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“They bend their tongue,
    as their bow, for falsehood.
They have grown strong in the land,
    but not for truth;
for they proceed from evil to evil,
    and they don’t know me,” says Yahweh.
“Everyone beware of his neighbor,
    and don’t trust in any brother;
for every brother will utterly supplant,
    and every neighbor will go around like a slanderer.
Friends deceive each other,
    and will not speak the truth.
They have taught their tongue to speak lies.
    They weary themselves commiting iniquity.
Your habitation is in the middle of deceit.
    Through deceit, they refuse to know me,” says Yahweh.

Therefore Yahweh of Armies says,

“Behold, I will melt them and test them;
    for how should I deal with the daughter of my people?
Their tongue is a deadly arrow.
    It speaks deceit.
One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth,
    but in his heart, he waits to ambush him.
Shouldn’t I punish them for these things?” says Yahweh.
    “Shouldn’t my soul be avenged on a nation such as this?

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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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Footnotes

  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