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Jeremiah 9

If only my head were water and my eyes a spring of tears, I'd weep day and night for my people who have been killed. If only I had a traveller's camp in the wilderness, so I could leave my people and go away from them. Because the whole lot of them are adulterers, a crowd of treacherous men. They bend their tongue like a bow for lies. The

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A spring of tears

If only my head were water and my eyes a spring of tears, I'd weep day and night for my people who have been killed. If only I had a traveller's camp in the wilderness, so I could leave my people and go away from them. Because the whole lot of them are adulterers, a crowd of treacherous men. They bend their tongue like a bow for lies. They're not strong for the truth in the land. They go from wickedness to wickedness, and they don't know me, declares the LORD. Watch out, every man, for his neighbour, and don't trust any brother. Because every brother trips people up and every neighbour goes about slandering. Every man cheats his neighbour and they don't speak the truth. They've taught their tongue to speak lies. They wear themselves out doing wrong. You live surrounded by deceit. In their deceit they refuse to know me, declares the LORD. So this is what the LORD Almighty says: Look: I'll melt them down and test them. What else can I do about the daughter of my people? Their tongue is an arrow shot out. It speaks lies. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbour, and inside him he sets his ambush. Should I not deal with them for all this? declares the LORD. Shouldn't my soul avenge myself on a nation like this? I'll take up weeping and howling for the mountains and a lament for the pastures of the wilderness, because they're burnt up with nobody passing through and nobody hearing the sound of the flocks. From the birds of heaven to the animals, they've all gone. I'll turn Jerusalem into a heap of rubble and a home for jackals. I'll make the towns of Judah desolate, with nobody living there. Who's the wise man who can understand this? Who's the one the mouth of the LORD has spoken to, who can tell it — why the land is finished and burnt up like a wilderness with nobody passing through? And the LORD said: Because they've left my teaching that I put before them and haven't listened to my voice or walked in it, But have followed the stubbornness of their own heart and after the Baalim their fathers taught them — So this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Look: I'll feed this people with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink. I'll scatter them among nations they and their fathers haven't known, and I'll send the sword after them until I've consumed them.

If only my head were water and my eyes a spring of tears, I'd weep day and night for the killed of the daughter of my people. If only I had a traveller's camp in the wilderness, so I could leave my people and go away from them. Because the whole lot of them are adulterers, a crowd of treacherous men. They bend their tongue like a bow for lies. They're not strong for the truth in the land. They go from wickedness to wickedness, and they don't know me, declares the Lord. Watch out, every man, for his neighbour, and don't trust any brother. Because every brother trips people up and every neighbour goes about slandering. Every man cheats his neighbour and they don't speak the truth. They've taught their tongue to speak lies. They wear themselves out doing wrong. You live in the middle of deceit. In their deceit they refuse to know me, declares the Lord. So this is what the Lord Almighty says: Look — I'll melt them down and test them. What else can I do about the daughter of my people? Their tongue is an arrow shot out. It speaks lies. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbour, and inside him he sets his ambush. Should I not deal with them for all this? declares the Lord. Shouldn't my soul settle up on a nation like this? I'll take up weeping and howling for the mountains and a lament for the pastures of the wilderness, because they're burnt up with nobody passing through and nobody hearing the sound of the flocks. From the birds of the sky to the animals, they've all gone. I'll make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a home for jackals. I'll make the towns of Judah a wreck with nobody living in them. Who's the wise man who can understand this? Who's the one the mouth of the Lord has spoken to, who can tell it — why the land is finished and burnt up like a wilderness with nobody passing through? And the Lord said: Because they've left my teaching that I put in front of them and haven't listened to my voice or walked in it, but have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart and after the Baals their fathers taught them — so this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Look — I'll feed this people with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink. I'll scatter them among nations they and their fathers haven't known, and I'll send the sword after them until I've finished them off.

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people! Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men. And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD. Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity. Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD. Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people? Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait. Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone. And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant. Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through? And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink. I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.

1

If only my head were water and my eyes a spring of tears, I'd weep day and night for my people who have been killed.

Plain English

If only my head were water and my eyes a spring of tears, I'd weep day and night for the killed of the daughter of my people.

King James Version, 1611

Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

2

If only I had a traveller's camp in the wilderness, so I could leave my people and go away from them. Because the whole lot of them are adulterers, a crowd of treacherous men.

King James Version, 1611

Oh that I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

3

They bend their tongue like a bow for lies. They're not strong for the truth in the land. They go from wickedness to wickedness, and they don't know me, declares the LORD.

Plain English

They bend their tongue like a bow for lies. They're not strong for the truth in the land. They go from wickedness to wickedness, and they don't know me, declares the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

4

Watch out, every man, for his neighbour, and don't trust any brother. Because every brother trips people up and every neighbour goes about slandering.

King James Version, 1611

Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.

5

Every man cheats his neighbour and they don't speak the truth. They've taught their tongue to speak lies. They wear themselves out doing wrong.

King James Version, 1611

And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

6

You live surrounded by deceit. In their deceit they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.

Plain English

You live in the middle of deceit. In their deceit they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

7

So this is what the LORD Almighty says: Look: I'll melt them down and test them. What else can I do about the daughter of my people?

Plain English

So this is what the Lord Almighty says: Look — I'll melt them down and test them. What else can I do about the daughter of my people?

King James Version, 1611

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

8

Their tongue is an arrow shot out. It speaks lies. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbour, and inside him he sets his ambush.

King James Version, 1611

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

9

Should I not deal with them for all this? declares the LORD. Shouldn't my soul avenge myself on a nation like this?

Plain English

Should I not deal with them for all this? declares the Lord. Shouldn't my soul settle up on a nation like this?

King James Version, 1611

Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

10

I'll take up weeping and howling for the mountains and a lament for the pastures of the wilderness, because they're burnt up with nobody passing through and nobody hearing the sound of the flocks. From the birds of heaven to the animals, they've all gone.

Plain English

I'll take up weeping and howling for the mountains and a lament for the pastures of the wilderness, because they're burnt up with nobody passing through and nobody hearing the sound of the flocks. From the birds of the sky to the animals, they've all gone.

King James Version, 1611

For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

11

I'll turn Jerusalem into a heap of rubble and a home for jackals. I'll make the towns of Judah desolate, with nobody living there.

Plain English

I'll make Jerusalem a heap of rubble, a home for jackals. I'll make the towns of Judah a wreck with nobody living in them.

King James Version, 1611

And I will make Jerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah desolate, without an inhabitant.

12

Who's the wise man who can understand this? Who's the one the mouth of the LORD has spoken to, who can tell it — why the land is finished and burnt up like a wilderness with nobody passing through?

Plain English

Who's the wise man who can understand this? Who's the one the mouth of the Lord has spoken to, who can tell it — why the land is finished and burnt up like a wilderness with nobody passing through?

King James Version, 1611

Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

13

And the LORD said: Because they've left my teaching that I put before them and haven't listened to my voice or walked in it,

Plain English

And the Lord said: Because they've left my teaching that I put in front of them and haven't listened to my voice or walked in it,

King James Version, 1611

And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

14

But have followed the stubbornness of their own heart and after the Baalim their fathers taught them —

Plain English

but have walked after the stubbornness of their own heart and after the Baals their fathers taught them —

King James Version, 1611

But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:

15

So this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Look: I'll feed this people with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink.

Plain English

so this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Look — I'll feed this people with bitter food and give them poisoned water to drink.

King James Version, 1611

Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

16

I'll scatter them among nations they and their fathers haven't known, and I'll send the sword after them until I've consumed them.

Plain English

I'll scatter them among nations they and their fathers haven't known, and I'll send the sword after them until I've finished them off.

King James Version, 1611

I will scatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.

Call the wailing women

This is what the LORD Almighty says: Think about it and call for the wailing women to come. Send for the clever ones to come. Let them hurry and take up a howling over us, so our eyes run with tears and our eyelids pour with water. Because a sound of howling is heard from Zion: How we're destroyed. We're utterly ashamed, because we've left the land and they've thrown down our homes. Listen to the word of the LORD, you women, and let your ear take in the word of his mouth. Teach your daughters a howling and each woman her neighbour a lament. Because death has come up through our windows and got into our palaces, to cut off the children from the street and the young men from the squares. Say: This is what the LORD declares. The bodies of men will fall like dung on the open field, like a handful behind the reaper, and nobody gathering them.

This is what the Lord Almighty says: Think about it and call for the wailing women to come. Send for the clever ones to come. Let them hurry and take up a howling over us, so our eyes run with tears and our eyelids pour with water. Because a sound of howling is heard from Zion: How we're wrecked. We're utterly ashamed, because we've left the land and they've thrown down our homes. Listen to the word of the Lord, you women, and let your ear take in the word of his mouth. Teach your daughters a howling and each woman her neighbour a lament. Because death has come up through our windows and got into our palaces, to cut off the children from the street and the young men from the squares. Say: This is what the Lord declares. The bodies of men will fall like dung on the open field, like a handful behind the reaper, and nobody gathering them.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come: And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out. Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation. For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.

17

This is what the LORD Almighty says: Think about it and call for the wailing women to come. Send for the clever ones to come.

Plain English

This is what the Lord Almighty says: Think about it and call for the wailing women to come. Send for the clever ones to come.

King James Version, 1611

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:

18

Let them hurry and take up a howling over us, so our eyes run with tears and our eyelids pour with water.

King James Version, 1611

And let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.

19

Because a sound of howling is heard from Zion: How we're destroyed. We're utterly ashamed, because we've left the land and they've thrown down our homes.

Plain English

Because a sound of howling is heard from Zion: How we're wrecked. We're utterly ashamed, because we've left the land and they've thrown down our homes.

King James Version, 1611

For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.

20

Listen to the word of the LORD, you women, and let your ear take in the word of his mouth. Teach your daughters a howling and each woman her neighbour a lament.

Plain English

Listen to the word of the Lord, you women, and let your ear take in the word of his mouth. Teach your daughters a howling and each woman her neighbour a lament.

King James Version, 1611

Yet hear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.

21

Because death has come up through our windows and got into our palaces, to cut off the children from the street and the young men from the squares.

King James Version, 1611

For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.

22

Say: This is what the LORD declares. The bodies of men will fall like dung on the open field, like a handful behind the reaper, and nobody gathering them.

Plain English

Say: This is what the Lord declares. The bodies of men will fall like dung on the open field, like a handful behind the reaper, and nobody gathering them.

King James Version, 1611

Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.

Boast about this

This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, the mighty boast in their might, or the rich boast in their riches. But let the one who boasts boast in this: that they understand and know me — that I am the LORD, who exercises faithful love, judgment and righteousness in the earth. These are the things I delight in,” says the LORD. “The days are coming,” says the LORD, “when I will punish all those who are circumcised with the uncircumcised: Egypt, Judah, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, and everyone in the wilderness who cuts the corners of their hair. All these nations are uncircumcised, and all Israel is uncircumcised in heart.

This is what the Lord says: Let the wise man not boast in his wisdom, and the strong man not boast in his strength, and the rich man not boast in his riches. But let the one who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me — that I'm the Lord who does faithful love and justice and righteousness in the earth. Because these are what I delight in, declares the Lord. Look — the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I'll deal with everyone circumcised only in the flesh — Egypt and Judah and Edom and the Ammonites and Moab and everyone with the corners of their hair shaved, who live in the wilderness. Because all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD. Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

23

This is what the LORD says: “Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, the mighty boast in their might, or the rich boast in their riches.

Plain English

This is what the Lord says: Let the wise man not boast in his wisdom, and the strong man not boast in his strength, and the rich man not boast in his riches.

King James Version, 1611

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

24

But let the one who boasts boast in this: that they understand and know me — that I am the LORD, who exercises faithful love, judgment and righteousness in the earth. These are the things I delight in,” says the LORD.

Plain English

But let the one who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me — that I'm the Lord who does faithful love and justice and righteousness in the earth. Because these are what I delight in, declares the Lord.

King James Version, 1611

But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

25

“The days are coming,” says the LORD, “when I will punish all those who are circumcised with the uncircumcised:

Plain English

Look — the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I'll deal with everyone circumcised only in the flesh —

King James Version, 1611

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

26

Egypt, Judah, Edom, the Ammonites, Moab, and everyone in the wilderness who cuts the corners of their hair. All these nations are uncircumcised, and all Israel is uncircumcised in heart.

Plain English

Egypt and Judah and Edom and the Ammonites and Moab and everyone with the corners of their hair shaved, who live in the wilderness. Because all these nations are uncircumcised, and the whole house of Israel is uncircumcised in heart.

King James Version, 1611

Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.