For this is what the Lord says: “Do not enter a house where there is a funeral meal; do not go to mourn or show sympathy, because I have withdrawn my blessing, my love and my pity(A) from this people,” declares the Lord. “Both high and low will die in this land.(B) They will not be buried or mourned,(C) and no one will cut(D) themselves or shave(E) their head for the dead. No one will offer food(F) to comfort those who mourn(G) for the dead—not even for a father or a mother—nor will anyone give them a drink to console(H) them.

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For this is what the Lord says: “Don’t go to a house where there is mourning, don’t go to lament, nor to express sorrow to them. For I’ve taken my peace away from this people,” declares the Lord, “as well as gracious love and compassion. Both the most and the least important people[a] will die in this land, and they won’t be buried. People won’t mourn for them. They won’t cut themselves,[b] nor will they shave their heads for them.[c] They won’t break bread[d] for the mourner to be consoled for the dead. They won’t give anyone the cup of consolation to drink for his father or[e] mother.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 16:6 Lit. great and small; i.e. adults and children
  2. Jeremiah 16:6 A Canaanite mourning practice forbidden by Deut. 14:1
  3. Jeremiah 16:6 A common mourning practice in the ancient world
  4. Jeremiah 16:7 The Heb. lacks bread
  5. Jeremiah 16:7 The Heb. lacks father or