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Jeremiah 5-6
New Life Version
Jeremiah 5-6
New Life Version
Jerusalem’s Sin
5 “Go up and down through the streets of Jerusalem, and look and learn. Look in her open places to see if you can find just one man who does what is right and looks for the truth. Then I will forgive this city. 2 Even if they say, ‘As the Lord lives,’ for sure their promises are false.” 3 O Lord, do not Your eyes look for truth? You have punished them, but they were not sorry. You have destroyed them, but they would not change. They have made their faces harder than rock. They would not be sorry for their sins and turn from them.
4 Then I said, “They are only the poor. They are foolish. For they do not know the way of the Lord or the Law of their God. 5 I will go to the great men and will speak to them, for they know the way of the Lord, and the Law of their God.” But they too have broken the load from their neck and have broken the chains. 6 So a lion from among the trees will kill them. A wolf of the deserts will destroy them. A leopard is watching their cities. Every one who goes out of them will be torn in pieces, because they have done many sins. They have turned away from the Lord in many ways.
7 “Why should I forgive you? Your sons have left Me and have sworn by those who are not gods. When I gave them everything they needed, they did sex sins and met at the house of the woman who sells the use of her body. 8 They were like well-fed horses full of sinful desire, each one wanting his neighbor’s wife. 9 Should I not punish these people?” says the Lord. “Should I not make a nation such as this pay for its sins?
10 “Go up through her grape-fields and destroy, but do not destroy all of them. Cut away her branches, for they are not the Lord’s. 11 For the people of Israel and the people of Judah have not been faithful to Me,” says the Lord.
Jerusalem Will Be Destroyed
12 “They have lied about the Lord and said, ‘He will do nothing. Nothing bad will happen to us, and we will not see sword or hunger. 13 The men who speak for God are only wind. The word is not in them. So let what they say be done to them!’”
14 So the Lord, the God of All, says, “Because you have said this, I am making My words in your mouth a fire and I am making these people wood so they will be burned up. 15 See, I am bringing a nation that is far away against you, O people of Israel,” says the Lord. “It is a strong nation and an old nation, a nation whose language you do not know. You cannot understand what they say. 16 Their arrow-holder is like an open grave. All of them are powerful men. 17 They will eat up your food that you gather from your fields. They will eat the food your sons and your daughters should eat. They will eat up your flocks and your cattle. They will destroy your grape-fields and your fig trees. They will destroy with the sword your strong cities in which you trust.
18 “Yet even in those days I will not make a complete end of you,” says the Lord. 19 “When your people say, ‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ then you will say to them, ‘As you have left Me and served strange gods in your land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.’
20 “Make this known in the family of Jacob and in Judah, saying, 21 ‘Hear this, O foolish people without understanding, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear. 22 Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord. ‘Do you not shake in fear before Me? For I have placed the sand to be on one side of the sea, a lasting wall that it cannot cross. Even if there are waves, they cannot pass. Even if they make much noise, they cannot cross over it. 23 But these people have a strong-will and a heart that has turned against Me. They have turned aside and gone away. 24 They do not say in their heart, “Let us fear the Lord our God, Who gives rain in its time, both the fall rain and the spring rain, Who keeps for us the weeks for gathering food.” 25 Your wrong-doing has kept these good things away. Your sins have kept good from you. 26 For sinful men are found among My people. They watch like men lying in wait watching for birds. They set a trap, and they catch men. 27 Like a basket full of birds, their houses are full of lies and false ways. So they have become important and rich. 28 They are fat and smooth, and have done many sinful acts. They do not do what is right for those whose parents have died so that they may do well. And they do not help fight for the rights of the poor. 29 “Should I not punish these people?” says the Lord. “Should I not punish a nation such as this?”
30 A very bad and surprising thing has happened in the land. 31 The men of God say things that are not true, and the religious leaders rule by their own thoughts. And My people love to have it this way! But what will you do in the end?
Armies around Jerusalem
6 “Run away to be safe, O sons of Benjamin! Run from Jerusalem! Blow the horn in Tekoa, and light a fire in Beth-haccerem. For a sinful power is coming down from the north, that will destroy much. 2 I will cut off the beautiful and fine ones, the people of Zion. 3 Shepherds and their flocks will come to her. They will set up their tents around her and feed their flocks there, each in his place. 4 Make war against her. Rise up, let us go and fight her at noon. It is bad for us, for the day is passing! The shadows of the evening are longer! 5 Rise up, let us go and fight in the night and destroy her strong houses!” 6 For the Lord of All says, “Cut down her trees, and build a battle-wall against Jerusalem. This is the city to be punished. There is nothing but a sinful power that makes hard times for others within her. 7 As a well keeps its water good for drinking, so Jerusalem keeps going on in her sin. The sounds of those who fight and those who destroy are heard in her. Sickness and sorrow are always before Me. 8 Listen about the danger, O Jerusalem, or I will become a stranger to you. I will make you a waste, a land with no people.”
Israel Will Not Listen
9 The Lord of All says, “They will gather all the people of Israel who are left like gathering from the vine. Pass your hand over the branches again like one who gathers grapes.” 10 Whom should I tell of the danger, that they may hear? See, their ears are closed and they cannot listen. They have become ashamed of the Word of the Lord. They have no joy in it. 11 But I am full of the anger of the Lord. I am tired of holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be taken, the old and those who have lived a very long time. 12 Their houses, their fields and their wives will be given to others. I will put out My hand against the people of the land,” says the Lord. 13 “For from the least to the greatest of them, every one is always wanting something. And from the man of God to the religious leader, every one lies to get what he wants. 14 They have healed the hurt of My people only a little, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace. 15 Were they ashamed because of the sinful things they had done? No, they were not ashamed at all. They did not even know how to turn red. So they will fall among those who fall. When I punish them, they will be brought down,” says the Lord.
Israel Will Not Go God’s Way
16 The Lord says, “Stand by where the roads cross, and look. Ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it. And you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ 17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the horn!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen.’ 18 So hear, O nations, and know, O people, what will happen to them. 19 Hear, O earth. See, I am bringing much trouble upon these people. It is the fruit of their plans, because they have not listened to My words. And they have turned away from My law. 20 Why does special perfume come to Me from Sheba, or sweet spices from a far away land? I will not receive your burnt gifts on the altar in worship. The gifts you give on the altar are not pleasing to Me.” 21 So the Lord says, “See, I am laying things in front of these people, and they will fall over them. Fathers and sons will fall together, and neighbor and friend will die.”
Armies from the North
22 The Lord says, “See, a people is coming from the north country. A great nation is being raised up from the farthest parts of the earth. 23 They take hold of bow and spear. They are hard on people and have no pity. Their voice sounds like the sea. They ride on horses, dressed as a man for battle against you, O people of Zion!” 24 We have heard about it. Our hands fall weak. Suffering has taken hold of us, like the pain of a woman giving birth. 25 Do not go out into the field, and do not walk on the road. For the one who hates us has a sword. Fear is all around us. 26 O daughter of my people, dress in cloth made from hair and roll in ashes. Have sorrow as if you lost your only son. Cry with a bitter cry. For all at once the destroyer will come upon us.
27 “I have asked you to test My people, that you may know and test their ways.” 28 All of them are strongwilled in turning to their own way, going about telling stories to hurt people. They are brass and iron. All of them are sinful. 29 Air is blown hard on the fire to burn up the lead. It is of no use because the sinful ones are not taken away. 30 They are called waste silver, because the Lord has turned away from them.
Jeremiah 5-6
New International Version
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.
2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’(F)
still they are swearing falsely.(G)”
3 Lord, 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)
4 I 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.
5 So 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)
6 Therefore 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)
8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
each neighing for another man’s wife.(Y)
9 Should 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.
11 The people of Israel and the people of Judah
have been utterly unfaithful(AC) to me,”
declares the Lord.
12 They 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)
13 The prophets(AG) are but wind(AH)
and the word is not in them;
so let what they say be done to them.”
14 Therefore 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)
15 People 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.
16 Their quivers(AN) are like an open grave;
all of them are mighty warriors.
17 They 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. 19 And 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:
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,(BA)
who have eyes(BB) but do not see,
who have ears but do not hear:(BC)
22 Should 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.
23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious(BH) hearts;
they have turned aside(BI) and gone away.
24 They 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)
25 Your 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.
27 Like 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)
29 Should 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:
31 The 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.
2 I will destroy Daughter Zion,(CE)
so beautiful and delicate.(CF)
3 Shepherds(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.
5 So arise, let us attack at night
and destroy her fortresses!”
6 This 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)
7 As 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.
8 Take warning, Jerusalem,
or I will turn away(CO) 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(CP) 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(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.
11 But 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)
12 Their 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)
14 They dress the wound of my people
as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
when there is no peace.(DE)
15 Are 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.
16 This 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.’
17 I appointed watchmen(DK) over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’(DL)
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’(DM)
18 Therefore hear, you nations;
you who are witnesses,
observe what will happen to them.
19 Hear, 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)
20 What 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)
21 Therefore 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.”
22 This 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)
23 They 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)”
24 We 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)
25 Do 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)
26 Put 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.
28 They are all hardened rebels,(EO)
going about to slander.(EP)
They are bronze and iron;(EQ)
they all act corruptly.
29 The bellows blow fiercely
to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining(ER) goes on in vain;
the wicked are not purged out.
30 They are called rejected silver,(ES)
because the Lord has rejected them.”(ET)
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 6:10 Hebrew uncircumcised
1 Timothy 1
New Life Version
1 Timothy 1
New Life Version
1 This letter is from Paul, a missionary of Jesus Christ. I am sent by God, the One Who saves, and by our Lord Jesus Christ Who is our hope. 2 I write to you, Timothy. You are my son in the Christian faith. May God the Father and Jesus Christ our Lord give you His loving-favor and loving-kindness and peace.
Watch for False Teachers
3 When I left for the country of Macedonia, I asked you to stay in the city of Ephesus. I wanted you to stay there so you could tell those who are teaching what is not true to stop. 4 They should not listen to stories that are not true. It is foolish for them to try to learn more about their early fathers. These only bring more questions to their minds and do not make their faith in God stronger. 5 We want to see our teaching help you have a true love that comes from a pure heart. Such love comes from a heart that says we are not guilty and from a faith that does not pretend. 6 But some have turned away from these things. They have turned to foolish talking. 7 Some of them want to be teachers of the Law. But they do not know what they are talking about even if they act as if they do.
The Law Is Good
8 We know the Law is good when it is used the way God meant it to be used. 9 We must remember the Law is not for the person who is right with God. It is for those who do not obey anybody or anything. It is for the sinners who hate God and speak against Him. It is for those who kill their fathers and mothers and for those who kill other people. 10 It is for those who do sex sins and for people who do sex sins with their own sex. It is for people who steal other people and for those who lie and for those who promise not to lie, but do. It is for everything that is against right teaching. 11 The great Good News of our honored God is right teaching. God has trusted me to preach this Good News.
Paul Gives Thanks to God
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord for the power and strength He has given me. He trusted me and gave me His work to do. 13 Before He chose me, I talked bad about Christ. I made His followers suffer. I hurt them every way I could. But God had loving-kindness for me. I did not understand what I was doing for I was not a Christian then. 14 Then our Lord gave me much of His loving-favor and faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.
15 What I say is true and all the world should receive it. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners from their sin and I am the worst sinner. 16 And yet God had loving-kindness for me. Jesus Christ used me to show how long He will wait for even the worst sinners. In that way, others will know they can have life that lasts forever also. 17 We give honor and thanks to the King Who lives forever. He is the One Who never dies and Who is never seen. He is the One Who knows all things. He is the only God. Let it be so.
The Good Fight of Faith
18 Timothy, my son, here is my word to you. Fight well for the Lord! God’s preachers told us you would. 19 Keep a strong hold on your faith in Christ. May your heart always say you are right. Some people have not listened to what their hearts say. They have done what they knew was wrong. Because of this, their faith in Christ was wrecked. 20 This happened to Hymenaeus and Alexander. I gave them over to Satan to teach them not to speak against God.
1 Timothy 1
New International Version
1 Timothy 1
New International Version
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God(A) our Savior(B) and of Christ Jesus our hope,(C)
2 To Timothy(D) my true son(E) in the faith:
Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.(F)
Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers
3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia,(G) stay there in Ephesus(H) so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines(I) any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths(J) and endless genealogies.(K) Such things promote controversial speculations(L) rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart(M) and a good conscience(N) and a sincere faith.(O) 6 Some have departed from these and have turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers(P) of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.(Q)
8 We know that the law is good(R) if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that the law is made not for the righteous(S) but for lawbreakers and rebels,(T) the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for the sexually immoral, for those practicing homosexuality, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine(U) 11 that conforms to the gospel concerning the glory of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.(V)
The Lord’s Grace to Paul
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength,(W) that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service.(X) 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor(Y) and a violent man, I was shown mercy(Z) because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.(AA) 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly,(AB) along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.(AC)
15 Here is a trustworthy saying(AD) that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners(AE)—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy(AF) so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience(AG) as an example for those who would believe(AH) in him and receive eternal life.(AI) 17 Now to the King(AJ) eternal, immortal,(AK) invisible,(AL) the only God,(AM) be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.(AN)
The Charge to Timothy Renewed
18 Timothy, my son,(AO) I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you,(AP) so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,(AQ) 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience,(AR) which some have rejected and so have suffered shipwreck with regard to the faith.(AS) 20 Among them are Hymenaeus(AT) and Alexander,(AU) whom I have handed over to Satan(AV) to be taught not to blaspheme.
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