LEB JER Chapter 9

A Nation Characterized by Deceit

• 4 and you must not trust in any brother,
• for everyone surely betrays,
  • and every neighbor goes about with slander.
  • 5  and they do not speak the truth,
• they have taught their tongues[fn] to speak lies,[fn]
  • they are tired from going astray.
  • 6 is in the midst of deceit, upon[fn] deceit they refuse to know me,” [fn] Yahweh.
• 7 Therefore, thus says Yahweh of hosts:“Look, I am about to refine them,
  • and I will test them,
• for what else can I do,
  • because of the[fn] of the daughter of my people?
  • 8 is a murderous arrow, it speaks deceit.
• With his mouth he speaks peace with his neighbor,
  • but in his inner parts he sets up his ambush.
• 9 things shall I not punish them?”[fn] Yahweh, “On a nation that is like this shall I not take revenge?
  • 10  and for the pastures of the desert a lament,
• because they are laid waste so that no man passes through.
  • And the sounds[fn] of cattle are not heard,
• from the birds[fn] of heaven to the animals[fn]
  • they have fled, they are gone.
  • 11 of ruins, a lair of jackals, and the towns of Judah I will make a desolation,[fn]
  • 12 is the wise man that can understand this? And to whom has the mouth of Yahweh spoken, so that he may declare it?
• Why is the land destroyed?
  • It is laid waste like the desert[fn] so that no one passes through.”

The Nation is Judged by Yahweh

13 And Yahweh said, “Because of their forsaking my law that I set before[fn] them, and they have not obeyed my voice, and have not walked in it, 14 but they went after the stubbornness of their heart, and after the Baals, which their ancestors[fn] taught them.” 15 Therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, “Look, I am feeding this people wormwood, and providing drink for them, water of poison, 16 and I will scatter them among the nations that they have not known, they and their ancestors,[fn] and I will send the sword after them until I bring them to an end.”

• 17 Thus says Yahweh of hosts:“Consider closely, and call for the wailing women, so that they come,
  • and for the skillful women, so that they come.
  • 18  and let them lift up wailing over us,
• so that our eyes may melt with tears,
  • and our eyelids may flow with water.
  • 19  ‘How we are devastated!
• We are very ashamed because we have left the land,
  • because they have overthrown our dwelling places.’
  • 20 O women, the word of Yahweh, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth,
• and teach your daughters a lamentation,
  • and each woman her neighbor a lament.
  • 21  it has entered into our fortresses,
• to cut off the children[fn] from the streets,[fn]
  • the young men from the public squares.
• 22 Speak, ‘thus declares[fn] Yahweh: “The dead body of the human will fall
  • like dung upon the surface of the field,
• and like cut grain behind the reaper,
  • and there is no one who gathers.” ’ ”

The Things in Which Yahweh Delights

• 23 Thus says Yahweh,“The wise man must not boast in his wisdom,
  • and the warrior must not boast in his might,
• the wealthy man must not boast in his wealth.
  • 24 [fn] in this must the one who boasts boast, that he has insight,
• and that he knows me,
  • that I am Yahweh,
• showing loyal love, justice, and righteousness on the earth,
  • for in these things I delight,”[fn] Yahweh.

The Way of the Nations

25 “Look, days are coming,” declares[fn] Yahweh, “and I will call into account all those who are circumcised in the foreskin: Egypt, Judah, and Edom, and the Ammonites,[fn] and Moab, and all those who are trimmed to the side, those who live in the desert,[fn] for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.”