The Sermon on the Mount

Seeing the crowds, (A)he went up on the mountain, and when he (B)sat down, his disciples came to him.

The Beatitudes

And (C)he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:

(D)“Blessed are (E)the poor in spirit, for (F)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

“Blessed are (G)those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

“Blessed are the (H)meek, for they (I)shall inherit the earth.

“Blessed are those who hunger and (J)thirst (K)for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are (L)the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.

“Blessed are (M)the pure in heart, for (N)they shall see God.

“Blessed are (O)the peacemakers, for (P)they shall be called (Q)sons[a] of God.

10 (R)“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for (S)theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 (T)“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely (U)on my account. 12 (V)Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for (W)so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth, (X)but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.

14 (Y)“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 (Z)Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so (AA)that[b] they may see your good works and (AB)give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17 (AC)“Do not think that I have come to abolish (AD)the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but (AE)to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, (AF)until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 (AG)Therefore whoever relaxes (AH)one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least (AI)in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great (AJ)in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds (AK)that of the scribes and Pharisees, you (AL)will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Anger

21 (AM)“You have heard that it was said to those of old, (AN)‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable (AO)to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that (AP)everyone who is angry with his brother[c] will be liable (AQ)to judgment; whoever insults[d] his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to (AR)the hell[e] of fire. 23 (AS)So if (AT)you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 (AU)Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, (AV)you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.[f]

Lust

27 (AW)“You have heard that it was said, (AX)‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that (AY)everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 (AZ)If your right eye (BA)causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into (BB)hell. 30 (BC)And if your right hand (BD)causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into (BE)hell.

Divorce

31 (BF)“It was also said, (BG)‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 (BH)But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and (BI)whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Oaths

33 “Again (BJ)you have heard that it was said to those of old, (BK)‘You shall not swear falsely, but (BL)shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, (BM)Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for (BN)it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is (BO)the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; (BP)anything more than this comes from evil.[g]

Retaliation

38 (BQ)“You have heard that it was said, (BR)‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, (BS)Do not resist the one who is evil. But (BT)if anyone (BU)slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And (BV)if anyone would sue you and take your tunic,[h] let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone (BW)forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 (BX)Give to the one who begs from you, and (BY)do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

Love Your Enemies

43 (BZ)“You have heard that it was said, (CA)‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, (CB)Love your enemies and (CC)pray for those who persecute you, 45 (CD)so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and (CE)sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 (CF)For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers,[i] what more are you doing than others? Do not even (CG)the Gentiles do the same? 48 (CH)You therefore must be (CI)perfect, (CJ)as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Notas al pie

  1. Matthew 5:9 Greek huioi; see Preface
  2. Matthew 5:16 Or house. 16Let your light so shine before others that
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts insert without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
  5. Matthew 5:22 Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
  6. Matthew 5:26 Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day's wage for a laborer)
  7. Matthew 5:37 Or the evil one
  8. Matthew 5:40 Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
  9. Matthew 5:47 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters

Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount

Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them.

The Beatitudes(A)

He said:

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(B)
Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.(C)
Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.(D)
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.(E)
Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.(F)
Blessed are the pure in heart,(G)
    for they will see God.(H)
Blessed are the peacemakers,(I)
    for they will be called children of God.(J)
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,(K)
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.(L)

11 “Blessed are you when people insult you,(M) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(N) 12 Rejoice and be glad,(O) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.(P)

Salt and Light

13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.(Q)

14 “You are the light of the world.(R) A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.(S) 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others,(T) that they may see your good deeds(U) and glorify(V) your Father in heaven.

The Fulfillment of the Law

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.(W) 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.(X) 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands(Y) and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.(Z)

Murder(AA)

21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,[a](AB) and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry(AC) with a brother or sister[b][c] will be subject to judgment.(AD) Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’[d] is answerable to the court.(AE) And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.(AF)

23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Adultery

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’[e](AG) 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.(AH) 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble,(AI) gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble,(AJ) cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Divorce

31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’[f](AK) 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.(AL)

Oaths

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath,(AM) but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’(AN) 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all:(AO) either by heaven, for it is God’s throne;(AP) 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King.(AQ) 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’;(AR) anything beyond this comes from the evil one.[g](AS)

Eye for Eye

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’[h](AT) 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.(AU) 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.(AV)

Love for Enemies

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[i](AW) and hate your enemy.’(AX) 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,(AY) 45 that you may be children(AZ) of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.(BA) 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?(BB) Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.(BC)

Notas al pie

  1. Matthew 5:21 Exodus 20:13
  2. Matthew 5:22 The Greek word for brother or sister (adelphos) refers here to a fellow disciple, whether man or woman; also in verse 23.
  3. Matthew 5:22 Some manuscripts brother or sister without cause
  4. Matthew 5:22 An Aramaic term of contempt
  5. Matthew 5:27 Exodus 20:14
  6. Matthew 5:31 Deut. 24:1
  7. Matthew 5:37 Or from evil
  8. Matthew 5:38 Exodus 21:24; Lev. 24:20; Deut. 19:21
  9. Matthew 5:43 Lev. 19:18

Jerusalem Refused to Repent

(A)Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,
    look and take note!
Search her squares to see
    (B)if you can find a man,
one who does justice
    and seeks truth,
(C)that I may pardon her.
(D)Though they say, “As the Lord lives,”
    (E)yet they swear falsely.
O Lord, do not your eyes look for truth?
(F)You have struck them down,
    but they felt no anguish;
you have consumed them,
    but they refused to take correction.
(G)They have made their faces harder than rock;
    they have refused to repent.

Then I said, “These are only the poor;
    they have no sense;
(H)for they do not know the way of the Lord,
    the justice of their God.
I will go to the great
    and will speak to them,
for they know the way of the Lord,
    the justice of their God.”
(I)But they all alike had broken the yoke;
    they had burst the bonds.

Therefore (J)a lion from the forest shall strike them down;
    a (K)wolf from the desert shall devastate them.
(L)A leopard is watching their cities;
    everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces,
because their transgressions are many,
    their (M)apostasies are great.

(N)“How can I pardon you?
    Your children have forsaken me
    (O)and have sworn by those who are no gods.
(P)When I fed them to the full,
    (Q)they committed adultery
    (R)and trooped to the houses of whores.
They were well-fed, lusty stallions,
    (S)each neighing (T)for his neighbor's wife.
(U)Shall I not punish them for these things?
declares the Lord;
    and shall I not avenge myself
    on a nation such as this?

10 (V)“Go up through her vine rows and destroy,
    (W)but make not a full end;
strip away her branches,
    for they are not the Lord's.
11 (X)For the house of Israel and the house of Judah
    have been utterly treacherous to me,
declares the Lord.
12 They have spoken falsely of the Lord
    and have said, ‘He will do nothing;
(Y)no disaster will come upon us,
    (Z)nor shall we see sword or famine.
13 The prophets will become wind;
    the word is not in them.
Thus shall it be done to them!’”

The Lord Proclaims Judgment

14 Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of hosts:
“Because you have spoken this word,
behold, (AA)I am making my words in your mouth (AB)a fire,
    and this people wood, and the fire shall consume them.
15 (AC)Behold, I am bringing against you
    a nation from afar, O house of Israel,
declares the Lord.
It is an enduring nation;
    it is an ancient nation,
a nation whose language you do not know,
    (AD)nor can you understand what they say.
16 (AE)Their quiver is like (AF)an open tomb;
    they are all mighty warriors.
17 (AG)They shall eat up your harvest and your food;
    they shall eat up your sons and your daughters;
they shall eat up your flocks and your herds;
    they shall eat up your vines and your fig trees;
your (AH)fortified cities in which you trust
    they shall beat down with the sword.”

18 “But even in those days, declares the Lord, (AI)I will not make a full end of you. 19 And when your people say, (AJ)‘Why has the Lord our God done all these things to us?’ you shall say to them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods in your land, (AK)so you shall serve foreigners in a land that is not yours.’”

20 Declare this in the house of Jacob;
    proclaim it in Judah:
21 “Hear this, (AL)O foolish and senseless people,
    (AM)who have eyes, but see not,
    who have ears, but hear not.
22 (AN)Do you not fear me? declares the Lord.
    Do you not tremble before me?
I placed the sand (AO)as the boundary for the sea,
    a perpetual barrier that it cannot pass;
though the waves toss, they cannot prevail;
    though (AP)they roar, they cannot pass over it.
23 (AQ)But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart;
    they have turned aside and gone away.
24 They do not say in their hearts,
    ‘Let us fear the Lord our God,
(AR)who gives the rain in its season,
    the autumn rain and the spring rain,
and keeps for us
    (AS)the weeks appointed for the harvest.’
25 (AT)Your iniquities have turned these away,
    and your sins have kept good from you.
26 For wicked men are found among my people;
    (AU)they lurk like fowlers lying in wait.[a]
(AV)They set a trap;
    they catch men.
27 Like a cage full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;
therefore they have become great and rich;
28     (AW)they have grown fat and sleek.
They know no bounds in deeds of evil;
    (AX)they judge not with justice
the cause of the fatherless, to make it prosper,
    and they do not defend the rights of the needy.
29 (AY)Shall I not punish them for these things?
declares the Lord,
    and shall I not avenge myself
    on a nation such as this?”

30 An appalling and (AZ)horrible thing
    has happened in the land:
31 (BA)the prophets prophesy falsely,
    and the priests rule at their direction;
(BB)my people love to have it so,
    but what will you do when the end comes?

Impending Disaster for Jerusalem

Flee for safety, (BC)O people of Benjamin,
    from the midst of Jerusalem!
Blow the trumpet in (BD)Tekoa,
    and raise a signal on (BE)Beth-haccherem,
for disaster looms (BF)out of the north,
    and great destruction.
The lovely and delicately bred I will destroy,
    (BG)the daughter of Zion.[b]
(BH)Shepherds with their flocks shall come against her;
    (BI)they shall pitch their tents around her;
    they shall pasture, each in his place.
(BJ)“Prepare war against her;
    arise, and let us attack (BK)at noon!
Woe to us, for the day declines,
    for the shadows of evening lengthen!
Arise, and let us attack by night
    and destroy her palaces!”

For thus says the Lord of hosts:
(BL)“Cut down her trees;
    (BM)cast up a siege mound against Jerusalem.
This is the city that must be (BN)punished;
    there is nothing but oppression within her.
(BO)As a well keeps its water fresh,
    so she keeps fresh her evil;
(BP)violence and destruction are heard within her;
    sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Be warned, O Jerusalem,
    (BQ)lest I turn from you in disgust,
lest I make you (BR)a desolation,
    an uninhabited land.”

Thus says the Lord of hosts:
(BS)“They shall glean thoroughly as a vine
    the remnant of Israel;
like a grape gatherer pass your hand again
    over its branches.”
10 (BT)To whom shall I speak and give warning,
    that they may hear?
(BU)Behold, their ears are uncircumcised,
    (BV)they cannot listen;
behold, (BW)the word of the Lord is to them an object of scorn;
    they take no pleasure in it.
11 Therefore I am full of the wrath of the Lord;
    (BX)I am weary of holding it in.
(BY)“Pour it out upon the children in the street,
    and upon the gatherings of young men, also;
(BZ)both husband and wife (CA)shall be taken,
    the elderly and the very aged.
12 (CB)Their houses shall be turned over to others,
    their fields and wives together,
for I will stretch out my hand
    against the inhabitants of the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 (CC)“For from the least to the greatest of them,
    everyone (CD)is greedy for unjust gain;
and from (CE)prophet to priest,
    everyone deals falsely.
14 They have healed the wound of my people lightly,
    saying, (CF)‘Peace, peace,’
    (CG)when there is no peace.
15 (CH)Were they ashamed when they committed abomination?
    No, they were not at all ashamed;
    they did not know how to blush.
Therefore they shall fall among those who fall;
    (CI)at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,”
says the Lord.

16 Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
    and ask for (CJ)the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
    (CK)and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 (CL)I set watchmen over you, saying,
    ‘Pay attention to (CM)the sound of the trumpet!’
But they said, (CN)‘We will not pay attention.’
18 Therefore hear, O nations,
    and know, O congregation, what will happen to them.
19 Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing disaster upon this people,
    (CO)the fruit of their devices,
because they have not paid attention to my words;
    and as for my law, they have rejected it.
20 (CP)What use to me is (CQ)frankincense that comes from (CR)Sheba,
    or sweet cane from a distant land?
(CS)Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,
    nor your sacrifices pleasing to me.
21 Therefore thus says the Lord:
(CT)‘Behold, I will lay before this people
    stumbling blocks against which they shall stumble;
fathers and sons together,
    neighbor and friend shall perish.’”

22 Thus says the Lord:
(CU)“Behold, a people is coming (CV)from the north country,
    a great nation is stirring from (CW)the farthest parts of the earth.
23 They lay hold on bow and javelin;
    they are (CX)cruel and have no mercy;
    (CY)the sound of them is like the roaring sea;
they ride on horses,
    set in array as a man for battle,
    against you, O daughter of Zion!”
24 We have heard the report of it;
    (CZ)our hands fall helpless;
anguish has taken hold of us,
    (DA)pain as of a woman in labor.
25 Go not out into the field,
    nor walk on the road,
for the enemy has a sword;
    (DB)terror is on every side.
26 O daughter of my people, (DC)put on sackcloth,
    and (DD)roll in ashes;
(DE)make mourning as for an only son,
    most bitter lamentation,
for suddenly the destroyer
    will come upon us.

27 “I have made you (DF)a tester of metals among my people,
    that you may know and (DG)test their ways.
28 (DH)They are all stubbornly rebellious,
    (DI)going about with slanders;
they are (DJ)bronze and iron;
    all of them act corruptly.
29 The (DK)bellows blow fiercely;
    the lead is consumed by the fire;
(DL)in vain the refining goes on,
    for the wicked are not removed.
30 (DM)Rejected silver they are called,
    for the Lord has rejected them.”

Notas al pie

  1. Jeremiah 5:26 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
  2. Jeremiah 6:2 Or I have likened the daughter of Zion to the loveliest pasture

Not One Is Upright

“Go up and down(A) the streets of Jerusalem,
    look around and consider,(B)
    search through her squares.
If you can find but one person(C)
    who deals honestly(D) and seeks the truth,
    I will forgive(E) this city.
Although they say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’(F)
    still they are swearing falsely.(G)

Lord, do not your eyes(H) look for truth?
    You struck(I) them, but they felt no pain;
    you crushed them, but they refused correction.(J)
They made their faces harder than stone(K)
    and refused to repent.(L)
I thought, “These are only the poor;
    they are foolish,(M)
for they do not know(N) the way of the Lord,
    the requirements of their God.
So I will go to the leaders(O)
    and speak to them;
surely they know the way of the Lord,
    the requirements of their God.”
But with one accord they too had broken off the yoke
    and torn off the bonds.(P)
Therefore a lion from the forest(Q) will attack them,
    a wolf from the desert will ravage(R) them,
a leopard(S) will lie in wait near their towns
    to tear to pieces any who venture out,
for their rebellion is great
    and their backslidings many.(T)

“Why should I forgive you?
    Your children have forsaken me
    and sworn(U) by gods that are not gods.(V)
I supplied all their needs,
    yet they committed adultery(W)
    and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.(X)
They are well-fed, lusty stallions,
    each neighing for another man’s wife.(Y)
Should I not punish them for this?”(Z)
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(AA) myself
    on such a nation as this?

10 “Go through her vineyards and ravage them,
    but do not destroy them completely.(AB)
Strip off her branches,
    for these people do not belong to the Lord.
11 The people of Israel and the people of Judah
    have been utterly unfaithful(AC) to me,”
declares the Lord.

12 They have lied(AD) about the Lord;
    they said, “He will do nothing!
No harm will come to us;(AE)
    we will never see sword or famine.(AF)
13 The prophets(AG) are but wind(AH)
    and the word is not in them;
    so let what they say be done to them.”

14 Therefore this is what the Lord God Almighty says:

“Because the people have spoken these words,
    I will make my words in your mouth(AI) a fire(AJ)
    and these people the wood it consumes.(AK)
15 People of Israel,” declares the Lord,
    “I am bringing a distant nation(AL) against you—
an ancient and enduring nation,
    a people whose language(AM) you do not know,
    whose speech you do not understand.
16 Their quivers(AN) are like an open grave;
    all of them are mighty warriors.
17 They will devour(AO) your harvests and food,
    devour(AP) your sons and daughters;
they will devour(AQ) your flocks and herds,
    devour your vines and fig trees.(AR)
With the sword(AS) they will destroy
    the fortified cities(AT) in which you trust.(AU)

18 “Yet even in those days,” declares the Lord, “I will not destroy(AV) you completely. 19 And when the people ask,(AW) ‘Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?’ you will tell them, ‘As you have forsaken me and served foreign gods(AX) in your own land, so now you will serve foreigners(AY) in a land not your own.’

20 “Announce this to the descendants of Jacob
    and proclaim(AZ) it in Judah:
21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people,(BA)
    who have eyes(BB) but do not see,
    who have ears but do not hear:(BC)
22 Should you not fear(BD) me?” declares the Lord.
    “Should you not tremble(BE) in my presence?
I made the sand a boundary for the sea,(BF)
    an everlasting barrier it cannot cross.
The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail;
    they may roar,(BG) but they cannot cross it.
23 But these people have stubborn and rebellious(BH) hearts;
    they have turned aside(BI) and gone away.
24 They do not say to themselves,
    ‘Let us fear(BJ) the Lord our God,
who gives autumn and spring rains(BK) in season,
    who assures us of the regular weeks of harvest.’(BL)
25 Your wrongdoings have kept these away;
    your sins have deprived you of good.(BM)

26 “Among my people are the wicked(BN)
    who lie in wait(BO) like men who snare birds
    and like those who set traps(BP) to catch people.
27 Like cages full of birds,
    their houses are full of deceit;(BQ)
they have become rich(BR) and powerful
28     and have grown fat(BS) and sleek.
Their evil deeds have no limit;
    they do not seek justice.
They do not promote the case of the fatherless;(BT)
    they do not defend the just cause of the poor.(BU)
29 Should I not punish them for this?”
    declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(BV) myself
    on such a nation as this?

30 “A horrible(BW) and shocking thing
    has happened in the land:
31 The prophets prophesy lies,(BX)
    the priests(BY) rule by their own authority,
and my people love it this way.
    But what will you do in the end?(BZ)

Jerusalem Under Siege

“Flee for safety, people of Benjamin!
    Flee from Jerusalem!
Sound the trumpet(CA) in Tekoa!(CB)
    Raise the signal over Beth Hakkerem!(CC)
For disaster looms out of the north,(CD)
    even terrible destruction.
I will destroy Daughter Zion,(CE)
    so beautiful and delicate.(CF)
Shepherds(CG) with their flocks will come against her;
    they will pitch their tents around(CH) her,
    each tending his own portion.”

“Prepare for battle against her!
    Arise, let us attack at noon!(CI)
But, alas, the daylight is fading,
    and the shadows of evening grow long.
So arise, let us attack at night
    and destroy her fortresses!”

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Cut down the trees(CJ)
    and build siege ramps(CK) against Jerusalem.
This city must be punished;
    it is filled with oppression.(CL)
As a well pours out its water,
    so she pours out her wickedness.
Violence(CM) and destruction(CN) resound in her;
    her sickness and wounds are ever before me.
Take warning, Jerusalem,
    or I will turn away(CO) from you
and make your land desolate
    so no one can live in it.”

This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Let them glean the remnant(CP) of Israel
    as thoroughly as a vine;
pass your hand over the branches again,
    like one gathering grapes.”

10 To whom can I speak and give warning?
    Who will listen(CQ) to me?
Their ears are closed[a](CR)
    so they cannot hear.(CS)
The word(CT) of the Lord is offensive to them;
    they find no pleasure in it.
11 But I am full of the wrath(CU) of the Lord,
    and I cannot hold it in.(CV)

“Pour it out on the children in the street
    and on the young men(CW) gathered together;
both husband and wife will be caught in it,
    and the old, those weighed down with years.(CX)
12 Their houses will be turned over to others,(CY)
    together with their fields and their wives,(CZ)
when I stretch out my hand(DA)
    against those who live in the land,”
declares the Lord.
13 “From the least to the greatest,
    all(DB) are greedy for gain;(DC)
prophets and priests alike,
    all practice deceit.(DD)
14 They dress the wound of my people
    as though it were not serious.
‘Peace, peace,’ they say,
    when there is no peace.(DE)
15 Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct?
    No, they have no shame at all;
    they do not even know how to blush.(DF)
So they will fall among the fallen;
    they will be brought down when I punish(DG) them,”
says the Lord.

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Stand at the crossroads and look;
    ask for the ancient paths,(DH)
ask where the good way(DI) is, and walk in it,
    and you will find rest(DJ) for your souls.
    But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen(DK) over you and said,
    ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’(DL)
    But you said, ‘We will not listen.’(DM)
18 Therefore hear, you nations;
    you who are witnesses,
    observe what will happen to them.
19 Hear, you earth:(DN)
    I am bringing disaster(DO) on this people,
    the fruit of their schemes,(DP)
because they have not listened to my words(DQ)
    and have rejected my law.(DR)
20 What do I care about incense from Sheba(DS)
    or sweet calamus(DT) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;(DU)
    your sacrifices(DV) do not please me.”(DW)

21 Therefore this is what the Lord says:

“I will put obstacles before this people.
    Parents and children alike will stumble(DX) over them;
    neighbors and friends will perish.”

22 This is what the Lord says:

“Look, an army is coming
    from the land of the north;(DY)
a great nation is being stirred up
    from the ends of the earth.(DZ)
23 They are armed with bow and spear;
    they are cruel and show no mercy.(EA)
They sound like the roaring sea(EB)
    as they ride on their horses;(EC)
they come like men in battle formation
    to attack you, Daughter Zion.(ED)

24 We have heard reports about them,
    and our hands hang limp.(EE)
Anguish(EF) has gripped us,
    pain like that of a woman in labor.(EG)
25 Do not go out to the fields
    or walk on the roads,
for the enemy has a sword,
    and there is terror on every side.(EH)
26 Put on sackcloth,(EI) my people,
    and roll in ashes;(EJ)
mourn with bitter wailing(EK)
    as for an only son,(EL)
for suddenly the destroyer(EM)
    will come upon us.

27 “I have made you a tester(EN) of metals
    and my people the ore,
that you may observe
    and test their ways.
28 They are all hardened rebels,(EO)
    going about to slander.(EP)
They are bronze and iron;(EQ)
    they all act corruptly.
29 The bellows blow fiercely
    to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining(ER) goes on in vain;
    the wicked are not purged out.
30 They are called rejected silver,(ES)
    because the Lord has rejected them.”(ET)

Notas al pie

  1. Jeremiah 6:10 Hebrew uncircumcised

Job Laments His Birth

After this Job (A)opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. And Job said:

(B)“Let the day perish on which I was born,
    and the night that said,
    ‘A man is conceived.’
Let that day be darkness!
    May God above not seek it,
    nor light shine upon it.
Let gloom and (C)deep darkness claim it.
    Let clouds dwell upon it;
    let the blackness of the day terrify it.
That night—let thick darkness seize it!
    Let it not rejoice among the days of the year;
    let it not come into the number of the months.
Behold, let that night be barren;
    let no joyful cry enter it.
Let those curse it who curse the day,
    who are ready to rouse up (D)Leviathan.
Let the stars of its dawn be dark;
    let it hope for light, but have none,
    nor see (E)the eyelids of the morning,
10 because it did not shut the doors of my mother's womb,
    nor hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why (F)did I not die at birth,
    come out from the womb and expire?
12 Why did (G)the knees receive me?
    Or why the breasts, that I should nurse?
13 For then I would have lain down and been quiet;
    I would have slept; then I would have been at rest,
14 with kings and counselors of the earth
    who (H)rebuilt ruins for themselves,
15 or with princes who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.
16 Or why was I not as a hidden (I)stillborn child,
    as infants who never see the light?
17 There the wicked cease from troubling,
    and there the weary are at (J)rest.
18 There the prisoners are at ease together;
    they hear not the voice of (K)the taskmaster.
19 The small and the great are there,
    and the slave is free from his master.

20 “Why is light given to him who is in misery,
    and life to (L)the bitter in soul,
21 who (M)long for death, but it comes not,
    and dig for it more than for (N)hidden treasures,
22 who rejoice exceedingly
    and are glad when they find the grave?
23 Why is light given to a man whose (O)way is hidden,
    whom God has (P)hedged in?
24 For my sighing comes (Q)instead of[a] my bread,
    and my (R)groanings are poured out like water.
25 (S)For the thing that I fear comes upon me,
    and what I dread befalls me.
26 I am not at ease, nor am I quiet;
    I have no rest, but trouble comes.”

Notas al pie

  1. Job 3:24 Or like; Hebrew before

Job Speaks

After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth.(A) He said:

“May the day of my birth perish,
    and the night that said, ‘A boy is conceived!’(B)
That day—may it turn to darkness;
    may God above not care about it;
    may no light shine on it.
May gloom and utter darkness(C) claim it once more;
    may a cloud settle over it;
    may blackness overwhelm it.
That night—may thick darkness(D) seize it;
    may it not be included among the days of the year
    nor be entered in any of the months.
May that night be barren;
    may no shout of joy(E) be heard in it.
May those who curse days[a] curse that day,(F)
    those who are ready to rouse Leviathan.(G)
May its morning stars become dark;
    may it wait for daylight in vain
    and not see the first rays of dawn,(H)
10 for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me
    to hide trouble from my eyes.

11 “Why did I not perish at birth,
    and die as I came from the womb?(I)
12 Why were there knees to receive me(J)
    and breasts that I might be nursed?
13 For now I would be lying down(K) in peace;
    I would be asleep and at rest(L)
14 with kings and rulers of the earth,(M)
    who built for themselves places now lying in ruins,(N)
15 with princes(O) who had gold,
    who filled their houses with silver.(P)
16 Or why was I not hidden away in the ground like a stillborn child,(Q)
    like an infant who never saw the light of day?(R)
17 There the wicked cease from turmoil,(S)
    and there the weary are at rest.(T)
18 Captives(U) also enjoy their ease;
    they no longer hear the slave driver’s(V) shout.(W)
19 The small and the great are there,(X)
    and the slaves are freed from their owners.

20 “Why is light given to those in misery,
    and life to the bitter of soul,(Y)
21 to those who long for death that does not come,(Z)
    who search for it more than for hidden treasure,(AA)
22 who are filled with gladness
    and rejoice when they reach the grave?(AB)
23 Why is life given to a man
    whose way is hidden,(AC)
    whom God has hedged in?(AD)
24 For sighing(AE) has become my daily food;(AF)
    my groans(AG) pour out like water.(AH)
25 What I feared has come upon me;
    what I dreaded(AI) has happened to me.(AJ)
26 I have no peace,(AK) no quietness;
    I have no rest,(AL) but only turmoil.”(AM)

Notas al pie

  1. Job 3:8 Or curse the sea