Jeremiah 9:2-6

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^(a)If only I had a traveler’s lodging place
in the wilderness,
I would abandon my people
and depart from them,
for they are all adulterers,^(A)
a solemn assembly of treacherous people.^(B)

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They bent their tongues like their bows;
lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land,
for they proceed from one evil to another,
and they do not take Me into account.^(C)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

Imminent Ruin and Exile

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Everyone has to be on guard against his friend.
Don’t trust any brother,
for every brother will certainly deceive,
and every friend spread slander.^(D)

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Each one betrays his friend;
no one tells the truth.
They have taught their tongues to speak lies;
they wear themselves out doing wrong.

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You live in a world of deception.^(b)
In their deception they refuse to know Me.^(E)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

Footnotes:

a. Jeremiah 9:2: Jr 9:1 in Hb

b. Jeremiah 9:6: LXX reads Oppression on oppression, deceit on deceit

Cross references:

A. Jeremiah 9:2: Jeremiah 23:10; Malachi 3:5

B. Jeremiah 9:2: Isaiah 24:16; Isaiah 33:1; Jeremiah 12:1

C. Jeremiah 9:3: Jeremiah 4:22

D. Jeremiah 9:4: Jeremiah 6:28

E. Jeremiah 9:6: Romans 1:17