Jeremiah 9:3-9
New International Version
3 “They make ready their tongue
like a bow, to shoot lies;(A)
it is not by truth
that they triumph[a] in the land.
They go from one sin to another;
they do not acknowledge(B) me,”
declares the Lord.
4 “Beware of your friends;(C)
do not trust anyone in your clan.(D)
For every one of them is a deceiver,[b](E)
and every friend a slanderer.(F)
5 Friend deceives friend,(G)
and no one speaks the truth.(H)
They have taught their tongues to lie;(I)
they weary themselves with sinning.
6 You[c] live in the midst of deception;(J)
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.
7 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:
“See, I will refine(K) and test(L) them,
for what else can I do
because of the sin of my people?
8 Their tongue(M) is a deadly arrow;
it speaks deceitfully.
With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors,(N)
but in their hearts they set traps(O) for them.(P)
9 Should I not punish them for this?”
declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(Q) myself
on such a nation as this?”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 9:3 Or lies; / they are not valiant for truth
- Jeremiah 9:4 Or a deceiving Jacob
- Jeremiah 9:6 That is, Jeremiah (the Hebrew is singular)
Jeremiah 9:3-9
Common English Bible
3 They bend their tongues like bows
to spew out lies;
they are renowned in the land,
but not for truth.
They go from bad to worse.
They don’t know me!
declares the Lord.
4 Be wary of your friends!
Don’t trust your sibling![a]
Every sibling is a cheater,
and every friend traffics in slander.
5 One cheats the other;
no one tells the truth;
they train themselves to lie;
they wear themselves out by doing wrong.
6 You live in a world of deceit,
and in their deceit
they refuse to know me,[b]
declares the Lord.
7 Therefore, the Lord of heavenly forces proclaims:
I’m going to refine and test them,
for what else can I do with my people?
8 Their tongue is a lethal arrow;
their words are deceitful.
They wish their neighbors well,
but in their hearts plot their ruin.
9 Shouldn’t I punish them for this?
declares the Lord;
shouldn’t I avenge such a nation?
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 9:4 Or brother
- Jeremiah 9:6 Heb uncertain
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