1 “If you will (A)return, O Israel,” declares the Lord,“Then you should return to Me.And (B)if you will put away your detested things from My presence,And will not waver,
1 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the LORD, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
1 If you return,(a) Israel—this is the Lord’s declaration—you will return to Me,(A)if you remove your detestable idols(B)from My presenceand do not waver,
1 "Israel, if you return to me," declares the LORD, "Return to me, remove your detestable idols from my presence, and don't waver.
1 “If you will return, O Israel,” says the Lord,“If you will return to Me,And if you will put away your detestable things and remove your man-made gods from My sight,And not stray or waver,
2 And you will (C)swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’(D)In truth, in justice and in righteousness;Then the (E)nations will bless themselves in Him,And (F)in Him they will glory.”
2 And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
2 then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,”(C)in truth,(D) in justice, and in righteousness,(E)then the nations will be blessed(b) by Him(F)and will pride themselves in Him.(G)
2 If you swear, "as surely as the LORD lives,' in truth, in justice, and in righteousness, then nations will be blessed by him, and in him they will boast."
2 And if you swear [your oaths], ‘As the Lord lives,’In truth, in justice, and in righteousness,Then the nations will bless themselves in Him,And in Him they will glory.”
3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem,“(a)(G)Break up your fallow ground,And (H)do not sow among thorns.
3 For thus saith the LORD to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
3 For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:Break up the unplowed ground;(H)do not sow among the thorns.(I)
3 For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, "Break up your unplowed ground, and don't sow among thorns.
3 For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem,“Plow your uncultivated ground [for a season],And do not sow among thorns.
4 “(I)Circumcise yourselves to the LordAnd remove the foreskins of your heart,Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,Or else My (J)wrath will go forth like fireAnd burn with (K)none to quench it,Because of the evil of your deeds.”
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;remove the foreskin of your hearts,(J)men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem.Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fireand burn with no one to extinguish it(K)because of your evil deeds.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD and remove the foreskin of your heart, you men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem, or else my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to put it out, because of your evil deeds."
4 “Circumcise (dedicate, sanctify) yourselves to the LordAnd remove the foreskin [sins] of your heart,Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,Or else My wrath will go forth like fire [consuming all that gets in its way]And burn and there will be no one to quench it,Because of the evil of your acts.”
5 Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,“(L)Blow the trumpet in the land;Cry aloud and say,‘(M)Assemble yourselves, and let us goInto the fortified cities.’
5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
5 Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land.(L)Cry out loudly and say:Assemble yourselves,and let’s flee to the fortified cities.
5 Declare in Judah, make known in Jerusalem, by saying, "Blow the trumpet in the land, cry out, and say, "Gather together and let's go to the fortified cities!'
5 Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say,“Blow the trumpet in the land;Cry aloud and say,‘Assemble yourselves, and let us goInto the fortified cities.’
6 “Lift up a (N)standard toward Zion!Seek refuge, do not stand still,For I am bringing (O)evil from the north,And great destruction.
6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
6 Lift up a signal flag toward Zion.(M)Run for cover! Don’t stand still!For I am bringing disaster from the north—a great destruction.(N)
6 Raise a standard in the direction of Zion. Flee! Don't stand around! For I'm bringing calamity from the north, along with great destruction.
6 “Raise a banner toward Zion [to mark the way for those seeking safety inside Jerusalem’s walls]!Seek refuge, do not stand [immobile],For I am bringing evil from the north (the army of Babylon),And great destruction.
7 “A (P)lion has gone up from his thicket,And a (Q)destroyer of nations has set out;He has gone out from his placeTo (R)make your land a waste.Your cities will be ruinsWithout inhabitant.
7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket;(O)a destroyer of nations has set out.He has left his lairto make your land a waste.Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins.(P)
7 A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his place to make your land a waste. Your cities will be ruined, and without inhabitants.
7 “A lion has left his lair,And a destroyer of nations is on his way.He has gone out from his placeTo desolate your land;Your cities will be in ruinsWithout an inhabitant.
8 “For this, (S)put on sackcloth,Lament and wail;For the (T)fierce anger of the LordHas not turned back from us.”
8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the LORD is not turned back from us.
8 Because of this, put on sackcloth;mourn and wail,(Q)for the Lord’s burning anger(R)has not turned away from us.
8 So, put on sackcloth, mourn and wail, because the burning anger of the LORD has not turned away from us."
8 “For this reason, put on sackcloth [for mourning],Lament (mourn with expressions of grief for the dead) and wail,For the fierce anger of the LordHas not turned back from us.”
9 “It shall come about in that day,” declares the Lord, “that the (U)heart of the king and the heart of the princes will fail; and the priests will be appalled and the (V)prophets will be astounded.”
9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the LORD, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
9 “On that day”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“the king and the officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be scared speechless.”
9 "On that day," declares the LORD, "the courage of the king and the leaders will fail. The priests will be appalled and the prophets astounded."
9 “It shall come about in that day,” says the Lord, “that the heart and courage of the king will fail (be paralyzed), and also the heart of the princes; the priests will be appalled and the prophets will be astounded and horrified.”
10 Then I said, “Ah, Lord (b)God! Surely You have utterly (W)deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘(X)You will have peace’; whereas a sword touches the (c)throat.”
10 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
10 I said, “Oh no, Lord God, You have certainly deceived(S) this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’(T) while a sword is at(c) our throats.”
10 Then I replied, "Ah, Lord GOD, you have completely deceived this people and Jerusalem when you said, "You will have peace,' while the sword is at their throat!"
11 In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A (Y)scorching wind from the bare heights in the wilderness in the direction of the daughter of My people—not to winnow and not to cleanse,
11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
11 “At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A searing wind(U) blows from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to My dear(d) people. It comes not to winnow or to sift;
11 At that time, it will be told this people and to Jerusalem, "A scorching wind from the barren heights in the desert is coming toward my people, and it's not for winnowing or cleansing.
11 In that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A scorching wind from the barren heights in the wilderness [comes at My command] against the daughter of My people—not [a wind] to winnow and not to cleanse [from chaff, as when threshing, but]
12 a wind too strong for (d)this—will come (e)at My command; now I will also pronounce judgments against them.
12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
12 a wind too strong for this comes at My call.(e) Now I will also pronounce judgments against them.’”(V)
12 A wind too strong for that is coming at my bidding. Now I'm judging them as I speak."
12 a wind too strong and full for this comes at My word. Now I will also speak judgment against My people.”
13 “Behold, he (Z)goes up like clouds,And his (AA)chariots like the whirlwind;His horses are (AB)swifter than eagles.Woe to us, for (AC)we are ruined!”
13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.
13 Look, he advances like clouds;(W)his chariots are like a storm.(X)His horses are swifter than eagles.(Y)Woe to us, for we are ruined!(Z)
13 Look, he comes up like clouds, and his chariots are like a whirlwind. His horses are as swift as eagles. Woe to us we're destroyed!
13 “Behold, the enemy comes up like clouds,His chariots like the whirlwind;His horses are swifter than eagles.Woe (judgment is coming) to us, for we are ruined!”
14 Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem,That you may be saved.How long will your (AD)wicked thoughtsLodge within you?
14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
14 Wash the evil from your heart,(AA) Jerusalem,so that you will be delivered.How long will you harbormalicious thoughts within you?(AB)
14 Jerusalem, wash your evil from your heart so that you may be delivered. How long will you harbor evil schemes within you?
14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness,That you may be saved.How long will your wicked and immoral thoughtsLodge within you?
16 “Report it to the nations, now!Proclaim over Jerusalem,‘Besiegers come from a (AF)far country,And (AG)lift their voices against the cities of Judah.
16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.
16 Warn the nations: Look!Proclaim to Jerusalem:Those who besiege are comingfrom a distant land;(AC)they raise their voicesagainst the cities of Judah.
16 "Tell the nations, "Here they come!' Proclaim to Jerusalem, "The besieging forces are coming from a distant land. They cry out against the cities of Judah.
16 “Warn the [neighboring] nations now [that our enemy is coming]!Announce to Jerusalem,‘Besiegers are coming from a far country,And they lift their voices and shout against the cities of Judah.
17 ‘Like watchmen of a field they are (AH)against her round about,Because she has (AI)rebelled against Me,’ declares the Lord.
17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the LORD.
17 They have her surrounded(AD)like those who guard a field,because she has rebelled against Me.(AE)This is the Lord’s declaration.
17 They have surrounded her like those guarding a field because they have rebelled against me,'" declares the LORD.
17 ‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her on all sides,Because she has rebelled against Me,’ says the Lord.
18 “Your (AJ)ways and your deedsHave (f)brought these things to you.This is your evil. How (AK)bitter!How it has touched your heart!”
18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.
18 Your way of life and your actionshave brought this on you.(AF)This is your punishment. It is very bitter,because it has reached your heart!
18 "Your lifestyles and your actions have brought these things on you. This is your calamity it is indeed bitter, for it has reached your heart!"
18 “Your ways and your deedsHave brought these things on you.This is your tragedy and doom; how bitter,How it has touched your heart!”
19 (AL)My (g)soul, my (h)soul! I am in anguish! (i)Oh, my heart!My (AM)heart is pounding in me;I cannot be silent,Because (j)you have heard, O my soul,The (AN)sound of the trumpet,The alarm of war.
19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
19 My anguish, my anguish!(f) I writhe in agony!Oh, the pain in(g) my heart!(AG)My heart pounds;I cannot be silent.For you, my soul,have heard the sound of the ram’s horn—the shout of battle.
19 "My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain. Oh, the aching of my heart! My heart pounds within me; I cannot keep silent. For I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm for war.
19 My soul, my soul! I writhe in anguish and pain! Oh, the walls of my heart!My heart is pounding and throbbing within me;I cannot be silent,For you have heard, O my soul,The sound of the trumpet,The alarm of war.
20 (AO)Disaster on disaster is proclaimed,For the (AP)whole land is devastated;Suddenly my (AQ)tents are devastated,My curtains in an instant.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
20 Disaster after disaster(AH) is reportedbecause the whole land is destroyed.Suddenly my tents are destroyed,my tent curtains, in a moment.
20 Disaster upon disaster is proclaimed, for the entire land is devastated. Suddenly, my tent is destroyed, in a moment my curtains.
20 News of one [terrible] disaster comes close after another,For the whole land is devastated;Suddenly my tents are spoiled and destroyed,My [tent] curtains [ruined] in a moment.
21 How long must I see the standardAnd hear the sound of the trumpet?
21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
21 How long must I see the signal flagand hear the sound of the ram’s horn?
21 How long will I see the battle standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
21 How long [O Lord] must I see the banner [marking the way for flight]And hear the sound of the trumpet [urging the people to run for safety]?
22 “(AR)For My people are foolish,They know Me not;They are stupid childrenAnd have no understanding.They are shrewd to (AS)do evil,But to do good they do not know.”
22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
22 “For My people are fools;they do not know Me.They are foolish children,without understanding.(AI)They are skilled in doing what is evil,but they do not know how to do what is good.”(AJ)
22 "For my people are foolish, they don't know me. They're stupid children, they have no understanding. They're skilled at doing evil, but how to do good, they don't know."
22 “For My people are stupid and foolish,” [says the Lord to Jeremiah];“They do not know Me;They are foolish childrenAnd have no understanding.They are shrewd [enough] to do evil,But they do not know [how] to do good.”
23 I looked on the earth, and behold, it was (k)(AT) formless and void;And to the heavens, and they had no light.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
23 I looked at the earth,and it was formless and empty.(AK)I looked to the heavens,and their light was gone.(AL)
23 I looked at the earth, and it was formless and void, at the heavens, and there was no light there.
23 I looked at the earth [in my vision], and behold, it was [as at the time of creation] formless and void;And to the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I looked on the mountains, and behold, they were (AU)quaking,And all the hills (l)moved to and fro.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
24 I looked at the mountains; they were quaking, and all the hills moved back and forth.
24 I looked at the mountains, and behold, they were trembling,And all the hills moved back and forth.
26 I looked, and behold, (m)the (AW)fruitful land was a wilderness,And all its cities were pulled downBefore the Lord, before His fierce anger.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
26 I looked, and the fertile field(AP) was a wilderness.(AQ)All its cities were torn downbecause of the Lordand His burning anger.(AR)
26 I looked, and the fruitful land had become a desert. All its towns were broken down because of the LORD, because of his burning anger.
26 I looked, and behold, the fertile land was a wilderness,And all its cities were pulled downBefore the [presence of the] Lord, before His fierce anger.
27 For thus says the Lord,“The (AX)whole land shall be a desolation,Yet I will (AY)not execute a complete destruction.
27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
27 For this is what the Lord says:The whole land will be a desolation,(AS)but I will not finish it off.(AT)
27 For this is what the LORD says: "The entire land will be devastated, but I won't completely destroy it.
28 “For this the (AZ)earth shall mournAnd the (BA)heavens above be dark,Because I have (BB)spoken, I have purposed,And I will not (n)change My mind, nor will I turn from it.”
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
28 Because of this, the earth will mourn;(AU)the skies above will grow dark.(AV)I have spoken; I have planned,and I will not relent or turn back from it.(AW)
28 Because of this, the land will mourn, and the heavens above will be dark. Because I have spoken and decided, I won't turn back from doing it."
28 “For this reason the earth shall mournAnd the heavens above shall become dark,Because I have spoken, I have decided,And I will not change my mind (relent), nor will I turn back from it.”
29 At the sound of the horseman and bowman (BC)every city flees;They (BD)go into the thickets and climb among the rocks;(BE)Every city is forsaken,And no man dwells in them.
29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.
29 Every city flees(AX)at the sound of the horseman and the archer.They enter the thicketsand climb among the rocks.(AY)Every city is abandoned;no inhabitant is left.
29 At the sound of the horseman and the archer the entire city flees. Its residents go into the thickets and climb among the rocks. Every city is abandoned, and no one lives in them.
29 Every city runs away at the sound of the horsemen and archers.They go into the thickets and climb among the rocks;Every city is deserted,And no man lives in them.
30 And you, O desolate one, (BF)what will you do?Although you dress in scarlet,Although you decorate yourself with ornaments of gold,Although you (BG)enlarge your eyes with paint,In vain you make yourself beautiful.Your (o)(BH)lovers despise you;They seek your life.
30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
30 And you, devastated one, what are you doing(AZ)that you dress yourself in scarlet,that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry,that you enlarge your eyes with paint?(BA)You beautify yourself for nothing.Your lovers reject you;(BB)they want to take your life.(BC)
30 You are ruined! What are you doing dressing in scarlet, putting on golden ornaments, and highlighting your eyes with makeup? You are making yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers reject you they're out to kill you.
30 And you, O desolate one, what will you do?Though you clothe yourself in scarlet,Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold,Though you enlarge your eyes with paint,You make yourself beautiful in vain.Your lovers (allies) despise you;They seek your life.
31 For I heard a (p)cry as of a woman in labor,The anguish as of one giving birth to her first child,The (q)cry of the daughter of Zion (BI)gasping for breath,(BJ)Stretching out her (r)hands, saying,“Ah, woe is me, for (s)I faint before murderers.”
31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
31 I hear a cry like a woman in labor,(BD)a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child.The cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath,stretching out her hands:(BE)Woe is me, for my life is wearybecause of the murderers!
31 I heard a cry like that of a woman in labor, anguish like one giving birth to her firstborn, the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for air, stretching out her hand: "Woe is me! I'm about to faint in front of killers!"
31 For I heard a cry like a woman in labor,The anguish as of one giving birth to her first child,The cry of the Daughter of Zion (Jerusalem), who gasps for breath,Who stretches out her hands, saying,“Woe is me [my judgment comes]! I faint [in fear] before the murderers.”
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