Jeremiah 9:3-9
World English Bible
3 “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.
4 “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.
5 Friends deceive each other,
and will not speak the truth.
They have taught their tongue to speak lies.
They weary themselves commiting iniquity.
6 Your habitation is in the middle of deceit.
Through deceit, they refuse to know me,” says Yahweh.
7 Therefore Yahweh of Armies says,
“Behold, I will melt them and test them;
for how should I deal with the daughter of my people?
8 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.
9 Shouldn’t I punish them for these things?” says Yahweh.
“Shouldn’t my soul be avenged on a nation such as this?
Jeremiah 9:3-9
International Standard Version
3 They use their tongues like a bow.
Lies rather than truth fly throughout[a] the land.
They progress from one evil to another,
and they don’t know me,”
declares the Lord.
4 “Beware of your neighbors, and don’t trust
any of your relatives.
For all of your relatives act deceitfully,
and every friend goes around as a slanderer.
5 People deceive their friends,
and they don’t tell the truth.
They have taught their tongues to tell lies.
They exhaust themselves practicing evil.[b]
6 You yourself live in the midst of deception,
and because they are deceived they do not know me,”
declares the Lord.
7 Therefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
“Look, I’m about to refine and test them.
Because they’re my people, what else can I do?[c]
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow
that speaks deceit.
With his mouth a person says, ‘Peace,’ to his friend,
but inwardly he sets a trap for him.
9 Should I not punish them for these things?”[d]
asks the Lord,
“and should I not avenge myself on a nation like this?”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 9:3 Lit. prevail in
- Jeremiah 9:5 Or themselves with iniquity
- Jeremiah 9:7 Lit. because of the daughter of my people
- Jeremiah 9:9 Or punish these people
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