Jeremiah 4:16-31 ▼

16 “Make mention to the nations, || Behold, sound to Jerusalem, || Besiegers are coming from the far-off land, || And they give forth their voice against cities of Judah.

17 As the keepers of a field || They have been against her all around, || For she has been rebellious with Me,” || A declaration of YHWH.

18 “Your way and your doings have done these to you, || This [is] your distress, for [it is] bitter, || For it has struck to your heart.”

19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained [in] the walls of my heart, || My heart makes a noise for me, I am not silent, || For I have heard the voice of a horn, || O my soul—a shout of battle!

20 Destruction on destruction is proclaimed, || For all the land has been spoiled, || My tents have suddenly been spoiled, || In a moment—my curtains.

21 Until when do I see an ensign? Do I hear the voice of a horn?

22 “For My people [are] foolish, || They have not known Me, || They [are] foolish sons, || Indeed, they [are] not intelligent, || They [are] wise to do evil, || And they have not known to do good.”

23 I looked [to] the earth, and behold—formless and void, || And to the heavens, and they [had] no light.

24 I have looked [to] the mountains, || And behold, they are trembling. And all the hills moved themselves lightly.

25 I have looked, and behold, man is not, || And all birds of the heavens have fled.

26 I have looked, and behold, || The fruitful place [is] a wilderness, || And all its cities have been broken down, || Because of YHWH, || Because of the fierceness of His anger.

27 For thus said YHWH: “All the land is a desolation, but I do not make a completion.

28 For this the earth mourns, || And the heavens above have been black, || Because I have spoken—I have purposed, || And I have not relented, || Nor do I turn back from it.

29 From the voice of the horseman, || And of him shooting with the bow, || All the city is fleeing, || They have come into thickets, || And they have gone up on cliffs, || All the city is forsaken, || And there is no one dwelling in them.

30 And you, O spoiled one, what do you do? For you put on scarlet, || For you adorn yourself [with] ornaments of gold. For you tear your eyes with pain, || In vain you make yourself beautiful, || Unhealthy ones have kicked against you, || They seek your life.

31 For I have heard a voice as of a travailing woman, || Distress, as of one bringing forth a firstborn, || The voice of the daughter of Zion, || She laments herself, || She spreads out her hands, || Woe to me now, my soul is weary of slayers!”