1Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, look and take note! Search her squares to see if you can find a man, one who does justice and seeks truth, that I may pardon her. (Ge 18:23; 2Ch 16:9; Jer 5:7)2Though they say, “As the Lord lives,” yet they swear falsely. (Jer 7:9; Tit 1:16)3O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You have struck them down, but they felt no anguish; you have consumed them, but they refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; they have refused to repent. (Jer 2:30; Eze 3:8)4Then I said, “These are only the poor; they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God. (Jer 8:7; Mic 3:1)5I will go to the great and will speak to them, for they know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God.” But they all alike had broken the yoke; they had burst the bonds. (Ps 2:3; Ps 107:14; Jer 2:20)6Therefore a lion from the forest shall strike them down; a wolf from the desert shall devastate them. A leopard is watching their cities; everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces, because their transgressions are many, their apostasies are great. (Jer 2:19; Jer 4:7; Ho 13:7; Hab 1:8; Zep 3:3)7“How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores. (De 32:15; De 32:21; Jos 23:7; 2Ch 13:9; Jer 5:1; Jer 9:2; Jer 23:10; Mic 5:1; Ga 4:8)8They were well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for his neighbor’s wife. (Jer 13:27; Jer 50:11; Eze 22:11)9Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord; and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this? (Jer 5:29; Jer 9:9; Ro 2:2)10“Go up through her vine rows and destroy, but make not a full end; strip away her branches, for they are not the Lord’s. (Jer 4:27; Jer 39:8)11For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have been utterly treacherous to me, declares the Lord. (Jer 3:20)12They have spoken falsely of the Lord and have said, ‘He will do nothing; no disaster will come upon us, nor shall we see sword or famine. (Ge 3:4; Isa 28:15; Jer 14:13)13The prophets will become wind; the word is not in them. Thus shall it be done to them!’”
The Lord Proclaims Judgment
14Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts: “Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth a fire, and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them. (Jer 1:9; Ob 1:18; Zec 12:6; Re 11:5)15Behold, I am bringing against you a nation from afar, O house of Israel, declares the Lord. It is an enduring nation; it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language you do not know, nor can you understand what they say. (De 28:49; Isa 33:19; Jer 1:15; Jer 34:21; Am 6:14)16Their quiver is like an open tomb; they are all mighty warriors. (Ps 5:9; Isa 5:28)17They shall eat up your harvest and your food; they shall eat up your sons and your daughters; they shall eat up your flocks and your herds; they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees; your fortified cities in which you trust they shall beat down with the sword.” (Le 26:16; De 28:31; De 28:33; De 28:51; Ho 8:14)18“But even in those days, declares the Lord, I will not make a full end of you. (Jer 5:10)19And when your people say, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’” (De 4:27; De 28:47; De 28:68; De 29:24; 1Ki 9:8; Jer 13:22; Jer 16:10; Jer 22:8)20Declare this in the house of Jacob; proclaim it in Judah:21“Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but see not, who have ears, but hear not. (De 32:6; Isa 6:9; Mt 13:14)22Do you not fear me? declares the Lord. Do you not tremble before me? I placed the sand as the boundary for the sea, a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass; though the waves toss, they cannot prevail; though they roar, they cannot pass over it. (Job 26:10; Job 38:10; Ps 46:3; Ps 104:9; Jer 10:7; Jer 51:55)23But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away. (Jer 6:28)24They do not say in their hearts, ‘Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives the rain in its season, the autumn rain and the spring rain, and keeps for us the weeks appointed for the harvest.’ (Ge 8:22; De 11:14; Job 5:10; Ps 147:8; Jer 14:22; Mt 5:45)25Your iniquities have turned these away, and your sins have kept good from you. (Jer 3:3)26For wicked men are found among my people; they lurk like fowlers lying in wait.[1] They set a trap; they catch men. (Ps 10:9; Ps 124:7; Pr 1:11)27Like a cage full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; therefore they have become great and rich;28they have grown fat and sleek. They know no bounds in deeds of evil; they judge not with justice the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper, and they do not defend the rights of the needy. (De 32:15; Isa 1:23; Jer 7:6; Zec 7:10)29Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord, and shall I not avenge myself on a nation such as this?” (Jer 5:9)30An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: (Jer 23:14; Ho 6:10)31the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes? (Jer 6:13; Jer 14:14; Jer 14:18; Jer 20:6; Jer 23:21; Jer 23:25; Jer 27:10; Jer 27:15; Jer 29:9; Eze 13:6; Mic 2:11)
Jeremiah 5
New International Version
Not one is upright
1‘Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem, look around and consider, search through her squares. If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.2Although they say, “As surely as the Lord lives,” still they are swearing falsely.’3Lord, do not your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; you crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.4I thought, ‘These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.5So I will go to the leaders and speak to them; surely they know the way of the Lord, the requirements of their God.’ But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke and torn off the bonds.6Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them, a wolf from the desert will ravage them, a leopard will lie in wait near their towns to tear to pieces any who venture out, for their rebellion is great and their backslidings many.7‘Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I supplied all their needs, yet they committed adultery and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.8They are well-fed, lusty stallions, each neighing for another man’s wife.9Should I not punish them for this?’ declares the Lord. ‘Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?10‘Go through her vineyards and ravage them, but do not destroy them completely. Strip off her branches, for these people do not belong to the Lord.11The people of Israel and the people of Judah have been utterly unfaithful to me,’ declares the Lord.12They have lied about the Lord; they said, ‘He will do nothing! No harm will come to us; we will never see sword or famine.13The prophets are but wind and the word is not in them; so let what they say be done to them.’14Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says: ‘Because the people have spoken these words, I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes.15People of Israel,’ declares the Lord, ‘I am bringing a distant nation against you – an ancient and enduring nation, a people whose language you do not know, whose speech you do not understand.16Their quivers are like an open grave; all of them are mighty warriors.17They will devour your harvests and food, devour your sons and daughters; they will devour your flocks and herds, devour your vines and fig-trees. With the sword they will destroy the fortified cities in which you trust.18‘Yet even in those days,’ declares the Lord, ‘I will not destroy you completely.19And when the people ask, “Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?” you will tell them, “As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners in a land not your own.”20‘Announce this to the descendants of Jacob and proclaim it in Judah:21Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear:22Should you not fear me?’ declares the Lord. ‘Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.23But these people have stubborn and rebellious hearts; they have turned aside and gone away.24They do not say to themselves, “Let us fear the Lord our God, who gives autumn and spring rains in season, who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.”25Your wrongdoings have kept these away; your sins have deprived you of good.26‘Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people.27Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful28and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor.29Should I not punish them for this?’ declares the Lord. ‘Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?30‘A horrible and shocking thing has happened in the land:31the prophets prophesy lies, the priests rule by their own authority, and my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?
Jeremiah 5
King James Version
1Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.2And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.3O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.4Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.5I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.6Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.7How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots'houses.8They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.9Shall I not visit for these things ? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?10Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD'.11For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.12They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:13And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.14Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.15Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.16Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.17And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.18Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.19And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.20Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,21Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:22Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?23But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.24Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.25Your iniquities have turned away these things , and your sins have withholden good things from you.26For among my people are found wicked men : they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.27As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.28They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.29Shall I not visit for these things ? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?30A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;31The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Jeremiah 5
New International Reader’s Version
No one is honest
1The LORD says, ‘Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look around. Think about what you see. Search through the market. See if you can find one honest person who tries to be truthful. If you can, I will forgive this city.2They make their promises in my name. They say, “You can be sure that the LORD is alive.” But their promises can’t be trusted.’3LORD, don’t your eyes look for truth? You struck down your people. But they didn’t feel any pain. You crushed them. But they refused to be corrected. They made their faces harder than stone. They refused to turn away from their sins.4I thought, ‘The people of Jerusalem are foolish. They don’t know how the LORD wants them to live. They don’t know what their God requires of them.5So I will go to the leaders. I’ll speak to them. They should know how the LORD wants them to live. They must know what their God requires of them.’ But all of them had broken off the yoke the LORD had put on them. They had torn off the ropes he had tied them up with.6So a lion from the forest will attack them. A wolf from the desert will destroy them. A leopard will hide and wait near their towns. It will tear to pieces anyone who dares to go out. Again and again they have refused to obey the LORD. They have turned away from him many times.7The LORD says, ‘Jerusalem, why should I forgive you? Your people have deserted me. They have made their promises in the names of gods that are not really gods at all. I supplied everything they needed. But they committed adultery. Large crowds went to the houses of prostitutes.8Your people are like stallions that have plenty to eat. Their sinful desires are out of control. Each of them goes after another man’s wife.9Shouldn’t I punish them for this?’ announces the LORD. ‘Shouldn’t I pay back the nation that does these things?10‘Armies of Babylon, go through their vineyards and destroy them. But do not destroy them completely. Strip off their branches. These people do not belong to me.11The people of Israel and the people of Judah have not been faithful to me at all,’ announces the LORD.12They have told lies about the LORD. They said, ‘He won’t do anything! No harm will come to us. We will never see war or be hungry.13The prophets are nothing but wind. Their message doesn’t come from the LORD. So let what they say will happen be done to them.’14The LORD God rules over all. He says to me, ‘The people have spoken these words. So my words will be like fire in your mouth. I will make the people like wood. And the fire will burn them up.’15‘People of Israel, listen to me,’ announces the LORD. ‘I am bringing against you a nation from far away. It is an old nation. And it will last for a long time. Its people speak a language you do not know. You can’t understand what they are saying.16The bags they carry their arrows in are like an open grave. All their soldiers are mighty.17They will eat up your crops and your food. They will strike down your sons and daughters. They will kill your sheep and cattle. They will destroy your vines and fig-trees. You trust in your cities that have high walls around them. But the people in them will be killed by swords.18‘In spite of that, even in those days I will not destroy you completely,’ announces the LORD.19‘ “Jeremiah”, the people will ask, “Why has the LORD our God done all this to us?” Then you will tell them, “You have deserted the LORD. You have served other gods in your own land. So now you will serve another nation in a land that is not your own.”20‘Here is what I want you to announce to the people of Jacob. Tell it in Judah. Tell them I say,21“Listen to this, you foolish people, who do not have any sense. You have eyes, but you do not see. You have ears, but you do not hear.22Shouldn’t you have respect for me?” announces the LORD. “Shouldn’t you tremble with fear in front of me? I made the sand to hold the ocean back. It will do that for ever. The ocean can’t go past it. The waves might roll, but they can’t sweep over it. They might roar, but they can’t go across it.23But you people have stubborn hearts. You refuse to obey me. You have turned away from me. You have gone astray.24You do not say to yourselves, ‘Let us have respect for the LORD our God. He sends rain in the autumn and the spring. He promises us that the harvest will come at the same time each year.’25But the things you have done wrong have robbed you of these gifts. Your sins have kept these good things far away from you.”26‘Jeremiah, some of my people are evil. They hide and wait just as people hide to catch birds. They set traps for people.27A hunter uses tricks to fill his cage with birds. And my people have filled their houses with a lot of goods. They have become rich and powerful.28They have grown fat and heavy. There is no limit to the evil things they do. In court they do not seek justice. They don’t protect the rights of children whose fathers have died. They do not stand up for poor people.29Shouldn’t I punish them for this?’ announces the LORD. ‘Shouldn’t I pay back the nation that does these things?30‘Something horrible and shocking has happened in the land.31The prophets prophesy lies. The priests rule by their own authority. And my people love it this way. But what will you do in the end?’