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Jeremiah 6:16-30
New Living Translation
Jeremiah 6:16-30
New Living Translation
Judah Rejects the Lord’s Way
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
17 I posted watchmen over you who said,
‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’
But you replied,
‘No! We won’t pay attention!’
18 “Therefore, listen to this, all you nations.
Take note of my people’s situation.
19 Listen, all the earth!
I will bring disaster on my people.
It is the fruit of their own schemes,
because they refuse to listen to me.
They have rejected my word.
20 There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Sheba.
Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands!
I will not accept your burnt offerings.
Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”
21 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
“I will put obstacles in my people’s path.
Fathers and sons will both fall over them.
Neighbors and friends will die together.”
An Invasion from the North
22 This is what the Lord says:
“Look! A great army coming from the north!
A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.
23 They are armed with bows and spears.
They are cruel and show no mercy.
They sound like a roaring sea
as they ride forward on horses.
They are coming in battle formation,
planning to destroy you, beautiful Jerusalem.[a]”
24 We have heard reports about the enemy,
and we wring our hands in fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped us,
like those of a woman in labor.
25 Don’t go out to the fields!
Don’t travel on the roads!
The enemy’s sword is everywhere
and terrorizes us at every turn!
26 Oh, my people, dress yourselves in burlap
and sit among the ashes.
Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son.
For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!
27 “Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals,[b]
that you may determine the quality of my people.
28 They are the worst kind of rebel,
full of slander.
They are as hard as bronze and iron,
and they lead others into corruption.
29 The bellows fiercely fan the flames
to burn out the corruption.
But it does not purify them,
for the wickedness remains.
30 I will label them ‘Rejected Silver,’
for I, the Lord, am discarding them.”
Jeremiah 6:16-30
New International Version
Jeremiah 6:16-30
New International Version
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,(A)
ask where the good way(B) is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest(C) for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen(D) over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’(E)
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’(F)
18 Therefore hear, you nations;
you who are witnesses,
observe what will happen to them.
19 Hear, you earth:(G)
I am bringing disaster(H) on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,(I)
because they have not listened to my words(J)
and have rejected my law.(K)
20 What do I care about incense from Sheba(L)
or sweet calamus(M) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;(N)
your sacrifices(O) do not please me.”(P)
21 Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“I will put obstacles before this people.
Parents and children alike will stumble(Q) 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;(R)
a great nation is being stirred up
from the ends of the earth.(S)
23 They are armed with bow and spear;
they are cruel and show no mercy.(T)
They sound like the roaring sea(U)
as they ride on their horses;(V)
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, Daughter Zion.(W)”
24 We have heard reports about them,
and our hands hang limp.(X)
Anguish(Y) has gripped us,
pain like that of a woman in labor.(Z)
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.(AA)
26 Put on sackcloth,(AB) my people,
and roll in ashes;(AC)
mourn with bitter wailing(AD)
as for an only son,(AE)
for suddenly the destroyer(AF)
will come upon us.
27 “I have made you a tester(AG) of metals
and my people the ore,
that you may observe
and test their ways.
28 They are all hardened rebels,(AH)
going about to slander.(AI)
They are bronze and iron;(AJ)
they all act corruptly.
29 The bellows blow fiercely
to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining(AK) goes on in vain;
the wicked are not purged out.
30 They are called rejected silver,(AL)
because the Lord has rejected them.”(AM)
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.