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Chapter 5[a]

Evil Everywhere

Roam through the streets of Jerusalem,
    look around and take careful note;
    search through the public squares.
If you can find even one person
    who acts justly and seeks the truth,
    I will pardon this city.
Even though they say, “As the Lord lives,”
    they are in fact swearing falsely.
Do your eyes not search for truth, O Lord?
    When you struck them, they felt no anguish;
    when you brought them down, they refused correction.
They have made their faces harder than stone
    and refused to repent.
Then I thought, “These are only the poor;
    they tend to act foolishly.
For they do not know the way of the Lord
    or the ordinances of their God.
Therefore, I will go to their leaders
    and speak to them.
Surely they will know the way of the Lord
    and their responsibilities to their God.”
But those, too, had broken the yoke
    and torn away from their bonds.
Therefore, lions from the forest will tear them to pieces,
    and wolves from the desert will ravage them.
Leopards will be on the prowl around their cities;
    all those who depart from them
    will be torn to pieces
because of their many crimes
    and their apostasies
    without number.
Why should I forgive you?
    Your children have forsaken me to swear by gods
    that are not gods in any way.
When I gave them everything they needed,
    they committed adultery
    and hastened to the houses of prostitutes.
They are well-fed and lusty stallions,
    each one neighing for his neighbor’s wife.
Shall I not punish them for these things?
    asks the Lord.
Shall I not take vengeance on a nation such as this?
10 Ascend to her vineyards and ravage them
    but do not totally destroy them.
Strip off her branches,
    for these people no longer belong to the Lord.
11 Both the house of Israel and the house of Judah
    have been completely unfaithful to me, says the Lord.
12 They have denied the Lord,
    boldly asserting, “He will do nothing.
No harm will come to us;
    we will not endure either sword or famine.
13 The prophets are nothing but wind;
    the word is not in them.
    Their dire predictions will redound upon them.”
14 Therefore, the Lord, the God of hosts, has this to say:
Because you have said these things,
    my words will become a fire in your mouth,
and I will make this people like wood
    that the fire will consume.
15 Be forewarned that I will bring against you
    a nation from a great distance,
    O house of Israel, says the Lord
a long-existent nation,
    a nation founded long ago,
a people whose language you do not know
    and whose speech you cannot understand.
16 The quivers of these people are like open graves;
    all of them are mighty warriors.
17 They will devour your harvest and your food,
    they will devour your sons and your daughters;
they will devour your flocks and your herds,
    they will devour your vines and your fig trees;
with their swords they will destroy
    your fortified towns in which you place your trust.

18 [b]Yet even in those days, declares the Lord, I will not completely destroy you. 19 And when the people ask, “Why has the Lord, our God, done all this to us?” reply to them, “As you have forsaken the Lord and served alien gods in your own land, so you will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.”

20 Announce this in the house of Jacob,
    proclaim it in Judah:
21 Pay attention to this,
    you foolish and senseless people,
who have eyes but do not see,
    who have ears but do not hear.
22 Do you have no fear of me? asks the Lord.
    Do you not tremble before me?
I was the one who established the sand
    as the boundary for the sea,
    a perpetual barrier that it can never pass.
Its waves may rise up but cannot prevail;
    they may roar but cannot cross the limits.
23 But this people has a rebellious and stubborn heart;
    they have risen up in defiance and gone away.
24 Nor do they say to themselves,
    “Let us fear the Lord, our God,
who gives us in their proper season
    the autumn and spring rains
and unfailingly provides for us
    the weeks designated for the harvest.”
25 Your iniquities have upset the order of nature,
    and your sins have deprived you of its bounty.
26 For there are wicked scoundrels among my people
    who, like fowlers, set traps,
    but with men as their quarry.
27 Like a cage full of birds,
    their houses are full of treachery.
As a result, they have grown rich and powerful,
28     well fed and well groomed.
Their wickedness knows no bounds,
    and they do not practice justice in their dealings.
They do not uphold the rights of the orphan
    or defend the cause of the needy.
29 How can I fail to punish such things?
    says the Lord.
How can I refuse to exact vengeance on a nation such as this?
30 An appalling and outrageous situation
    has occurred in the land.
31 The prophets prophesy falsely,
    the priests are in league with them,
and the people are delighted with this situation.
    But when the end comes, what will you do?

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 5:1 No one is as sensitive as Jeremiah to the sin that is spreading like a canker. God has been hunted from the life of his people, without hope of a return.
  2. Jeremiah 5:18 These two verses were added by a later editor in order to soften the harshness of the preceding passage.

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?

O mal do povo de Judá

“Percorram as ruas de Jerusalém
    e observem com cuidado o que acontece ali.
Procurem por todas as praças para ver se encontram uma pessoa
    que faça justiça e procure pela verdade.
Se a acharem,
    perdoarei Jerusalém.
Embora jurem no nome do SENHOR serem fiéis,
    não cumprem o que prometem”.

SENHOR, eu sei que deseja
    que o seu povo seja fiel.
O Senhor deu um tapa neles,
    mas não sentiram nada.
Fez picadinho deles,
    mas não aceitaram a disciplina.
São mais teimosos do que uma rocha;
    eles se recusam a mudar a sua forma de pensar e de viver.

Então eu disse: “Esses são só os pobres e ignorantes,
    por isso atuam assim.
Não conhecem a justiça que o SENHOR requer
    nem o que seu Deus ordenou.
Irei então às pessoas ricas e importantes
    e falarei.
Com certeza elas conhecem o caminho do SENHOR
    e o que ele ordenou”.
Mas todos eles também tinham quebrado o jugo
    e quebrado as amarras.
Por isso os atacará o leão da selva.
    O lobo do deserto os destruirá.
Um leopardo está escondido perto das suas cidades
    para destruir todos os que saem delas.
Isso acontecerá porque cometeram
    muitos crimes e rebeliões.

O SENHOR diz: “Por que tenho que perdoar?
    Os seus filhos me abandonaram
    e juram por deuses que não existem.
Dei a eles tudo o que necessitavam,
    mas eles foram infiéis.
    Todos foram em bando para a casa das prostitutas.
Como cavalos ansiosos,
    cada um relincha atrás da mulher do outro.
Não tenho que castigá-los por isso?
    Será que não vou me vingar de uma nação como essa?

10 “Vão para as vinhas de Judá e destruam as videiras,
    mas não completamente.
Cortem todos os seus ramos
    porque já não são do SENHOR.
11 O povo de Israel e o povo de Judá
    foi completamente desonesto comigo”.
    Diz o SENHOR.

12 Negaram ao SENHOR e dizem:
    “Deus não existe.
Nenhum mal vai nos acontecer.
    Os nossos olhos não verão guerra nem fome.
13 Os profetas são só vento.
    Deus não lhes disse nada.
O que dizem é o que acontecerá com eles mesmos”.

14 Portanto, isto diz o SENHOR,
    o Deus Todo-Poderoso:
“Por ter dito tudo isso,
    vou fazer que as minhas palavras sejam como fogo na sua boca,
e que este povo seja como lenha
    que esse fogo consumirá”.

15 Israel, esta é a mensagem do SENHOR:
“Trarei de longe uma nação forte
    e com uma longa história.
Você não conhece o idioma dessa nação
    e não entende o que dizem.
16 Todos eles são guerreiros corajosos;
    a bolsa onde levam as suas flechas é como um sepulcro aberto.
17 Eles consumirão toda sua colheita e alimentos;
    eles devorarão seus filhos e suas filhas.
Eles comerão suas ovelhas e gado,
    suas uvas e seus figos.
Eles destruirão ao fio da espada
    suas cidades fortificadas nas que você tanto confia”.

18 O SENHOR diz:

—Mas nem sequer nesses dias destruirei Judá completamente. 19 E quando lhe perguntarem: “Por que o SENHOR, nosso Deus, fez tudo isso conosco?”, então você lhes dirá: “Vocês me abandonaram e serviram a deuses estrangeiros na sua própria terra. Por isso vocês também terão que servir a pessoas estrangeiras na terra de outros”.

20 “Enviem esta mensagem para a família de Jacó
    e façam com que seja ouvida em Judá.
21 Ouça, povo insensato e ignorante,
    que tem olhos, mas não vê,
    que tem ouvidos, mas não ouve.
22 Por acaso vocês não me temem?”,
    diz o SENHOR.

“Não deveriam tremer diante da minha presença?
    Eu coloquei a areia como limite do oceano,
    para que o mar nunca transborde.
As ondas vêm e vão,
    mas não podem atravessar o limite;
embora rujam,
    não poderão ir além dele.
23 Mas este povo tem um coração duro e rebelde.
    Eles se desviaram e cada um foi pelo seu lado.
24 Não param para pensar nem dizem:
    ‘Respeitemos ao SENHOR, nosso Deus,
que ao seu devido tempo nos dá
    a chuva de outono e primavera.
Ele se assegura que tenhamos
    a colheita no tempo certo’.
25 Mas por causa das suas maldades,
    tudo isso tem mudado.
Os seus pecados não têm permitido
    que vocês disfrutem desses bens.
26 Porque há pessoas perversas no meio do meu povo,
    que estão alertas como quem caça pássaros,
    que colocam armadilhas para prender os outros.
27 Igual a uma jaula cheia de pássaros,
    as suas casas estão cheias de mentiras;
    assim é como eles se tornaram ricos e importantes.
28 Estão gordos e suaves,
    e as suas maldades não têm fim.
Eles não fazem justiça ao órfão
    nem defendem os direitos dos pobres.
29 Será que não devo castigá-los por isso?
    Será que não devo me vingar de uma nação assim?”
    Assim diz o SENHOR.

30 “Algo horrível e espantoso
    aconteceu neste país.
31 Os profetas falam mensagens falsas
    e os sacerdotes governam conforme esses profetas querem,
e é assim que o meu povo gosta!
    Mas, que farão vocês quando isso chegar ao seu fim?”

Not One Is Upright

“Go up and down(A) the streets of Jerusalem,
    look around and consider,(B)
    search through her squares.
If you can find but one person(C)
    who deals honestly(D) and seeks the truth,
    I will forgive(E) this city.
Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’(F)
    still they are swearing falsely.(G)

Lord, do not your eyes(H) look for truth?
    You struck(I) them, but they felt no pain;
    you crushed them, but they refused correction.(J)
They made their faces harder than stone(K)
    and refused to repent.(L)
I thought, “These are only the poor;
    they are foolish,(M)
for they do not know(N) the way of the Lord,
    the requirements of their God.
So I will go to the leaders(O)
    and speak to them;
surely they know the way of the Lord,
    the requirements of their God.”
But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke
    and torn off the bonds.(P)
Therefore a lion from the forest(Q) will attack them,
    a wolf from the desert will ravage(R) them,
a leopard(S) will lie in wait near their towns
    to tear to pieces any who venture out,
for their rebellion is great
    and their backslidings many.(T)

“Why should I forgive you?
    Your children have forsaken me
    and sworn(U) by gods that are not gods.(V)
I supplied all their needs,
    yet they committed adultery(W)
    and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.(X)
They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
    each neighing for another man’s wife.(Y)
Should I not punish them for this?”(Z)
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(AA) myself
    on such a nation as this?

10 “Go through her vineyards and ravage them,
    but do not destroy them completely.(AB)
Strip off her branches,
    for these people do not belong to the Lord.
11 The people of Israel and the people of Judah
    have been utterly unfaithful(AC) to me,”
declares the Lord.

12 They have lied(AD) about the Lord;
    they said, “He will do nothing!
No harm will come to us;(AE)
    we will never see sword or famine.(AF)
13 The prophets(AG) are but wind(AH)
    and the word is not in them;
    so let what they say be done to them.”

14 Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:

“Because the people have spoken these words,
    I will make my words in your mouth(AI) a fire(AJ)
    and these people the wood it consumes.(AK)
15 People of Israel,” declares the Lord,
    “I am bringing a distant nation(AL) against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
    a people whose language(AM) you do not know,
    whose speech you do not understand.
16 Their quivers(AN) are like an open grave;
    all of them are mighty warriors.
17 They will devour(AO) your harvests and food,
    devour(AP) your sons and daughters;
they will devour(AQ) your flocks and herds,
    devour your vines and fig trees.(AR)
With the sword(AS) they will destroy
    the fortified cities(AT) in which you trust.(AU)

18 “Yet even in those days,” declares the Lord, “I will not destroy(AV) you completely. 19 And when the people ask,(AW) ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods(AX) in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners(AY) in a land not your own.’

20 “Announce this to the descendants of Jacob
    and proclaim(AZ) it in Judah:
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,(BA)
    who have eyes(BB) but do not see,
    who have ears but do not hear:(BC)
22 Should you not fear(BD) me?” declares the Lord.
    “Should you not tremble(BE) in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,(BF)
    an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
    they may roar,(BG) but they cannot cross it.
23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious(BH) hearts;
    they have turned aside(BI) and gone away.
24 They do not say to themselves,
    ‘Let us fear(BJ) the Lord our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains(BK) in season,
    who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’(BL)
25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
    your sins have deprived you of good.(BM)

26 “Among my people are the wicked(BN)
    who lie in wait(BO) like men who snare birds
    and like those who set traps(BP) to catch people.
27 Like cages full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;(BQ)
they have become rich(BR) and powerful
28     and have grown fat(BS) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;(BT)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.(BU)
29 Should I not punish them for this?”
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(BV) myself
    on such a nation as this?

30 “A horrible(BW) and shocking thing
    has happened in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy lies,(BX)
    the priests(BY) rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
    But what will you do in the end?(BZ)