Jeremiah 4
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 4
1 If you return, O Israel, says the Lord,
if you return to me,
if you banish your loathsome idols from my sight
and do not go astray,
2 and if you swear, “As the Lord lives!”
in truth, in justice, and in uprightness,
then the nations will bless themselves by him
and will glory in him.
3 For these are the words of the Lord to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:
Break up your unplowed ground
and do not sow among thorns.
4 For the sake of the Lord be circumcised
and remove the foreskin of your hearts,
O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,
or my wrath will leap forth like fire
and burn with no one to quench it
because of your evil deeds.
Invasion from the North[a]
5 Announce it in Judah;
proclaim it in Jerusalem.
Blow the trumpet throughout the land;
shout aloud the command,
“Gather together!
Let us flee to the fortified cities!”
6 Raise the signal to proceed toward Zion!
Flee for safety! Do not delay!
For I am bringing disaster from the north
as well as immense destruction.
7 A lion has come forth from its lair
the destroyer of nations has set forth.
He has left his lair
to make your towns a wasteland;
they will be in ruins and uninhabited.
8 Therefore, wrap yourselves in sackcloth,
beat your breasts and wail,
because the blazing anger of the Lord
has not turned away from us.
9 On that day, says the Lord,
the courage of the kings and the princes will fail;
the priests will be horrified
and the prophets will be astounded.
10 Then I said, “Alas, Lord God,
you completely deceived the people and Jerusalem
when you promised that we would have peace,
for now the sword is held at our throats.”
11 At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem:
A scorching wind comes forth from the desert heights
and sweeps down on my people,
although not to winnow or to cleanse.
12 A wind far too strong for that
will come forth at my bidding,
and I myself will pass judgment on them.
13 Behold, he advances
like storm clouds;
like a whirlwind are his chariots.
His horses are swifter than eagles.
Disaster threatens us. We are lost.
14 Cleanse your heart of all wickedness
so that you may be saved.
How long will you allow evil thoughts to lodge within you?
15 A voice from Dan[b] declares the news
proclaiming disaster from Mount Ephraim.
16 Announce this to the nations,
make it known to Jerusalem:
Besiegers are coming from a distant land,
shouting their war cry against the cities of Judah.
17 They surround her like watchmen guarding a field
because she has rebelled against me, says the Lord.
18 Your conduct and your evil deeds
have brought this upon you.
How bitter is your punishment!
It has pierced the depths of your heart.
19 How great is my anguish
that causes me to writhe in pain!
I cannot keep silent in my agony
as my heart beats wildly.
For I have heard the sound of the trumpet
and that of the battle cry.
20 One disaster follows upon another;
the entire land lies in ruins.
My tents are suddenly destroyed,
everything that offered me shelter.
21 How long must I see the standard raised
and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 My people are fools;
they do not know me.
They are senseless children
who have no semblance of understanding.
They are skilled in the practice of evil
but they do not know how to do good.
23 I looked at the earth,
and it was a formless wasteland;
I gazed at the heavens,
but I could not discern any light.
24 I looked at the mountains,
and they were quaking,
while all the hills moved back and forth.
25 I looked, but I could not see anyone;
even the birds of the air had flown away.
26 I looked, and the fertile land had become a desert;
all of its towns lay in ruins
before the Lord, before his blazing anger.
27 Thus says the Lord:
The entire land will be a desolate waste,
but I will not destroy it completely.
28 Because of this the earth will mourn
and the heavens above will grow dark.
For I have spoken and made clear my intention,
and I will not relent or turn back.
29 At the shouts of horsemen and archers
every city takes to flight.
Some people crawl into the thickets
while others scale the rocks.
All the cities are abandoned,
with no one to live in them.
30 What are you doing, you who are doomed,
by clothing yourself in purple,
adorning yourself with ornaments of gold
and shading your eyes with cosmetics?
You are beautifying yourself in vain,
for your lovers despise you,
and they only seek your life.
31 I hear cries like those of a woman in labor,
the anguished groans of one bearing her first child.
They are the screams of daughter Zion gasping for breath
as she stretches forth her hands and cries out,
“Woe is me; I am dying.
I sink exhausted before my murderers.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 4:5 The nation has grown stubborn in its degradation; now the symbol of the boiling pot (Jer 1:13) is about to be made real. Punishment is at hand. It is impossible to determine whether the prophet is speaking of the Assyrians, the Chaldeans, the Scythians, or even some other army.
- Jeremiah 4:15 Dan: the northernmost city of Palestine.
Jeremias 4
Portuguese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
4 O SENHOR diz:
“Israel, se você quiser voltar para mim,
então volte.
Afaste da minha vista os seus ídolos detestáveis.
Não vá atrás de outros deuses.
2 Se fizer essas coisas,
então você vai poder usar o meu nome para fazer uma promessa.
Você vai poder dizer:
‘Tão certo como o SENHOR vive’.
Você vai poder usar essas palavras
com sinceridade, justiça e honestidade.
Se você fizer essas coisas,
então eu, o Senhor, abençoarei as nações,
e elas cantarão louvores sobre o que o Senhor tem feito”.
3 Isto é o que o SENHOR diz ao povo de Judá e de Jerusalém:
“Cultivem os campos não arados
e não plantem sementes entre os espinhos.
4 Povo de Judá e de Jerusalém,
circuncidem os seus corações para assim poderem honrar o SENHOR.
Que não fique nada do que vocês eram antes.[a]
Não seja que, por toda a sua maldade,
a minha ira se derrame sobre vocês como fogo
e arda a minha fúria sem que ninguém possa acalmá-la”.
A ameaça de invasão do norte
5 Diga isto para o povo de Judá:
“Habitantes de Jerusalém:
‘Toquem a trombeta por todo o país’.
Gritem forte e digam:
‘Juntem-se todos e vão para as cidades com altos muros’.
6 Levantem uma bandeira para advertir a Sião que o desastre está perto.
Corram e procurem um refúgio, não percam tempo.
Do norte vou trazer desastre
e grande destruição”.
7 Um leão saiu da sua caverna
e o destruidor das nações já está a caminho.
Ele saiu do seu lugar para destruir a terra de vocês.
As suas cidades serão transformadas num monte de ruínas desoladas.
8 Vistam as suas túnicas de luto
e lamentem a sua pena,
pois a ardente fúria do SENHOR
não se afastou de nós.
9 O SENHOR diz: “Quando isso acontecer,
o rei e os seus comandantes perderão a coragem,
os sacerdotes ficarão aterrorizados
e os profetas ficarão maravilhados”.
10 Então eu disse:
—Isso é terrível, SENHOR Deus! O Senhor enganou Judá e Jerusalém dizendo que estariam bem. Mas na realidade eles têm uma espada ameaçando as suas gargantas.
11 Nesse momento será dito a este povo e a Jerusalém:
“Um vento que queima sopra desde os montes no deserto
e vai contra o meu querido povo.
Não é o vento que ajuda a separar
o trigo da palha,
12 mas é um vento mais forte do que esse.
Eu farei que venha porque pronunciarei a sentença contra eles”.
13 Vejam! O inimigo se levanta como as nuvens,
os seus carros de combate parecem uma tempestade,
os seus cavalos são mais rápidos do que as águias.
Ai de nós, estamos perdidos!
14 Jerusalém, limpe todo o mal do seu coração,
para que possa ser salva.
Quanto tempo mais você vai acolher
na sua cabeça pensamentos maus?
15 Alguém traz notícias desde a terra de Dã[b];
se anuncia o mal desde os montes de Efraim.[c]
16 “Que as nações escutem
o que acontece com Jerusalém,
desde terras distantes vêm inimigos
dando gritos de guerra contra as cidades de Judá.
17 Eles a cercaram como guardas que vigiam um campo,
porque se rebelou contra mim”.
É a decisão do SENHOR.
18 “Tudo isso acontece com ela pela sua má conduta
e pelo mal que fez.
Este é o seu castigo,
castigo cruel que fere o seu coração”.
O grito de Judá
19 Que dor! Que dor!
Dói até o mais profundo do meu ser.
Meu coração se agita no meu interior,
não vou me calar.
É que ouvi o som da trombeta,
e o grito de guerra.
20 Um desastre trás outro!
Todo o país está em ruínas!
Num momento foram destruídas as minhas tendas
e arrancadas as minhas cortinas.
21 Quanto tempo mais terei que ver a bandeira
e ouvir o som da trombeta de guerra?
22 O SENHOR diz: “Meu povo é louco.
Eles não me conhecem.
São crianças insensatas
que não entendem nada.
São muito inteligentes para fazer o mal,
mas não sabem fazer o bem”.
23 Olhei para a terra,
mas reinava o caos e não tinha nada nela.
Olhei para o céu,
mas não tinha luz.[d]
24 Olhei para as montanhas
e elas estavam tremendo.
Todos os montes se estremeceram.
25 Olhei e vi que não havia nenhum ser humano,
e todas as aves do céu tinham desaparecido.
26 Vi que a terra fértil tinha virado um deserto
e todas as cidades tinham sido destruídas pela obra do SENHOR.
A sua fúria ardente fez isso.
27 O SENHOR diz: “Toda a terra será arrasada,
mas não a destruirei completamente.
28 Por isso a terra estará de luto
e o céu se escurecerá.
Eu falei e não vou me arrepender;
tomei uma decisão e não mudarei de opinião.
29 “Quando ouvirem o barulho de cavalos e de arqueiros,
os habitantes de todas as cidades fugirão.
Alguns se esconderão em cavernas,[e]
outros em matagais,
e alguns outros subirão pelos rochedos.
Todas as cidades serão abandonadas
e não ficará ninguém nelas.
30 “E você, completamente desolada, o que vai fazer?
O que faz vestida de vermelho tão elegante?
Usa joias de ouro
e bastante maquiagem nos olhos.
Mas você se arruma para nada,
pois os seus amantes a desprezam
e agora o que eles querem é matá-la.
31 Ouço gritos de dor,
como o de uma mulher que se queixa
ao dar à luz o seu primeiro filho.
São os gritos de dor da bonita Sião,
ofegante, estende os braços e diz:
‘Pobre de mim, já não posso mais
e vou morrer nas mãos de assassinos!’”
Footnotes
- 4.4 Que não (…) antes Literalmente, “tirem o prepúcio do seu coração”.
- 4.15 terra de Dã Se trata do território onde habitava a tribo de Dã. Ficava na fronteira ao norte de Israel. Os desta tribo seriam os primeiros em receber o ataque que chegava do norte.
- 4.15 montes de Efraim Se trata da região central do país que antes tinha sido o reino do norte, Israel.
- 4.23 Jeremias compara o seu país com a tempo em que ainda não havia seres humanos na terra. Ver Gn 1.1.
- 4.29 em cavernas De acordo com a LXX. O TM não tem estas palavras.
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
© 1999, 2014, 2017 Bible League International
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
