The Cup of God’s Wrath

15 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup(A) filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send(B) you drink it. 16 When they drink(C) it, they will stagger(D) and go mad(E) because of the sword(F) I will send among them.”

17 So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent(G) me drink it: 18 Jerusalem(H) and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin(I) and an object of horror and scorn,(J) a curse[a](K)—as they are today;(L) 19 Pharaoh king(M) of Egypt,(N) his attendants, his officials and all his people, 20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz;(O) all the kings of the Philistines(P) (those of Ashkelon,(Q) Gaza,(R) Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); 21 Edom,(S) Moab(T) and Ammon;(U) 22 all the kings of Tyre(V) and Sidon;(W) the kings of the coastlands(X) across the sea; 23 Dedan,(Y) Tema,(Z) Buz(AA) and all who are in distant places[b];(AB) 24 all the kings of Arabia(AC) and all the kings of the foreign people(AD) who live in the wilderness; 25 all the kings of Zimri,(AE) Elam(AF) and Media;(AG) 26 and all the kings of the north,(AH) near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms(AI) on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak[c](AJ) will drink it too.

27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk(AK) and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword(AL) I will send among you.’ 28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink(AM), tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster(AN) on the city that bears my Name,(AO) and will you indeed go unpunished?(AP) You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword(AQ) on all(AR) who live on the earth,(AS) declares the Lord Almighty.’

30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:

“‘The Lord will roar(AT) from on high;
    he will thunder(AU) from his holy dwelling(AV)
    and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread(AW) the grapes,
    shout against all who live on the earth.
31 The tumult(AX) will resound to the ends of the earth,
    for the Lord will bring charges(AY) against the nations;
he will bring judgment(AZ) on all(BA) mankind
    and put the wicked to the sword,(BB)’”
declares the Lord.

32 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Look! Disaster(BC) is spreading
    from nation to nation;(BD)
a mighty storm(BE) is rising
    from the ends of the earth.”(BF)

33 At that time those slain(BG) by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered(BH) up or buried,(BI) but will be like dung lying on the ground.

34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;(BJ)
    roll(BK) in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered(BL) has come;
    you will fall like the best of the rams.[d](BM)
35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
    the leaders of the flock no place to escape.(BN)
36 Hear the cry(BO) of the shepherds,(BP)
    the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
    for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
    because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
38 Like a lion(BQ) he will leave his lair,
    and their land will become desolate(BR)
because of the sword[e] of the oppressor(BS)
    and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.(BT)

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(BU) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard(BV) of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord.(BW) Tell(BX) them everything I command you; do not omit(BY) a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn(BZ) from their evil ways. Then I will relent(CA) and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen(CB) to me and follow my law,(CC) which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened(CD)), then I will make this house like Shiloh(CE) and this city a curse[f](CF) among all the nations of the earth.’”

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded(CG) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(CH) him and said, “You must die!(CI) Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”(CJ) And all the people crowded(CK) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the officials(CL) of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate(CM) of the Lord’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death(CN) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(CO)

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(CP) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(CQ) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(CR) 13 Now reform(CS) your ways and your actions and obey(CT) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(CU) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(CV) do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood(CW) on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words(CX) in your hearing.”

16 Then the officials(CY) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(CZ) He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah(DA) of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“‘Zion(DB) will be plowed like a field,
    Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(DC)
    the temple hill(DD) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[g](DE)

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah(DF) fear the Lord and seek(DG) his favor? And did not the Lord relent,(DH) so that he did not bring the disaster(DI) he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster(DJ) on ourselves!”

20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim(DK) was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim(DL) and all his officers and officials(DM) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.(DN) But Uriah heard of it and fled(DO) in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan(DP) son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword(DQ) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)(DR)

24 Furthermore, Ahikam(DS) son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 25:18 That is, their names to be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, to be seen by others as cursed
  2. Jeremiah 25:23 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads
  3. Jeremiah 25:26 Sheshak is a cryptogram for Babylon.
  4. Jeremiah 25:34 Septuagint; Hebrew fall and be shattered like fine pottery
  5. Jeremiah 25:38 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 46:16 and 50:16); most Hebrew manuscripts anger
  6. Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  7. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12

15 For thus saith the Lord God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

16 And they shall drink, and be moved, and be mad, because of the sword that I will send among them.

17 Then took I the cup at the Lord's hand, and made all the nations to drink, unto whom the Lord had sent me:

18 To wit, Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, and the kings thereof, and the princes thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, an hissing, and a curse; as it is this day;

19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, and his servants, and his princes, and all his people;

20 And all the mingled people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon, and Azzah, and Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod,

21 Edom, and Moab, and the children of Ammon,

22 And all the kings of Tyrus, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the isles which are beyond the sea,

23 Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost corners,

24 And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mingled people that dwell in the desert,

25 And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes,

26 And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another, and all the kingdoms of the world, which are upon the face of the earth: and the king of Sheshach shall drink after them.

27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Drink ye, and be drunken, and spue, and fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.

28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at thine hand to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Ye shall certainly drink.

29 For, lo, I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my name, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished: for I will call for a sword upon all the inhabitants of the earth, saith the Lord of hosts.

30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these words, and say unto them, The Lord shall roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation; he shall mightily roar upon his habitation; he shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.

31 A noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the Lord hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the Lord.

32 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, evil shall go forth from nation to nation, and a great whirlwind shall be raised up from the coasts of the earth.

33 And the slain of the Lord shall be at that day from one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth: they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the ground.

34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock: for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard: for the Lord hath spoiled their pasture.

37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion: for their land is desolate because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

26 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord, saying,

Thus saith the Lord; Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord's house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the Lord; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;

Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.

So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.

Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the Lord, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the Lord's house.

11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.

13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.

15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the Lord hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.

17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,

18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the Lord, and besought the Lord, and the Lord repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the Lord, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.

23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

The Day of the Lord

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates(A) we do not need to write to you,(B) for you know very well that the day of the Lord(C) will come like a thief in the night.(D) While people are saying, “Peace and safety,”(E) destruction will come on them suddenly,(F) as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.(G)

But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness(H) so that this day should surprise you like a thief.(I) You are all children of the light(J) and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep,(K) but let us be awake(L) and sober.(M) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.(N) But since we belong to the day,(O) let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate,(P) and the hope of salvation(Q) as a helmet.(R) For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath(S) but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.(T) 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.(U) 11 Therefore encourage one another(V) and build each other up,(W) just as in fact you are doing.

Final Instructions

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard(X) among you, who care for you in the Lord(Y) and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.(Z) 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle(AA) and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak,(AB) be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong,(AC) but always strive to do what is good for each other(AD) and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always,(AE) 17 pray continually,(AF) 18 give thanks in all circumstances;(AG) for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.(AH) 20 Do not treat prophecies(AI) with contempt 21 but test them all;(AJ) hold on to what is good,(AK) 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace,(AL) sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul(AM) and body be kept blameless(AN) at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.(AO) 24 The one who calls(AP) you is faithful,(AQ) and he will do it.(AR)

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.(AS) 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss.(AT) 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.(AU)

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.(AV)

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But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.

16 Rejoice evermore.

17 Pray without ceasing.

18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

19 Quench not the Spirit.

20 Despise not prophesyings.

21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

25 Brethren, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

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ג Gimel

17 Be good to your servant(A) while I live,
    that I may obey your word.(B)
18 Open my eyes that I may see
    wonderful things in your law.
19 I am a stranger on earth;(C)
    do not hide your commands from me.
20 My soul is consumed(D) with longing
    for your laws(E) at all times.
21 You rebuke the arrogant,(F) who are accursed,(G)
    those who stray(H) from your commands.
22 Remove from me their scorn(I) and contempt,
    for I keep your statutes.(J)
23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,
    your servant will meditate on your decrees.
24 Your statutes are my delight;
    they are my counselors.

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17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

19 I am a stranger in the earth: hide not thy commandments from me.

20 My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times.

21 Thou hast rebuked the proud that are cursed, which do err from thy commandments.

22 Remove from me reproach and contempt; for I have kept thy testimonies.

23 Princes also did sit and speak against me: but thy servant did meditate in thy statutes.

24 Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.

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