Jeremiah 4
King James Version
4 If thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
2 And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
3 For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us.
9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the Lord, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
10 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.
14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.
16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.
17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord.
18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.
19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.
27 For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black; because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.
30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.
Geremia 4
Nuova Riveduta 1994
4 (A)«*Israele, se tu torni», dice il Signore, «se tu torni da me,
se togli dalla mia presenza le tue abominazioni,
se non vai piú vagando qua e là,
2 se giuri per il Signore che vive,
con verità, con rettitudine e con giustizia,
allora le nazioni saranno benedette in lui
e in lui si glorieranno».
3 Poiché cosí parla il Signore alla gente di *Giuda e di *Gerusalemme:
«Dissodatevi un campo nuovo,
e non seminate tra le spine!
4 Circoncidetevi per il Signore, circoncidete i vostri cuori,
uomini di Giuda e abitanti di Gerusalemme,
affinché il mio furore non scoppi come un fuoco,
e non s'infiammi al punto che nessuno possa spegnerlo,
a causa della malvagità delle vostre azioni!»
Annunzio di un'invasione straniera
5 (B)«Annunziate in Giuda, proclamate questo in Gerusalemme,
e dite: “Sonate le trombe nel paese”,
gridate forte e dite: “Adunatevi ed entriamo nelle città fortificate!”
6 Alzate la bandiera verso *Sion,
cercate un rifugio, non vi fermate,
perché io faccio venire dal settentrione una calamità,
una grande rovina».
7 Un leone balza fuori dal folto bosco,
un distruttore di nazioni si è messo in marcia, ha lasciato il suo luogo,
per ridurre il tuo paese in desolazione,
al punto che le tue città saranno rovinate e prive d'abitanti.
8 Perciò, vestitevi di sacchi, siate afflitti, prorompete in lamenti,
perché l'ira furente del Signore non si è distolta da noi.
9 «In quel giorno avverrà», dice il Signore,
«che il cuore del re e il cuore dei capi verranno meno,
i *sacerdoti saranno attoniti,
i *profeti stupefatti».
10 Allora io dissi: «Ahi! Signore, Signore,
tu hai dunque ingannato questo popolo e Gerusalemme! Hai detto:
“Voi avrete pace”.
Ma la spada toglie loro la vita!»
11 In quel tempo si dirà a questo popolo e a Gerusalemme:
«Un vento infocato viene dalle alture del deserto
verso la figlia del mio popolo,
non per vagliare, non per nettare il grano;
12 un vento anche piú impetuoso di quello verrà da parte mia;
ora anch'io pronunzierò la sentenza contro di loro».
13 Ecco, l'invasore sale come fanno le nuvole;
i suoi carri sono come un turbine;
i suoi cavalli sono piú rapidi delle aquile.
Guai a noi! poiché siamo devastati!
14 Gerusalemme, purifica il tuo cuore dalla malvagità,
affinché tu sia salvata.
Fino a quando albergheranno in te i tuoi pensieri *iniqui?
15 Poiché una voce che viene da *Dan annunzia la calamità,
la proclama dai colli di *Efraim.
16 «Avvertitene le nazioni, fatelo sapere a Gerusalemme;
degli assedianti vengono da un paese lontano,
lanciano le loro grida contro le città di Giuda.
17 Si sono posti contro Gerusalemme da ogni lato, come guardie di un accampamento,
perché essa si è ribellata contro di me», dice il Signore.
18 «Il tuo procedere e le tue azioni ti hanno attirato queste cose;
questo è il frutto della tua malvagità;
sí, è amaro; sí, è una cosa che ti penetra fino al cuore».
19 (C)Le mie viscere! Le mie viscere! Sento un gran dolore!
Le pareti del mio cuore! Il mio cuore mi freme nel petto!
Io non posso tacere;
poiché io ho udito il suono della tromba,
il grido di guerra.
20 Si annunzia rovina sopra rovina,
poiché tutto il paese è devastato.
Le mie tende sono distrutte all'improvviso,
i miei teli in un attimo.
21 Fino a quando vedrò la bandiera
e udrò il suono della tromba?
22 «Veramente il mio popolo è stolto, non mi conosce;
sono figli insensati, non hanno intelligenza;
sono saggi per fare il male,
ma il bene non lo sanno fare».
23 Io guardo la terra, ed ecco è desolata e deserta;
i cieli sono senza luce.
24 Guardo i monti, ed ecco tremano,
tutti i colli sono agitati.
25 Guardo, ed ecco non c'è uomo;
tutti gli uccelli del cielo sono volati via.
26 Guardo, ed ecco il *Carmelo è un deserto;
tutte le sue città sono abbattute davanti al Signore,
davanti alla sua ira furente.
27 Infatti cosí parla il Signore:
«Tutto il paese sarà desolato,
ma io non lo finirò del tutto.
28 A causa di ciò, la terra è afflitta,
e i cieli di sopra si oscurano;
perché io l'ho detto, l'ho stabilito,
e non me ne pento, e non ritratterò».
29 Al rumore dei cavalieri e degli arcieri tutte le città sono in fuga;
tutti entrano nel folto dei boschi, montano sulle rocce;
tutte le città sono abbandonate, e non c'è piú nessun abitante.
30 E tu che stai per essere devastata, che fai?
Hai un bel vestirti di scarlatto, un bel metterti i tuoi ornamenti d'oro,
un bell'ingrandirti gli occhi con il belletto!
Invano ti abbellisci;
i tuoi amanti ti disprezzano,
vogliono la tua vita.
31 Odo infatti dei gridi come di donna che è nei dolori;
un'angoscia come quella di donna nel suo primo parto;
è la voce della figlia di Sion, che sospira ansimando e stende le mani:
«Ahi, me misera! perché io vengo meno davanti agli uccisori».
Jeremiah 4
New King James Version
Jeremiah Laments over Judah
4 “If you will return, O Israel,” says the Lord,
(A)“Return to Me;
And if you will put away your abominations out of My sight,
Then you shall not be moved.
2 (B)And you shall swear, ‘The Lord lives,’
(C)In truth, in [a]judgment, and in righteousness;
(D)The nations shall bless themselves in Him,
And in Him they shall (E)glory.”
3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:
(F)“Break up your [b]fallow ground,
And (G)do not sow among thorns.
4 (H)Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,
And take away the foreskins of your hearts,
You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
Lest My fury come forth like fire,
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.”
An Imminent Invasion
5 Declare in Judah and proclaim in Jerusalem, and say:
(I)“Blow the trumpet in the land;
Cry, ‘Gather together,’
And say, (J)‘Assemble yourselves,
And let us go into the fortified cities.’
6 Set up the [c]standard toward Zion.
Take refuge! Do not delay!
For I will bring disaster from the (K)north,
And great destruction.”
7 (L)The lion has come up from his thicket,
And (M)the destroyer of nations is on his way.
He has gone forth from his place
(N)To make your land desolate.
Your cities will be laid waste,
Without inhabitant.
8 For this, (O)clothe yourself with sackcloth,
Lament and wail.
For the fierce anger of the Lord
Has not turned back from us.
9 “And it shall come to pass in that day,” says the Lord,
“That the heart of the king shall perish,
And the heart of the princes;
The priests shall be astonished,
And the prophets shall wonder.”
10 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God!
(P)Surely You have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem,
(Q)Saying, ‘You shall have peace,’
Whereas the sword reaches to the [d]heart.”
11 At that time it will be said
To this people and to Jerusalem,
(R)“A dry wind of the desolate heights blows in the wilderness
Toward the daughter of My people—
Not to fan or to cleanse—
12 A wind too strong for these will come for Me;
Now (S)I will also speak judgment against them.”
13 “Behold, he shall come up like clouds,
And (T)his chariots like a whirlwind.
(U)His horses are swifter than eagles.
Woe to us, for we are plundered!”
14 O Jerusalem, (V)wash your heart from wickedness,
That you may be saved.
How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
15 For a voice declares (W)from Dan
And proclaims [e]affliction from Mount Ephraim:
16 “Make mention to the nations,
Yes, proclaim against Jerusalem,
That watchers come from a (X)far country
And raise their voice against the cities of Judah.
17 (Y)Like keepers of a field they are against her all around,
Because she has been rebellious against Me,” says the Lord.
18 “Your(Z) ways and your doings
Have procured these things for you.
This is your wickedness,
Because it is bitter,
Because it reaches to your heart.”
Sorrow for the Doomed Nation
19 O my (AA)soul, my soul!
I am pained in my very heart!
My heart makes a noise in me;
I cannot hold my peace,
Because you have heard, O my soul,
The sound of the trumpet,
The alarm of war.
20 (AB)Destruction upon destruction is cried,
For the whole land is plundered.
Suddenly (AC)my tents are plundered,
And my curtains in a moment.
21 How long will I see the [f]standard,
And hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 “For My people are foolish,
They have not known Me.
They are [g]silly children,
And they have no understanding.
(AD)They are wise to do evil,
But to do good they have no knowledge.”
23 (AE)I beheld the earth, and indeed it was (AF)without form, and void;
And the heavens, they had no light.
24 (AG)I beheld the mountains, and indeed they trembled,
And all the hills moved back and forth.
25 I beheld, and indeed there was no man,
And (AH)all the birds of the heavens had fled.
26 I beheld, and indeed the fruitful land was a (AI)wilderness,
And all its cities were broken down
At the presence of the Lord,
By His fierce anger.
27 For thus says the Lord:
“The whole land shall be desolate;
(AJ)Yet I will not make a full end.
28 For this (AK)shall the earth mourn,
And (AL)the heavens above be black,
Because I have spoken.
I have (AM)purposed and (AN)will not relent,
Nor will I turn back from it.
29 The whole city shall flee from the noise of the horsemen and bowmen.
They shall go into thickets and climb up on the rocks.
Every city shall be forsaken,
And not a man shall dwell in it.
30 “And when you are plundered,
What will you do?
Though you clothe yourself with crimson,
Though you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold,
(AO)Though you enlarge your eyes with paint,
In vain you will make yourself fair;
(AP)Your lovers will despise you;
They will seek your life.
31 “For I have heard a voice as of a woman in [h]labor,
The anguish as of her who brings forth her first child,
The voice of the daughter of Zion bewailing herself;
She (AQ)spreads her hands, saying,
‘Woe is me now, for my soul is [i]weary
Because of murderers!’
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 4:2 justice
- Jeremiah 4:3 untilled
- Jeremiah 4:6 banner
- Jeremiah 4:10 Lit. soul
- Jeremiah 4:15 Or wickedness
- Jeremiah 4:21 banner
- Jeremiah 4:22 foolish
- Jeremiah 4:31 childbirth
- Jeremiah 4:31 faint
Copyright © 1994 by Geneva Bible Society
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
