(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.

(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.
Everyone deceives his neighbor,
    and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongue to speak lies;
    they weary themselves committing iniquity.
Heaping oppression upon oppression, and deceit upon deceit,
    (F)they refuse to know me, declares the Lord.

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?
(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.
(N)Shall I not punish them for these things? declares the Lord,
    and shall I not avenge myself
    on a nation such as this?

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 9:3 Septuagint; Hebrew and not for truth they have grown strong

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)

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)
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)
Oppression upon oppression, deceit[b] upon deceit!
    They refuse to know me, says the Lord.(D)

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)
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)
Shall I not punish them for these things? says the Lord,
    and shall I not bring retribution
    on a nation such as this?(G)

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Footnotes

  1. 9.5 Cn Compare Gk: Heb they weary themselves with iniquity. Your dwelling
  2. 9.6 Cn Compare Gk: Heb Your dwelling in the midst of deceit