Jeremiah Proclaims God’s Judgment on the Nation

7 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah, you who enter these gates to worship the Lord. ³ Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you^[a] in this place. ⁴ Do not trust in these deceptive words: “This is^[b] the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”

⁵ For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another,^{(A) 6} if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt,^{(B) 7} then I will dwell with you^[c] in this place, in the land that I gave to your ancestors forever and ever.

⁸ Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail.^{(C) 9} Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known^{(D) 10} and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, “We are safe!”—only to go on doing all these abominations?^{(E) 11} Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? I, too, am watching, says the Lord.^{(F) 12} Go now to my place that was in Shiloh, where I made my name dwell at first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel.^{(G) 13} And now, because you have done all these things, says the Lord, and when I spoke to you persistently, you did not listen, and when I called you, you did not answer,^{(H) 14} therefore I will do to the house that is called by my name, in which you trust, and to the place that I gave to you and to your ancestors just what I did to Shiloh.^{(I) 15} And I will cast you out of my sight, just as I cast out all your kinsfolk, all the offspring of Ephraim.^(J)

The People’s Disobedience

¹⁶ As for you, do not pray for this people, do not raise a cry or prayer on their behalf, and do not intercede with me, for I will not hear you.^(K)

God’s Promises to Zion

8 The word of the Lord of hosts came to me, saying: ² “Thus says the Lord of hosts: I am zealous for Zion with great zeal, and I am zealous for her with great wrath.^{(A) 3} Thus says the Lord: I will return to Zion and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem; Jerusalem shall be called the faithful city, and the mountain of the Lord of hosts shall be called the holy mountain.^{(B) 4} Thus says the Lord of hosts: Old men and old women shall again sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each with staff in hand because of their great age.^{(C) 5} And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in its streets.^{(D) 6} Thus says the Lord of hosts: Even though it seems impossible to the remnant of this people in these days, should it also seem impossible to me, says the Lord of hosts?^{(E) 7} Thus says the Lord of hosts: I will save my people from the east country and from the west country,^{(F) 8} and I will bring them to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God, in faithfulness and in righteousness.”^(G)

⁹ “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Let your hands be strong—you who have recently been hearing these words from the mouths of the prophets who were present when the foundation was laid for the rebuilding of the temple, the house of the Lord of hosts.^{(H) 10} For before those days there were no wages for people or for animals, nor was there any safety from the foe for those who went out or came in, and I set them all against one another.^{(I) 11} But now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as in the former days, says the Lord of hosts. ¹² For there shall be a sowing of peace; the vine shall yield its fruit, the ground shall give its produce, and the skies shall give their dew, and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.^{(J) 13} Just as you have been a cursing among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not be afraid, but let your hands be strong.”^(K)

¹⁴ “For thus says the Lord of hosts: Just as I purposed to bring disaster upon you when your ancestors provoked me to wrath, and I did not relent, says the Lord of hosts,^{(L) 15} so again I have purposed in these days to do good to Jerusalem and to the house of Judah; do not be afraid. ¹⁶ These are the things that you shall do: speak the truth to one another, render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace,^{(M) 17} do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these are things that I hate, says the Lord.”^(N)

Concerning Anger

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’^{(A) 22} But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,^[a] you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult^[b] a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell^[c] of fire.^{(B) 23} So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you,^{(C) 24} leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court^[d] with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison.^{(D) 26} Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Concerning Adultery

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’^{(E) 28} But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.^{(F) 29} If your right eye causes you to sin,^[e] tear it out and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.^{[f](G) 30} And if your right hand causes you to sin,^[g] cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to lose one of your members than for your whole body to go into hell.^[h]

Concerning Divorce

³¹ “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’^{(H) 32} But I say to you that anyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Concerning Oaths

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but carry out the vows you have made to the Lord.’^{(I) 34} But I say to you: Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,^{(J) 35} or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. ³⁷ Let your word be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.^[i]

Concerning Retaliation

³⁸ “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’^{(K) 39} But I say to you: Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also,^{(L) 40} and if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, give your coat as well, ⁴¹ and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. ⁴² Give to the one who asks of you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.^(M)

Love for Enemies

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’^{(N) 44} But I say to you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,^{(O) 45} so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.^{(P) 46} For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the gentiles do the same? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.^(Q)

Bear One Another’s Burdens

6 My brothers and sisters, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness. Take care that you yourselves are not tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill^[a] the law of Christ.^{(A) 3} For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.^{(B) 4} All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, will become a cause for pride.^{(C) 5} For all must carry their own loads.

⁶ Those who are taught the word must share in all good things with their teacher.^(D)

⁷ Do not be deceived; God is not mocked, for you reap whatever you sow.^{(E) 8} If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap corruption from the flesh, but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal life from the Spirit.^{(F) 9} So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.^{(G) 10} So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all and especially for those of the family of faith.^(H)