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Jeremiah 5
The Message
Jeremiah 5
The Message
Sins Are Piled Sky-High
5 1-2 “Patrol Jerusalem’s streets.
Look around. Take note.
Search the market squares.
See if you can find one man, one woman,
A single soul who does what is right
and tries to live a true life.
I want to forgive that person.”
God’s Decree.
“But if all they do is say, ‘As sure as God lives . . . ’
they’re nothing but a bunch of liars.”
3-6 But you, God,
you have an eye for truth, don’t you?
You hit them hard, but it didn’t faze them.
You disciplined them, but they refused correction.
Hardheaded, harder than rock,
they wouldn’t change.
Then I said to myself, “Well, these are just poor people.
They don’t know any better.
They were never taught anything about God.
They never went to prayer meetings.
I’ll find some people from the best families.
I’ll talk to them.
They’ll know what’s going on, the way God works.
They’ll know the score.”
But they were no better! Rebels all!
Off doing their own thing.
The invaders are ready to pounce and kill,
like a mountain lion, a wilderness wolf,
Panthers on the prowl.
The streets aren’t safe anymore.
And why? Because the people’s sins are piled sky-high;
their betrayals are past counting.
7-9 “Why should I even bother with you any longer?
Your children wander off, leaving me,
Taking up with gods
that aren’t even gods.
I satisfied their deepest needs, and then they went off with the ‘sacred’ whores,
left me for orgies in sex shrines!
A bunch of well-groomed, lusty stallions,
each one pawing and snorting for his neighbor’s wife.
Do you think I’m going to stand around and do nothing?”
God’s Decree.
“Don’t you think I’ll take serious measures
against a people like this?
Eyes That Don’t Really Look, Ears That Don’t Really Listen
10-11 “Go down the rows of vineyards and rip out the vines,
but not all of them. Leave a few.
Prune back those vines!
That growth didn’t come from God!
They’ve betrayed me over and over again,
Judah and Israel both.”
God’s Decree.
12-13 “They’ve spread lies about God.
They’ve said, ‘There’s nothing to him.
Nothing bad will happen to us,
neither famine nor war will come our way.
The prophets are all windbags.
They speak nothing but nonsense.’”
14 Therefore, this is what God said to me, God-of-the-Angel-Armies:
“Because they have talked this way,
they are going to eat those words.
Watch now! I’m putting my words
as fire in your mouth.
And the people are a pile of kindling
ready to go up in flames.
15-17 “Attention! I’m bringing a far-off nation
against you, O house of Israel.”
God’s Decree.
“A solid nation,
an ancient nation,
A nation that speaks another language.
You won’t understand a word they say.
When they aim their arrows, you’re as good as dead.
They’re a nation of real fighters!
They’ll clean you out of house and home,
rob you of crops and children alike.
They’ll feast on your sheep and cattle,
strip your vines and fig trees.
And the fortresses that made you feel so safe—
leveled with a stroke of the sword!
18-19 “Even then, as bad as it will be”—God’s Decree!—“it will not be the end of the world for you. And when people ask, ‘Why did our God do all this to us?’ you must say to them, ‘This is back on you. Just as you left me and served foreign gods in your own country, so now you must serve foreigners in their own country.’
20-25 “Tell the house of Jacob this,
put out this bulletin in Judah:
Listen to this,
you scatterbrains, airheads,
With eyes that see but don’t really look,
and ears that hear but don’t really listen.
Why don’t you honor me?
Why aren’t you in awe before me?
Yes, me, who made the shorelines
to contain the ocean waters.
I drew a line in the sand
that cannot be crossed.
Waves roll in but cannot get through;
breakers crash but that’s the end of them.
But this people—what a people!
Uncontrollable, untamable runaways.
It never occurs to them to say,
‘How can we honor our God with our lives,
The God who gives rain in both spring and autumn
and maintains the rhythm of the seasons,
Who sets aside time each year for harvest
and keeps everything running smoothly for us?’
Of course you don’t! Your bad behavior blinds you to all this.
Your sins keep my blessings at a distance.
To Stand for Nothing and Stand Up for No One
26-29 “My people are infiltrated by wicked men,
unscrupulous men on the hunt.
They set traps for the unsuspecting.
Their victims are innocent men and women.
Their houses are stuffed with ill-gotten gain,
like a hunter’s bag full of birds.
Pretentious and powerful and rich,
hugely obese, oily with rolls of fat.
Worse, they have no conscience.
Right and wrong mean nothing to them.
They stand for nothing, stand up for no one,
throw orphans to the wolves, exploit the poor.
Do you think I’ll stand by and do nothing about this?”
God’s Decree.
“Don’t you think I’ll take serious measures
against a people like this?
* * *
30-31 “Unspeakable! Sickening!
What’s happened in this country?
Prophets preach lies
and priests hire on as their assistants.
And my people love it. They eat it up!
But what will you do when it’s time to pick up the pieces?”
耶利米书 5
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
耶利米书 5
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
耶路撒冷的罪恶
5 “你们去走遍耶路撒冷的街道，
到处观察留意，
又在城的广场上寻觅；
如果能找到一个行正义、求诚实的人，
我就赦免这城。
2 城里的人虽然指着永活的耶和华起誓，
其实，他们起的誓是假的。”
3 耶和华啊！你的眼目不是要看诚实的事吗？
你击打他们，他们却不觉得伤痛；
你摧毁他们，他们仍不肯接受管教。
他们板着脸，脸皮比盘石还硬，
总不肯回转。
4 我说：“这些人只是贫穷小民，
为人愚昧；
他们不晓得耶和华的道路，
也不明白他们 神的法则。
5 我要亲自去见那些权贵领袖，
跟他们谈谈；
因为他们晓得耶和华的道路，
也明白他们 神的法则。”
谁知他们竟一起把轭折断，
挣脱绳索。
6 因此，狮子必从林中出来袭击他们，
旷野的豺狼要杀害他们，
豹子在他们的城边窥伺，
出城的都必被撕碎；
因为他们的过犯众多，
背道的事也无法数算。
7 “为甚么我要赦免你？
你的儿女离弃我，
指着那些不是神的起誓。
我使他们饱足，他们却去行淫，
一起挤在妓院里。
8 他们像饱食的马，情欲奔放，
各向别人的妻子嘶叫。
9 我因这些事怎能不施行惩罚呢？
像这样的国家，
我怎能不亲自报复呢？”
这是耶和华的宣告。
10 “你们要走进她的葡萄园（“葡萄园”原文作“葡萄树的行列”）里施行毁坏，
但不可毁灭净尽，要除掉她的枝子，
因为它们不属耶和华。
11 以色列家和犹大家，
待我实在太奸诈了。”
这是耶和华的宣告。
12 他们不信耶和华，
说：“他不会作甚么，
灾祸必不临到我们，
我们也不会看见刀剑和饥荒。
13 先知不过是一阵风，
主的道也不在他们里面；
他们所说的必临到他们身上。”
14 因此，耶和华万军之 神这样说：
“因他们说了这话，
我必使我的话在你口中成为火，
使这人民成为柴，
火要把他们吞灭。
15 以色列家啊！
我必使一国从远方来攻击你们。”
这是耶和华的宣告。
“那国历久不衰，
从古就有；
他们的言语你们不懂得，
他们所说的你们不明白。
16 他们的箭囊像敞开的坟墓，
他们尽都是勇士。
17 他们必吞灭你们的庄稼和粮食，
吞灭你的儿女，
你们的羊群牛群，
以及你们的葡萄和无花果；
他们也必用刀剑毁坏你们所倚仗的坚固城。
18 就是到了那时，
我也不把你们完全毁灭。”
这是耶和华的宣告。
19 “将来如果有人问：‘耶和华我们的 神，为甚么向我们行这一切事呢？’你就要对他们说：‘你们怎样离弃我，在你们的土地上事奉外族人的神，你们也要在不属你们的土地上照样服事外族人。’”
神的警告
20 你们要在雅各家宣告这事，
在犹大传扬，说：
21 “愚昧无知的民哪！
你们有眼不能看，
有耳不能听；
你们应当听这话：
22 ‘你们连我都不惧怕吗？
在我面前你们也不战兢吗？’
这是耶和华的宣告。
‘我以沙作海的疆界，
作永远的界限，海就不能越过；
波浪翻腾，却不能漫过；
怒涛澎湃，仍无法逾越。
23 可是这人民，竟存着顽梗悖逆的心；
背我而去。’
24 他们心里也不想想：
‘我们应当敬畏耶和华我们的 神，
他按时赐雨，就是秋雨春霖，
又为我们保存定时收割的节令。’
25 你们的罪孽使这些都离开了，
你们的罪恶剥夺了你们的幸福。
26 在我的子民中发现了恶人，
他们好象捕鸟的人蹲伏窥探，
装置网罗捕捉人。
27 笼中怎样满了雀鸟，
他们的屋里也满了诡诈；
他们就因此财雄势大。
28 他们肥胖光润，
作尽各种坏事；
他们不为人辩护，
不替孤儿辨屈，使他们获益，
也不为穷人伸冤。
29 我因这些事怎能不施行惩罚呢？
像这样的国家，
我怎能不亲自报复呢？”
这是耶和华的宣告。
30 “恐怖骇人的事在国中发生了。
31 先知说假预言，
祭司凭己意把持权柄。
我的子民竟喜爱这样，
到了结局你们怎么办呢？”
Jeremiah 5
New International Version
Jeremiah 5
New International Version
Not One Is Upright
5 “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.
2 Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’(F)
still they are swearing falsely.(G)”
3 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)
4 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.
5 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)
6 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)
7 “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)
8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
each neighing for another man’s wife.(Y)
9 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?
The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Chinese New Version (Simplified) (CNVS)
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.