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Jeremiah 5:20-31
New King James Version
Jeremiah 5:20-31
New King James Version
20 “Declare this in the house of Jacob
And proclaim it in Judah, saying,
21 ‘Hear this now, O (A)foolish people,
Without [a]understanding,
Who have eyes and see not,
And who have ears and hear not:
22 (B)Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord.
‘Will you not tremble at My presence,
Who have placed the sand as the (C)bound of the sea,
By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it?
And though its waves toss to and fro,
Yet they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.
23 But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart;
They have revolted and departed.
24 They do not say in their heart,
“Let us now fear the Lord our God,
(D)Who gives rain, both the (E)former and the latter, in its season.
(F)He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”
25 (G)Your iniquities have turned these things away,
And your sins have withheld good from you.
26 ‘For among My people are found wicked men;
They (H)lie in wait as one who sets snares;
They set a trap;
They catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit.
Therefore they have become great and grown rich.
28 They have grown (I)fat, they are sleek;
Yes, they [b]surpass the deeds of the wicked;
They do not plead (J)the cause,
The cause of the fatherless;
(K)Yet they prosper,
And the right of the needy they do not defend.
29 (L)Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord.
‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’
30 “An astonishing and (M)horrible thing
Has been committed in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy (N)falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people (O)love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end?
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 5:21 Lit. heart
- Jeremiah 5:28 Or pass over or overlook
Jeremiah 5:20-31
New International Version
Jeremiah 5:20-31
New International Version
20 “Announce this to the descendants of Jacob
and proclaim(A) it in Judah:
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,(B)
who have eyes(C) but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear:(D)
22 Should you not fear(E) me?” declares the Lord.
“Should you not tremble(F) in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,(G)
an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
they may roar,(H) but they cannot cross it.
23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious(I) hearts;
they have turned aside(J) and gone away.
24 They do not say to themselves,
‘Let us fear(K) the Lord our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains(L) in season,
who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’(M)
25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
your sins have deprived you of good.(N)
26 “Among my people are the wicked(O)
who lie in wait(P) like men who snare birds
and like those who set traps(Q) to catch people.
27 Like cages full of birds,
their houses are full of deceit;(R)
they have become rich(S) and powerful
28 and have grown fat(T) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;(U)
they do not defend the just cause of the poor.(V)
29 Should I not punish them for this?”
declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(W) myself
on such a nation as this?
2 Corinthians 5:20-7:1
New King James Version
2 Corinthians 5:20-7:1
New King James Version
20 Now then, we are (A)ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For (B)He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become (C)the righteousness of God in Him.
Marks of the Ministry
6 We then, as (D)workers together with Him also (E)plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2 For He says:
(F)“In an acceptable time I have heard you,
And in the day of salvation I have helped you.”
Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
3 (G)We give no offense in anything, that our ministry may not be blamed. 4 But in all things we commend ourselves (H)as ministers of God: in much [a]patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses, 5 (I)in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness, in fastings; 6 by purity, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Spirit, by [b]sincere love, 7 (J)by the word of truth, by (K)the power of God, by (L)the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8 by honor and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9 as unknown, and (M)yet well known; (N)as dying, and behold we live; (O)as chastened, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many (P)rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
Be Holy
11 O Corinthians! [c]We have spoken openly to you, (Q)our heart is wide open. 12 You are not restricted by us, but (R)you are restricted by your own affections. 13 Now in return for the same (S)(I speak as to children), you also be open.
14 (T)Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For (U)what [d]fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what [e]communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For (V)you[f] are the temple of the living God. As God has said:
(W)“I will dwell in them
And walk among them.
I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.”
17 Therefore
(X)“Come out from among them
And be separate, says the Lord.
Do not touch what is unclean,
And I will receive you.”
18 “I (Y)will be a Father to you,
And you shall be My (Z)sons and daughters,
Says the Lord Almighty.”
The Corinthians’ Repentance
7 Therefore,(AA) having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 6:4 endurance
- 2 Corinthians 6:6 Lit. unhypocritical
- 2 Corinthians 6:11 Lit. Our mouth is open
- 2 Corinthians 6:14 in common
- 2 Corinthians 6:14 fellowship
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 NU we
2 Corinthians 5:20-7:1
New International Version
2 Corinthians 5:20-7:1
New International Version
20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors,(A) as though God were making his appeal through us.(B) We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.(C) 21 God made him who had no sin(D) to be sin[a] for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.(E)
6 As God’s co-workers(F) we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain.(G) 2 For he says,
I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Paul’s Hardships
3 We put no stumbling block in anyone’s path,(I) so that our ministry will not be discredited. 4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; 5 in beatings, imprisonments(J) and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger;(K) 6 in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit(L) and in sincere love;(M) 7 in truthful speech(N) and in the power of God;(O) with weapons of righteousness(P) in the right hand and in the left; 8 through glory and dishonor,(Q) bad report(R) and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors;(S) 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying,(T) and yet we live on;(U) beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing;(V) poor, yet making many rich;(W) having nothing,(X) and yet possessing everything.(Y)
11 We have spoken freely to you, Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you.(Z) 12 We are not withholding our affection from you, but you are withholding yours from us. 13 As a fair exchange—I speak as to my children(AA)—open wide your hearts(AB) also.
Warning Against Idolatry
14 Do not be yoked together(AC) with unbelievers.(AD) For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?(AE) 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[c]?(AF) Or what does a believer(AG) have in common with an unbeliever?(AH) 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?(AI) For we are the temple(AJ) of the living God.(AK) As God has said:
“I will live with them
and walk among them,
and I will be their God,
and they will be my people.”[d](AL)
17 Therefore,
“Come out from them(AM)
and be separate,
says the Lord.
Touch no unclean thing,
and I will receive you.”[e](AN)
18 And,
“I will be a Father to you,
and you will be my sons and daughters,(AO)
says the Lord Almighty.”[f](AP)
7 Therefore, since we have these promises,(AQ) dear friends,(AR) let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness(AS) out of reverence for God.
Footnotes
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 Or be a sin offering
- 2 Corinthians 6:2 Isaiah 49:8
- 2 Corinthians 6:15 Greek Beliar, a variant of Belial
- 2 Corinthians 6:16 Lev. 26:12; Jer. 32:38; Ezek. 37:27
- 2 Corinthians 6:17 Isaiah 52:11; Ezek. 20:34,41
- 2 Corinthians 6:18 2 Samuel 7:14; 7:8
Jeremiah 6:1-21
New King James Version
Jeremiah 6:1-21
New King James Version
Impending Destruction from the North
6 “O you children of Benjamin,
Gather yourselves to flee from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in Tekoa,
And set up a signal-fire in (A)Beth Haccerem;
(B)For disaster appears out of the north,
And great destruction.
2 I have likened the daughter of Zion
To a lovely and delicate woman.
3 The (C)shepherds with their flocks shall come to her.
They shall pitch their tents against her all around.
Each one shall pasture in his own place.”
4 “Prepare(D) war against her;
Arise, and let us go up (E)at noon.
Woe to us, for the day goes away,
For the shadows of the evening are lengthening.
5 Arise, and let us go by night,
And let us destroy her palaces.”
6 For thus has the Lord of hosts said:
“Cut down trees,
And build a mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city to be punished.
She is full of oppression in her midst.
7 (F)As a fountain [a]wells up with water,
So she wells up with her wickedness.
(G)Violence and plundering are heard in her.
Before Me continually are [b]grief and wounds.
8 Be instructed, O Jerusalem,
Lest (H)My soul depart from you;
Lest I make you desolate,
A land not inhabited.”
9 Thus says the Lord of hosts:
“They shall thoroughly glean as a vine the remnant of Israel;
As a grape-gatherer, put your hand back into the branches.”
10 To whom shall I speak and give warning,
That they may hear?
Indeed their (I)ear is uncircumcised,
And they cannot give heed.
Behold, (J)the word of the Lord is a reproach to them;
They have no delight in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the fury of the Lord.
(K)I am weary of holding it in.
“I will pour it out (L)on the children outside,
And on the assembly of young men together;
For even the husband shall be taken with the wife,
The aged with him who is full of days.
12 And (M)their houses shall be turned over to others,
Fields and wives together;
For I will stretch out My hand
Against the inhabitants of the land,” says the Lord.
13 “Because from the least of them even to the greatest of them,
Everyone is given to (N)covetousness;
And from the prophet even to the (O)priest,
Everyone deals falsely.
14 They have also (P)healed the [c]hurt of My people [d]slightly,
(Q)Saying, ‘Peace, peace!’
When there is no peace.
15 Were they (R)ashamed when they had committed abomination?
No! They were not at all ashamed;
Nor did they know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
At the time I punish them,
They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the (S)old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find (T)rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 Also, I set (U)watchmen over you, saying,
(V)‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, ‘We will not listen.’
18 Therefore hear, you nations,
And know, O congregation, what is among them.
19 (W)Hear, O earth!
Behold, I will certainly bring (X)calamity on this people—
(Y)The fruit of their thoughts,
Because they have not heeded My words
Nor My law, but rejected it.
20 (Z)For what purpose to Me
Comes frankincense (AA)from Sheba,
And (AB)sweet cane from a far country?
(AC)Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
Nor your sacrifices sweet to Me.”
21 Therefore thus says the Lord:
“Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people,
And the fathers and the sons together shall fall on them.
The neighbor and his friend shall perish.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 6:7 gushes
- Jeremiah 6:7 sickness
- Jeremiah 6:14 Lit. crushing
- Jeremiah 6:14 Superficially
Jeremiah 6:1-21
New International Version
Jeremiah 6:1-21
New International Version
Jerusalem Under Siege
6 “Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet(A) in Tekoa!(B)
Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!(C)
For disaster looms out of the north,(D)
even terrible destruction.
2 I will destroy Daughter Zion,(E)
so beautiful and delicate.(F)
3 Shepherds(G) with their flocks will come against her;
they will pitch their tents around(H) her,
each tending his own portion.”
4 “Prepare for battle against her!
Arise, let us attack at noon!(I)
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
and the shadows of evening grow long.
5 So arise, let us attack at night
and destroy her fortresses!”
6 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Cut down the trees(J)
and build siege ramps(K) against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
it is filled with oppression.(L)
7 As a well pours out its water,
so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence(M) and destruction(N) resound in her;
her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
8 Take warning, Jerusalem,
or I will turn away(O) from you
and make your land desolate
so no one can live in it.”
9 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Let them glean the remnant(P) of Israel
as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
like one gathering grapes.”
10 To whom can I speak and give warning?
Who will listen(Q) to me?
Their ears are closed[a](R)
so they cannot hear.(S)
The word(T) of the Lord is offensive to them;
they find no pleasure in it.
11 But I am full of the wrath(U) of the Lord,
and I cannot hold it in.(V)
“Pour it out on the children in the street
and on the young men(W) gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
and the old, those weighed down with years.(X)
12 Their houses will be turned over to others,(Y)
together with their fields and their wives,(Z)
when I stretch out my hand(AA)
against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 “From the least to the greatest,
all(AB) are greedy for gain;(AC)
prophets and priests alike,
all practice deceit.(AD)
14 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace.(AE)
15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
No, they have no shame at all;
they do not even know how to blush.(AF)
So they will fall among the fallen;
they will be brought down when I punish(AG) them,”
says the Lord.
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,(AH)
ask where the good way(AI) is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest(AJ) for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen(AK) over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’(AL)
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’(AM)
18 Therefore hear, you nations;
you who are witnesses,
observe what will happen to them.
19 Hear, you earth:(AN)
I am bringing disaster(AO) on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,(AP)
because they have not listened to my words(AQ)
and have rejected my law.(AR)
20 What do I care about incense from Sheba(AS)
or sweet calamus(AT) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;(AU)
your sacrifices(AV) do not please me.”(AW)
21 Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“I will put obstacles before this people.
Parents and children alike will stumble(AX) over them;
neighbors and friends will perish.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 6:10 Hebrew uncircumcised
2 Corinthians 7:2-16
New King James Version
2 Corinthians 7:2-16
New King James Version
The Corinthians’ Repentance
2 Open your hearts to us. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, (A)we have cheated no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn; for (B)I have said before that you are in our hearts, to die together and to live together. 4 (C)Great is my boldness of speech toward you, (D)great is my boasting on your behalf. (E)I am filled with comfort. I am exceedingly joyful in all our tribulation.
5 For indeed, (F)when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but (G)we were troubled on every side. (H)Outside were conflicts, inside were fears. 6 Nevertheless (I)God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by (J)the coming of Titus, 7 and not only by his coming, but also by the [a]consolation with which he was comforted in you, when he told us of your earnest desire, your mourning, your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced even more.
8 For even if I made you (K)sorry with my letter, I do not regret it; (L)though I did regret it. For I perceive that the same epistle made you sorry, though only for a while. 9 Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. 10 For (M)godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; (N)but the sorrow of the world produces death. 11 For observe this very thing, that you sorrowed in a godly manner: What diligence it produced in you, what (O)clearing of yourselves, what indignation, what fear, what vehement desire, what zeal, what vindication! In all things you proved yourselves to be (P)clear in this matter. 12 Therefore, although I wrote to you, I did not do it for the sake of him who had done the wrong, nor for the sake of him who suffered wrong, (Q)but that our care for you in the sight of God might appear to you.
The Joy of Titus
13 Therefore we have been comforted in your comfort. And we rejoiced exceedingly more for the joy of Titus, because his spirit (R)has been refreshed by you all. 14 For if in anything I have boasted to him about you, I am not ashamed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, even so our boasting to Titus was found true. 15 And his affections are greater for you as he remembers (S)the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16 Therefore I rejoice that (T)I have confidence in you in everything.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 2 Corinthians 7:7 comfort
2 Corinthians 7:2-16
New International Version
2 Corinthians 7:2-16
New International Version
Paul’s Joy Over the Church’s Repentance
2 Make room for us in your hearts.(A) We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have exploited no one. 3 I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts(B) that we would live or die with you. 4 I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.(C) I am greatly encouraged;(D) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.(E)
5 For when we came into Macedonia,(F) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn(G)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.(H) 6 But God, who comforts the downcast,(I) comforted us by the coming of Titus,(J) 7 and not only by his coming but also by the comfort you had given him. He told us about your longing for me, your deep sorrow, your ardent concern for me, so that my joy was greater than ever.
8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter,(K) I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation(L) and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern,(M) what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you,(N) it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong(O) nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged.
In addition to our own encouragement, we were especially delighted to see how happy Titus(P) was, because his spirit has been refreshed by all of you. 14 I had boasted to him about you,(Q) and you have not embarrassed me. But just as everything we said to you was true, so our boasting about you to Titus(R) has proved to be true as well. 15 And his affection for you is all the greater when he remembers that you were all obedient,(S) receiving him with fear and trembling.(T) 16 I am glad I can have complete confidence in you.(U)
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.