Jeremiah 9:3-9
New International Version
3 “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.
4 “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)
5 Friend deceives friend,(G)
and no one speaks the truth.(H)
They have taught their tongues to lie;(I)
they weary themselves with sinning.
6 You[c] live in the midst of deception;(J)
in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”
declares the Lord.
7 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?
8 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)
9 Should I not punish them for this?”
declares the Lord.
“Should I not avenge(Q) myself
on such a nation as this?”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 9:3 Or lies; / they are not valiant for truth
- Jeremiah 9:4 Or a deceiving Jacob
- Jeremiah 9:6 That is, Jeremiah (the Hebrew is singular)
Jeremiah 9:3-9
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
3 They bend their tongues like bows;
they have grown strong in the land for falsehood and not for truth,
for they proceed from evil to evil,
and they do not know me, says the Lord.(A)
4 Beware of your neighbors,
and put no trust in any of your kin,
for all your kin are supplanters,
and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer.(B)
5 They all deceive their neighbors,
and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongues to speak lies;
they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent.[a](C)
6 Oppression upon oppression, deceit[b] upon deceit!
They refuse to know me, says the Lord.(D)
7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:
I will now refine and test them,
for what else can I do with the daughter of my people?(E)
8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow;
it speaks deceit through the mouth.
They all speak friendly words to their neighbors
but inwardly are planning to lay an ambush.(F)
9 Shall I not punish them for these things? says the Lord,
and shall I not bring retribution
on a nation such as this?(G)
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