Add parallel Print Page Options

The Prophet Speaks

Lord, don’t your eyes look for truth?
    You struck[a] them, but they didn’t flinch.[b]
You brought them to an end,
    but they refused to receive discipline.
They made their faces harder than stone,
    and they refused to repent.
Then I said, “These are only the poor,
    they’re foolish,
for they don’t know the Lord’s way,
    the requirement[c] of their God.
Let me go to the leaders[d] and speak to them.
    For they know the Lord’s way,
        the requirement[e] of their God.”

The Lord Answers

“But they, all together, have broken the yoke
    and torn off the restraints.[f]
Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them,
    a wolf from the desert will devastate them.
A leopard is watching their towns,
    and everyone who goes out of them
        will be torn to pieces.
For their transgressions are many,
    and their apostasies numerous.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 5:3 I.e. in discipline
  2. Jeremiah 5:3 Or did not weaken
  3. Jeremiah 5:4 Or judgments
  4. Jeremiah 5:5 Lit. great ones
  5. Jeremiah 5:5 Or judgments
  6. Jeremiah 5:5 Or cords

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

Read full chapter