Jeremiah 9:3-9
Christian Standard Bible
3 They bent their tongues like their bows;
lies and not faithfulness prevail in the land,
for they proceed from one evil to another,
and they do not take me into account.(A)
This is the Lord’s declaration.
Imminent Ruin and Exile
4 Everyone has to be on guard against his friend.
Don’t trust any brother,
for every brother will certainly deceive,(B)
and every friend spread slander.(C)
5 Each one betrays his friend;(D)
no one tells the truth.
They have taught their tongues to speak lies;
they wear themselves out doing wrong.
6 You live in a world of deception.[a](E)
In their deception they refuse to know me.(F)
This is the Lord’s declaration.
7 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Armies says:
I am about to refine them and test them,(G)
for what else can I do
because of my dear[b] people?[c]
8 Their tongues are deadly arrows—
they speak deception.(H)
With his mouth
one speaks peaceably with his friend,
but inwardly he sets up an ambush.
9 Should I not punish them for these things?
This is the Lord’s declaration.
Should I not avenge myself(I)
on such a nation as this?
Jeremiah 9:3-9
English Standard Version
3 (A)They bend their tongue like a bow;
falsehood and not truth has grown strong[a] in the land;
for they proceed from evil to evil,
(B)and they do not know me, declares the Lord.
4 (C)Let everyone beware of his neighbor,
and put no trust in any brother,
for every (D)brother is a deceiver,
and every neighbor (E)goes about as a slanderer.
5 Everyone deceives his neighbor,
and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongue to speak lies;
they weary themselves committing iniquity.
6 Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit,
(F)they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.
7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:
“Behold, (G)I will refine them and (H)test them,
for what else can I do, (I)because of my people?
8 (J)Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
(K)it speaks deceitfully;
with his mouth (L)each speaks peace to his neighbor,
but in his heart (M)he plans an ambush for him.
9 (N)Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord,
and shall I not avenge myself
on a nation such as this?
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 9:3 Septuagint; Hebrew and not for truth they have grown strong
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
