Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.

And though they say, The Lord liveth; surely they swear falsely.

O Lord, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.

Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the Lord, nor the judgment of their God.

I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the Lord, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.

They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.

Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

10 Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the Lord's.

11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the Lord.

12 They have belied the Lord, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:

13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.

14 Wherefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.

15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the Lord: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.

16 Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.

17 And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.

18 Nevertheless in those days, saith the Lord, I will not make a full end with you.

19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the Lord our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not your's.

20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,

21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:

22 Fear ye not me? saith the Lord: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?

23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.

24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the Lord our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.

25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.

26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.

27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.

28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.

29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;

31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

The Justice of God’s Judgment

“Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem;
See now and know;
And seek in her open places
(A)If you can find a man,
(B)If there is anyone who executes [a]judgment,
Who seeks the truth,
(C)And I will pardon her.
(D)Though they say, ‘As (E)the Lord lives,’
Surely they (F)swear falsely.”

O Lord, are not (G)Your eyes on the truth?
You have (H)stricken them,
But they have not grieved;
You have consumed them,
But (I)they have refused to receive correction.
They have made their faces harder than rock;
They have refused to return.

Therefore I said, “Surely these are poor.
They are foolish;
For (J)they do not know the way of the Lord,
The judgment of their God.
I will go to the great men and speak to them,
For (K)they have known the way of the Lord,
The judgment of their God.”

But these have altogether (L)broken the yoke
And burst the bonds.
Therefore (M)a lion from the forest shall slay them,
(N)A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them;
(O)A leopard will watch over their cities.
Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces,
Because their transgressions are many;
Their backslidings have increased.

“How shall I pardon you for this?
Your children have forsaken Me
And (P)sworn by those (Q)that are not gods.
(R)When I had fed them to the full,
Then they committed adultery
And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
(S)They were like well-fed lusty stallions;
Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.
Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the Lord.
“And shall I not (T)avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

10 “Go up on her walls and destroy,
But do not [b]make a (U)complete end.
Take away her branches,
For they are not the Lord’s.
11 For (V)the house of Israel and the house of Judah
Have dealt very treacherously with Me,” says the Lord.

12 (W)They have lied about the Lord,
And said, (X)It is not He.
(Y)Neither will [c]evil come upon us,
Nor shall we see sword or famine.
13 And the prophets become wind,
For the word is not in them.
Thus shall it be done to them.”

14 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts:

“Because you speak this word,
(Z)Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire,
And this people wood,
And it shall devour them.
15 Behold, I will bring a (AA)nation against you (AB)from afar,
O house of Israel,” says the Lord.
“It is a mighty nation,
It is an ancient nation,
A nation whose language you do not know,
Nor can you understand what they say.
16 Their quiver is like an open tomb;
They are all mighty men.
17 And they shall eat up your (AC)harvest and your bread,
Which your sons and daughters should eat.
They shall eat up your flocks and your herds;
They shall eat up your vines and your fig trees;
They shall destroy your fortified cities,
In which you trust, with the sword.

18 “Nevertheless in those days,” says the Lord, “I (AD)will not [d]make a complete end of you. 19 And it will be when you say, (AE)‘Why does the Lord our God do all these things to us?’ then you shall answer them, ‘Just as you have (AF)forsaken Me and served foreign gods in your land, so (AG)you shall serve aliens in a land that is not yours.’

20 “Declare this in the house of Jacob
And proclaim it in Judah, saying,
21 ‘Hear this now, O (AH)foolish people,
Without [e]understanding,
Who have eyes and see not,
And who have ears and hear not:
22 (AI)Do you not fear Me?’ says the Lord.
‘Will you not tremble at My presence,
Who have placed the sand as the (AJ)bound of the sea,
By a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it?
And though its waves toss to and fro,
Yet they cannot prevail;
Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it.
23 But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart;
They have revolted and departed.
24 They do not say in their heart,
“Let us now fear the Lord our God,
(AK)Who gives rain, both the (AL)former and the latter, in its season.
(AM)He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.”
25 (AN)Your iniquities have turned these things away,
And your sins have withheld good from you.

26 ‘For among My people are found wicked men;
They (AO)lie in wait as one who sets snares;
They set a trap;
They catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds,
So their houses are full of deceit.
Therefore they have become great and grown rich.
28 They have grown (AP)fat, they are sleek;
Yes, they [f]surpass the deeds of the wicked;
They do not plead (AQ)the cause,
The cause of the fatherless;
(AR)Yet they prosper,
And the right of the needy they do not defend.
29 (AS)Shall I not punish them for these things?’ says the Lord.
‘Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?’

30 “An astonishing and (AT)horrible thing
Has been committed in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy (AU)falsely,
And the priests rule by their own power;
And My people (AV)love to have it so.
But what will you do in the end?

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 5:1 justice
  2. Jeremiah 5:10 completely destroy
  3. Jeremiah 5:12 disaster
  4. Jeremiah 5:18 completely destroy
  5. Jeremiah 5:21 Lit. heart
  6. Jeremiah 5:28 Or pass over or overlook

Ang mga Sala sa Jerusalem

Miingon ang Ginoo, “Mga lumulupyo sa Jerusalem, pangadto kamo sa mga kadalanan! Tan-awa ang mga plasa! Kon may makita kamong bisan usa lang ka tawong matarong ug kasaligan, pasayloon ko ang inyong siyudad. Bisan ug manumpa kamo sa akong ngalan, gabakak lang gihapon kamo.”

Unya miingon ako, “O Ginoo, dili ba nga nangita ka ug tawong kasaligan? Gisakit mo ang imong katawhan, apan wala sila masakiti niini. Gisilotan mo sila, apan dili sila gustong magpadisiplina. Gahi na kaayo silag ulo, ug nagdumili sila sa paghinulsol.”

“Gipakaingon kog kulang lang silag kinaadman, apan mga buang-buang diay sila. Kay wala sila masayod sa pamaagi sa Ginoo nga ilang Dios nga gipatuman kanila. Busa moadto ako sa ilang mga pangulo aron sa pagpakigsulti kanila. Sigurado gayod nga nasayod sila sa mga pamaagi sa Ginoo nga ilang Dios nga gipatuman kanila.” Apan bisan ang mga pangulo mismo nagsalikway diay usab sa pamalaod sa Dios.[a] Busa sulongon sila sa ilang mga kaaway nga daw liyon nga gikan sa kalasangan o daw bangis nga iro[b] nga gikan sa disyerto o daw mananap nga leopardo nga mag-atang duol sa ilang mga lungsod ug mokunis-kunis ni bisan kinsa nga mogawas. Mahitabo kini kanila kay nanobra na ang ilang pagkamasinupakon sa Dios, ug makadaghan na sila nga mitalikod kaniya.

Miingon ang Ginoo, “Nganong pasayloon ko man kamo? Bisan ang inyong mga kabataan nagsalikway kanako ug nanumpa sa ngalan sa mga dios nga dili tinuod. Gihatag ko ang tanan nilang mga kinahanglanon apan daw babayeng mananapaw sila nga miluib kanako. Nagpanon pa sila didto sa mga balay sa mga babayeng nagbaligya sa ilang dungog. Sama sila sa mga inatiman nga laking kabayo nga labihan ka higal. Matag usa kanila nangibog sa asawa sa uban. Dili ko ba sila angayng silotan tungod niini? Dili ko ba angayng balosan ang nasod nga sama niini? Ako, ang Ginoo, ang nagaingon niini.

10 Kamong mga kaaway sa mga Israelinhon, daota ninyo ang ilang ubasan, apan ayaw lang daota sa hingpit. Pamutla ang mga sanga niini, kay kining mga tawhana dili na ako. 11 Ang katawhan sa Israel ug sa Juda dili na gayod matinud-anon kanako. Ako, ang Ginoo, ang nagaingon niini. 12 Wala sila magsulti sa tinuod mahitungod kanako. Miingon sila, ‘Dili kita unsaon sa Ginoo! Walay katalagman nga moabot kanato; walay gira o kagutom.’ 13 Ang mga propeta walay pulos ug ang ilang mga mensahe wala maggikan sa Dios. Hinaut pa nga mahitabo kanila ang mga kalaglagan nga ilang gipangtagna.”

14 Busa mao kini ang giingon sa Ginoong Dios nga Makagagahom kanako, “Tungod kay mao man kini ang gisulti niining mga tawhana, hatagan ko ikaw ug mensahe nga sama sa kalayo ug himuon ko silang daw kahoy nga lamyon niini.”

15 Miingon ang Ginoo, “Mga katawhan sa Israel, magpadala akog mga tawo gikan sa layo nga nasod sa pagsulong kaninyo. Kini usa ka karaan na kaayo nga nasod, nga ang ilang sinultihan dili ninyo masabtan. 16 Ang ilang mga armas makamatay, ug silang tanan isog nga mga sundalo. 17 Hutdon nila ang inyong mga abot, mga pagkaon, ug ang mga bunga sa inyong ubas ug igera. Pamatyon nila ang inyong mga kahayopan ug kabataan. Panggub-on nila ang inyong pinarilan nga mga lungsod nga inyong gisaligan nga makadepensa kaninyo. 18 Apan bisan pa niadtong mga adlawa, dili ko kamo laglagon sa hingpit. Ako, ang Ginoo, ang nagaingon niini. 19 Ug kon mangutana ang mga tawo, ‘Nganong gibuhat man kining tanan sa Ginoo nga atong Dios kanato?’ Ingna sila, ‘Kay gisalikway ninyo ang Ginoo ug nagaalagad kamo sa ubang mga dios diha mismo sa inyong kaugalingong yuta. Busa karon mag-alagad kamo sa mga langyaw, sa yuta nga dili inyo.’

20 “Ipahibalo kini sa mga katawhan sa Israel[c] ug sa Juda: 21 Patalinghogi ninyo kini, kamong mga buang-buang ug walay buot nga mga katawhan. Aduna kamoy mga mata, apan dili makakita, adunay mga dalunggan, apan dili makadungog. 22 Ako, ang Ginoo, nagaingon: Wala ba kamo mahadlok kanako? Nganong wala kamo magkurog sa akong atubangan? Ako ang naghimo sa baybayon nga utlanan sa dagat. Kini permanente nga utlanan ug dili malapas. Hampakon kini sa mga balod apan dili kini makalapas niini. 23 Apan gahig ulo ug mga rebelde kining mga tawhana. Mitalikod sila ug mipalayo kanako. 24 Dili kinasingkasing ang ilang pag-ingon, ‘Tahoron nato ang Ginoo nga atong Dios nga nagahatag ug ulan sa hustong panahon, ug nagahatag kanatog maayong abot sa panahon sa ting-ani.’ 25 Ang inyong pagkadaotan maoy nagpahilayo niining mga kaayohan gikan kaninyo. Ang inyong mga sala maoy nakapugong nga madawat ninyo kini nga mga pagpanalangin.

26 “May daotang mga tawo diha sa akong katawhan nga nagaatang sa ilang mabiktima, nga daw sama sa tawong nagapanglit-ag ug langgam. Nagbutang silag lit-ag alang sa ubang mga tawo. 27 Sama sa hawla nga puno sa mga langgam, ang balay niining mga tawhana puno sa bahandi gikan sa ilang pagpanunto. Nadato sila ug nahimong gamhanan niining paagiha. 28 Nanambok sila ug nabaskog ang ilang mga lawas. Walay kinutoban ang ilang mga daotang binuhatan. Wala nila hatagig hustisya ang mga ilo, ug wala nila dapigi ang katungod sa mga kabos. 29 Ako, ang Ginoo, nagaingon: Dili ba angay ko silang silotan tungod niini? Dili ba angay kong panimaslan ang nasod nga sama niini? 30 Makahahadlok ug makalilisang ang mga butang nga nahitabo niini nga yuta. 31 Ang mga propeta nagapanagna ug bakak. Ang mga pari nagadumala sumala sa ilang kaugalingon nga katungod. Ug nakaangay niini ang akong katawhan. Apan unsay ilang buhaton inig-abot sa kataposang panahon?”

Footnotes

  1. 5:5 nagsalikway diay usab sa pamalaod sa Dios: sa literal, mitangtang sa yugo ug mihubad sa mga gapos.
  2. 5:6 bangis nga iro: sa English, wolf.
  3. 5:20 mga katawhan sa Israel: sa Hebreo, panimalay ni Jacob.