Jeremiah 5-6

New International Version

Not One Is Upright

5 “Go up and down^(A) the streets of Jerusalem,
    look around and consider,^(B)
    search through her squares.
If you can find but one person^(C)
    who deals honestly^(D) and seeks the truth,
    I will forgive^(E) this city.
²Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’^(F)
    still they are swearing falsely.^(G)”

³Lord, do not your eyes^(H) look for truth?
    You struck^(I) them, but they felt no pain;
    you crushed them, but they refused correction.^(J)
They made their faces harder than stone^(K)
    and refused to repent.^(L)
⁴I thought, “These are only the poor;
    they are foolish,^(M)
for they do not know^(N) the way of the Lord,
    the requirements of their God.
⁵So I will go to the leaders^(O)
    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.^(P)
⁶Therefore a lion from the forest^(Q) will attack them,
    a wolf from the desert will ravage^(R) them,
a leopard^(S) will lie in wait near their towns
    to tear to pieces any who venture out,
for their rebellion is great
    and their backslidings many.^(T)

⁷“Why should I forgive you?
    Your children have forsaken me
    and sworn^(U) by gods that are not gods.^(V)
I supplied all their needs,
    yet they committed adultery^(W)
    and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.^(X)
⁸They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
    each neighing for another man’s wife.^(Y)
⁹Should I not punish them for this?”^(Z)
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge^(AA) myself
    on such a nation as this?

¹⁰“Go through her vineyards and ravage them,
    but do not destroy them completely.^(AB)
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^(AC) to me,”
declares the Lord.

¹²They have lied^(AD) about the Lord;
    they said, “He will do nothing!
No harm will come to us;^(AE)
    we will never see sword or famine.^(AF)
¹³The prophets^(AG) are but wind^(AH)
    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^(AI) a fire^(AJ)
    and these people the wood it consumes.^(AK)
¹⁵People of Israel,” declares the Lord,
    “I am bringing a distant nation^(AL) against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
    a people whose language^(AM) you do not know,
    whose speech you do not understand.
¹⁶Their quivers^(AN) are like an open grave;
    all of them are mighty warriors.
¹⁷They will devour^(AO) your harvests and food,
    devour^(AP) your sons and daughters;
they will devour^(AQ) your flocks and herds,
    devour your vines and fig trees.^(AR)
With the sword^(AS) they will destroy
    the fortified cities^(AT) in which you trust.^(AU)

¹⁸“Yet even in those days,” declares the Lord, “I will not destroy^(AV) you completely. ¹⁹And when the people ask,^(AW) ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods^(AX) in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners^(AY) in a land not your own.’

²⁰“Announce this to the descendants of Jacob
    and proclaim^(AZ) it in Judah:
²¹Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,^(BA)
    who have eyes^(BB) but do not see,
    who have ears but do not hear:^(BC)
²²Should you not fear^(BD) me?” declares the Lord.
    “Should you not tremble^(BE) in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,^(BF)
    an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
    they may roar,^(BG) but they cannot cross it.
²³But these people have stubborn and rebellious^(BH) hearts;
    they have turned aside^(BI) and gone away.
²⁴They do not say to themselves,
    ‘Let us fear^(BJ) the Lord our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains^(BK) in season,
    who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’^(BL)
²⁵Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
    your sins have deprived you of good.^(BM)

²⁶“Among my people are the wicked^(BN)
    who lie in wait^(BO) like men who snare birds
    and like those who set traps^(BP) to catch people.
²⁷Like cages full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;^(BQ)
they have become rich^(BR) and powerful
²⁸    and have grown fat^(BS) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;^(BT)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.^(BU)
²⁹Should I not punish them for this?”
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge^(BV) myself
    on such a nation as this?

³⁰“A horrible^(BW) and shocking thing
    has happened in the land:
³¹The prophets prophesy lies,^(BX)
    the priests^(BY) rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
    But what will you do in the end?^(BZ)

Jerusalem Under Siege

6 “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
    Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet^(CA) in Tekoa!^(CB)
    Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!^(CC)
For disaster looms out of the north,^(CD)
    even terrible destruction.
²I will destroy Daughter Zion,^(CE)
    so beautiful and delicate.^(CF)
³Shepherds^(CG) with their flocks will come against her;
    they will pitch their tents around^(CH) her,
    each tending his own portion.”

⁴“Prepare for battle against her!
    Arise, let us attack at noon!^(CI)
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
    and the shadows of evening grow long.
⁵So arise, let us attack at night
    and destroy her fortresses!”

⁶This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Cut down the trees^(CJ)
    and build siege ramps^(CK) against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
    it is filled with oppression.^(CL)
⁷As a well pours out its water,
    so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence^(CM) and destruction^(CN) resound in her;
    her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
⁸Take warning, Jerusalem,
    or I will turn away^(CO) from you
and make your land desolate
    so no one can live in it.”

⁹This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Let them glean the remnant^(CP) of Israel
as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
like one gathering grapes.”

¹⁰To whom can I speak and give warning?
    Who will listen^(CQ) to me?
Their ears are closed^[a]^(CR)
    so they cannot hear.^(CS)
The word^(CT) of the Lord is offensive to them;
    they find no pleasure in it.
¹¹But I am full of the wrath^(CU) of the Lord,
    and I cannot hold it in.^(CV)

“Pour it out on the children in the street
    and on the young men^(CW) gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
    and the old, those weighed down with years.^(CX)
¹²Their houses will be turned over to others,^(CY)
    together with their fields and their wives,^(CZ)
when I stretch out my hand^(DA)
    against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
¹³“From the least to the greatest,
    all^(DB) are greedy for gain;^(DC)
prophets and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.^(DD)
¹⁴They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
    when there is no peace.^(DE)
¹⁵Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.^(DF)
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when I punish^(DG) them,”
says the Lord.

¹⁶This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,^(DH)
ask where the good way^(DI) is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest^(DJ) for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
¹⁷I appointed watchmen^(DK) over you and said,
    ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’^(DL)
    But you said, ‘We will not listen.’^(DM)
¹⁸Therefore hear, you nations;
    you who are witnesses,
    observe what will happen to them.
¹⁹Hear, you earth:^(DN)
    I am bringing disaster^(DO) on this people,
    the fruit of their schemes,^(DP)
because they have not listened to my words^(DQ)
    and have rejected my law.^(DR)
²⁰What do I care about incense from Sheba^(DS)
    or sweet calamus^(DT) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;^(DU)
    your sacrifices^(DV) do not please me.”^(DW)

²¹Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“I will put obstacles before this people.
Parents and children alike will stumble^(DX) over them;
neighbors and friends will perish.”

²²This is what the Lord says:

“Look, an army is coming
    from the land of the north;^(DY)
a great nation is being stirred up
    from the ends of the earth.^(DZ)
²³They are armed with bow and spear;
    they are cruel and show no mercy.^(EA)
They sound like the roaring sea^(EB)
    as they ride on their horses;^(EC)
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Zion.^(ED)”

²⁴We have heard reports about them,
    and our hands hang limp.^(EE)
Anguish^(EF) has gripped us,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.^(EG)
²⁵Do not go out to the fields
    or walk on the roads,
for the enemy has a sword,
    and there is terror on every side.^(EH)
²⁶Put on sackcloth,^(EI) my people,
    and roll in ashes;^(EJ)
mourn with bitter wailing^(EK)
    as for an only son,^(EL)
for suddenly the destroyer^(EM)
    will come upon us.

²⁷“I have made you a tester^(EN) of metals
    and my people the ore,
that you may observe
    and test their ways.
²⁸They are all hardened rebels,^(EO)
    going about to slander.^(EP)
They are bronze and iron;^(EQ)
    they all act corruptly.
²⁹The bellows blow fiercely
    to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining^(ER) goes on in vain;
    the wicked are not purged out.
³⁰They are called rejected silver,^(ES)
    because the Lord has rejected them.”^(ET)

Footnotes

Jeremiah 6:10 Hebrew uncircumcised

John 12

New International Version

Jesus Anointed at Bethany^(A)

12 Six days before the Passover,^(B) Jesus came to Bethany,^(C) where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ²Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served,^(D) while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³Then Mary took about a pint^[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume;^(E) she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair.^(F) And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,^(G) objected, ⁵“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^[b]” ⁶He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,^(H) he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.^(I) ⁸You will always have the poor among you,^[c]^(J) but you will not always have me.”

⁹Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.^(K) ¹⁰So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, ¹¹for on account of him^(L) many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.^(M)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King^(N)

¹²The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. ¹³They took palm branches^(O) and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!^[d]”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”^[e]^(P)

“Blessed is the king of Israel!”^(Q)

¹⁴Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

¹⁵“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;
see, your king is coming,
seated on a donkey’s colt.”^[f]^(R)

¹⁶At first his disciples did not understand all this.^(S) Only after Jesus was glorified^(T) did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

¹⁷Now the crowd that was with him^(U) when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. ¹⁸Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign,^(V) went out to meet him. ¹⁹So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!”^(W)

Jesus Predicts His Death

²⁰Now there were some Greeks^(X) among those who went up to worship at the festival. ²¹They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida^(Y) in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” ²²Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

²³Jesus replied, “The hour^(Z) has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.^(AA) ²⁴Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies,^(AB) it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it^(AC) for eternal life.^(AD) ²⁶Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be.^(AE) My Father will honor the one who serves me.

²⁷“Now my soul is troubled,^(AF) and what shall I say? ‘Father,^(AG) save me from this hour’?^(AH) No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. ²⁸Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven,^(AI) “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” ²⁹The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit,^(AJ) not mine. ³¹Now is the time for judgment on this world;^(AK) now the prince of this world^(AL) will be driven out. ³²And I, when I am lifted up^[g] from the earth,^(AM) will draw all people to myself.”^(AN) ³³He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.^(AO)

³⁴The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law^(AP) that the Messiah will remain forever,^(AQ) so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man^(AR) must be lifted up’?^(AS) Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

³⁵Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light^(AT) just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light,^(AU) before darkness overtakes you.^(AV) Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. ³⁶Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.”^(AW) When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.^(AX)

Belief and Unbelief Among the Jews

³⁷Even after Jesus had performed so many signs^(AY) in their presence, they still would not believe in him. ³⁸This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”^[h]^(AZ)

³⁹For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

⁴⁰“He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their hearts,
so they can neither see with their eyes,
    nor understand with their hearts,
    nor turn—and I would heal them.”^[i]^(BA)

⁴¹Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory^(BB) and spoke about him.^(BC)

⁴²Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.^(BD) But because of the Pharisees^(BE) they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;^(BF) ⁴³for they loved human praise^(BG) more than praise from God.^(BH)

⁴⁴Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.^(BI) ⁴⁵The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.^(BJ) ⁴⁶I have come into the world as a light,^(BK) so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

⁴⁷“If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.^(BL) ⁴⁸There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them^(BM) at the last day. ⁴⁹For I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me^(BN) to say all that I have spoken. ⁵⁰I know that his command leads to eternal life.^(BO) So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”^(BP)

Footnotes

John 12:3 Or about 0.5 liter
John 12:5 Greek three hundred denarii
John 12:8 See Deut. 15:11.
John 12:13 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise
John 12:13 Psalm 118:25,26
John 12:15 Zech. 9:9
John 12:32 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
John 12:38 Isaiah 53:1
John 12:40 Isaiah 6:10