane that comes from a distant land is no good to me. I won't accept your burnt offerings. I'm not pleased with your sacrifices. What use to me is frankincense that comes from Sheba, or sweet cane from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices pleasing to me. What do I care about incense from Sheba or sweet calamus from a distant land? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable; your sacrifices do not please me.”
21 This is what the LORD says: I'm going to lay stumbling blocks in front of these people. Parents and children will stumble over them. Neighbors and their friends will die. Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will lay before this people stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble; fathers and sons together, neighbor and friend shall perish.’” Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I will put obstacles before this people. Parents and children alike will stumble over them; neighbors and friends will perish.”
22 This is what the LORD says: An army is going to come from the north. A great nation is preparing itself in the distant parts of the earth. Thus says the LORD: “Behold, a people is coming from the north country, a great nation is stirring from the farthest parts of the earth. This is what the LORD says: “Look, an army is coming from the land of the north; a great nation is being stirred up from the ends of the earth.
23 Its people take hold of bows and spears. They are cruel and have no compassion. They sound like the roaring sea. They ride on horses. They march like soldiers ready for battle against my people Zion. They lay hold on bow and javelin; they are cruel and have no mercy; the sound of them is like the roaring sea; they ride on horses, set in array as a man for battle, against you, O daughter of Zion!” They are armed with bow and spear; they are cruel and show no mercy. They sound like the roaring sea as they ride on their horses; they come like men in battle formation to attack you, Daughter Zion.”
24 We have heard the news about them. Our hands hang limp. We are gripped by anguish and pain like a woman giving birth to a child. We have heard the report of it; our hands fall helpless; anguish has taken hold of us, pain as of a woman in labor. We have heard reports about them, and our hands hang limp. Anguish has gripped us, pain like that of a woman in labor.
25 Don't go into the field or walk on the road. The enemy has a sword. Terror is all around. Go not out into the field, nor walk on the road, for the enemy has a sword; terror is on every side. Do not go out to the fields or walk on the roads, for the enemy has a sword, and there is terror on every side.
26 Wear sackcloth, and roll around in ashes, my people. Mourn as if you have lost your only child, and cry bitterly. The destroyer will suddenly attack us. O daughter of my people, put on sackcloth, and roll in ashes; make mourning as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us. Put on sackcloth, my people, and roll in ashes; mourn with bitter wailing as for an only son, for suddenly the destroyer will come upon us.
27 |Jeremiah, I have put you in charge of testing and refining my people. You will know how to test their ways. “I have made you a tester of metals among my people, that you may know and test their ways. “I have made you a tester of metals and my people the ore, that you may observe and test their ways.
28 They are all vicious rebels. They go around slandering. They are all like bronze and iron. They corrupt themselves. They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly. They are all hardened rebels, going about to slander. They are bronze and iron; they all act corruptly.
29 The bellows of the blast furnace blow fiercely to make the fire melt away the lead. It is useless to go on refining because the impurities can't be removed. The bellows blow fiercely; the lead is consumed by the fire; in vain the refining goes on, for the wicked are not removed. The bellows blow fiercely to burn away the lead with fire, but the refining goes on in vain; the wicked are not purged out.
30 [People] will call them useless silver because the LORD has rejected them.| Rejected silver they are called, for the LORD has rejected them.” They are called rejected silver, because the LORD has rejected them.”
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