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
Jeremiah 9:3-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 They bend their tongues like bows;
they have grown strong in the land for falsehood and not for truth,
for they proceed from evil to evil,
and they do not know me, says the Lord.(A)
4 Beware of your neighbors,
and put no trust in any of your kin,
for all your kin are supplanters,
and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer.(B)
5 They all deceive their neighbors,
and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongues to speak lies;
they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent.[a](C)
6 Oppression upon oppression, deceit[b] upon deceit!
They refuse to know me, says the Lord.(D)
7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:
I will now refine and test them,
for what else can I do with the daughter of my people?(E)
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
it speaks deceit through the mouth.
They all speak friendly words to their neighbors
but inwardly are planning to lay an ambush.(F)
9 Shall I not punish them for these things? says the Lord,
and shall I not bring retribution
on a nation such as this?(G)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.