“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.
“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)
Friend deceives friend,(G)
    and no one speaks the truth.(H)
They have taught their tongues to lie;(I)
    they weary themselves with sinning.
You[c] live in the midst of deception;(J)
    in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.

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?
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)
Should I not punish them for this?”
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(Q) myself
    on such a nation as this?”

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Notas al pie

  1. Jeremiah 9:3 Or lies; / they are not valiant for truth
  2. Jeremiah 9:4 Or a deceiving Jacob
  3. Jeremiah 9:6 That is, Jeremiah (the Hebrew is singular)

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

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)
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.
You live in a world of deception.[a](E)
In their deception they refuse to know me.(F)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

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]
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.
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?

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Notas al pie

  1. 9:6 LXX reads Oppression on oppression, deceit on deceit
  2. 9:7 Lit of the daughter of my
  3. 9:7 LXX, Tg read because of their evils