Jeremiah 9:3-9
Expanded Bible
Judah’s Failures
3 “They ·use [L bend] their tongues like a bow [C shooting lies from their mouths like arrows; Ps. 64:3–4].
Lies, not truth,
have grown strong in the land.
They go from one evil thing to another.
They do not know ·who I am [L me],” says the Lord.
4 “·Watch out [Be on guard] for your ·friends [or neighbors],
and don’t ·trust [have confidence in] your own ·relatives [L brothers],
because every ·relative [L brother] is a ·cheater [L Jacob, who supplants; Gen. 25:19—35:29],
and every ·friend [or neighbor] ·tells lies about [L goes around slandering] you.
5 Everyone ·lies to [deceives] his ·friend [or neighbor],
and no one speaks ·the truth [honestly].
They [C the people of Judah] have taught their tongues to ·lie [L tell falsehoods].
They have become tired from ·sinning [their iniquity].
6 You [C Jeremiah] live in the middle of lies.
The people refuse to know me,” says the Lord.
7 So this is what the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says:
“I will test them [C the people of Judah] as a person ·tests [refines] metal in a fire [6:27–30].
·I have no other choice [L For what else can I do…],
because ·my people have sinned [L of the daughter of my people?].
8 Their tongues are like ·sharp [L deadly] arrows.
Their mouths speak ·lies [deceit].
Everyone speaks ·nicely [peace] to his ·neighbor [or friend],
but he ·is secretly planning to attack him [L sets his ambush in his innards/inwardly].
9 Shouldn’t I punish the people [C of Judah] for doing this?” says the Lord.
“Shouldn’t I ·give a nation like this the punishment [L get revenge on a nation as] it deserves?”
Jeremiah 9:3-9
New American Standard Bible
3 “They (A)bend their tongues like their bows;
Lies and not truth prevail in the land;
For they (B)proceed from evil to evil,
And they (C)do not know Me,” declares the Lord.
4 “Let everyone (D)be on guard against his neighbor,
And (E)do not trust any brother;
Because every (F)brother utterly [a]betrays,
And every neighbor (G)goes about as a slanderer.
5 Everyone (H)deceives his neighbor
And does not speak the truth.
They have taught their tongue to speak lies;
They (I)weary themselves committing wrongdoing.
6 Your (J)dwelling is in the midst of deceit;
Through deceit they (K)refuse to know Me,” declares the Lord.
7 Therefore this is what the Lord of armies says:
“Behold, I will refine them and (L)put them to the test;
For (M)what else can I do, because of the daughter of My people?
8 Their (N)tongue is a deadly arrow;
It speaks deceit;
With his mouth one (O)speaks peace to his neighbor,
But inwardly he (P)sets an ambush for him.
9 (Q)Shall I not punish them for these things?” declares the Lord.
“Shall I not avenge Myself
On a nation such as this?
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 9:4 I.e., like Jacob (a play on words)
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
