Old/New Testament
The Call of Jeremiah
1 The words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah, one of the kohanim who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. 2 The word of Adonai came to him during the days of King Josiah of Judah, son of Amon, in the thirteenth year of his reign. 3 It continued during the days of King Jehoiakim of Judah, son of Josiah, until the end of the eleventh year of King Zedekiah of Judah, son of Josiah—until the exile from Jerusalem in the fifth month.
4 The word of Adonai came to me, saying:
5 “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you,
and before you were born, I set you apart—
I appointed you prophet to the nations.”
6 Then I said, “Alas, Adonai Elohim!
Look, I don’t know how to speak!
For I’m still a boy!”
7 But Adonai answered me,
“Do not say ‘I’m only a boy!’
For to everyone I send you, you will go,
and all I command you, you will speak.
8 Do not be afraid of them!
For I am with you to deliver you.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
9 Then Adonai stretched out His hand and touched my mouth and Adonai said to me,
“Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.
10 See, today I have appointed you over nations and over kingdoms:
to uproot and to tear down,
to destroy and to overthrow,
to build and to plant.”
11 Moreover, the word of Adonai came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?”
I answered, “I see an almond branch.”
12 Then Adonai said to me, “You have seen correctly, for I am watching over[a] My word to perform it.”
13 The word of Adonai came to me a second time, saying, “What do you see?”
I replied, “I see a boiling pot that is tilting away from the north.”
14 Then Adonai said to me:
“From the north, disaster will be poured out
on all the inhabitants of the land.
15 Behold! I am calling all the families
of the kingdoms of the north.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
“So they will come and each will set up his throne
at the entry of the gates of Jerusalem,
against all her surrounding walls
and against all the cities of Judah.
16 I will pronounce My judgments on them for all their wickedness—
they have forsaken Me,
offering incense to other gods,
worshipping the works of their hands.
17 Now, you, gird up your loins!
Get up and tell them everything that I order you!
Do not be terrified by them,
or else I will terrify you before them.
18 Look, today I have set you up
as a fortified city—
an iron pillar and bronze walls—
against the whole land,
against the kings of Judah, its princes
against its kohanim,
and against the people of the land.
19 Though they will fight against you,
they will not win,
for I am with you, to deliver you.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
Judah Rebuked for Her Sins
2 Again the word of Adonai came to me, saying: 2 “Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, thus says Adonai:
I remember the devotion of your youth,
your love as a bride,
and the way you followed Me in the wilderness,
in a land not sown.
3 Israel was kadosh to Adonai,
the firstfruits of the harvest.[b]
All who devoured him were held guilty.
Catastrophe overtook them.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
4 Hear the word of Adonai, O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel. 5 Thus says Adonai:
“What fault did your fathers find in Me
that they strayed so far from Me?
They walked after worthless things,
becoming worthless themselves?[c]
6 They did not ask ‘Where is Adonai,
who brought us up from the land of Egypt
and led us through the wilderness,
through a land of deserts and rifts,
through a land of drought and distress,
through a land where no one travels,
where no one lives?’
7 Yet I brought you into a fertile land,
to eat of its fruit and goodness.
When you came, you defiled My land.
You made My heritage an abomination.
8 The kohanim did not ask,
‘Where is Adonai?’
The Torah experts did not know Me.
The shepherds rebelled against Me.
The prophets prophesied by Baal
and went after unprofitable things.
9 Therefore I will plead with you again!”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
“I will contend with your children’s children.
10 Cross to the coasts of Kittim[d] and see!
Send to Kedar, and observe carefully.
See if there has been anything like this.
11 Has a nation changed its gods—
even though they are not gods?
Yet My people have exchanged their glory
for worthless things.
12 Be appalled at this, O heavens!
Be utterly horrified and dumbfounded.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
13 “My people have committed two evils:
They have forsaken Me
—the spring of living water—
and they dug their own cisterns—
cracked cisterns that hold no water.
14 Is Israel a servant—a slave by birth?
Then why has he become plunder?
15 Young lions have roared at him
they have roared loudly.
They made his land a waste—
his cities are in ruins and uninhabited.
16 Even the sons of Noph and Tahpanhes
have grazed on the crown of your head.
17 Have you not brought this on yourself,
when He led you in the way?
18 But now, what is on the road to Egypt?
Drinking the waters of the Nile?
Or what is on the road to Assyria?
Drinking the waters of the Euphrates?
19 Your own wickedness will rebuke you
and your backslidings will chide you.
Know then and see
how bad and bitter it is for you
to forsake Adonai your God.
Nor is fear of Me in you.”
It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai-Tzva’ot.
20 “Indeed, long ago I broke your yoke
and tore off your bonds.
You said, ‘I will not serve!’
Instead, on every high hill
and under every green tree
you sprawled out as a prostitute.
21 Yet I had planted you as a choice vine
from completely faithful seed.
How then did you become to Me
a wandering wild vine?
22 Even though you wash with lye
and use an abundance of soap,
the stain of your iniquity is before Me.”
It is a declaration of the Lord Adonai.
23 “How can you say, ‘I am not defiled—
I have not gone after the Baalim[e]?
Look at your behavior in the Valley!
Recognize what you have done.
You are a swift young camel
galloping aimlessly,
24 a wild donkey used to the wilderness—
sniffing the wind in her passion—
in her heat, who can restrain her?
All males that pursue her will not tire themselves.
At mating time they will find her.
25 Do not run while your feet are bare
and your throat is thirsty.
But you said ‘There is no hope!
No! For I have loved foreign gods
and I will go after them.’
26 As a thief is shamed when caught,
so the house of Israel is shamed—
they, their kings, their princes,
their kohanim and their prophets.
27 They say to wood, ‘You are my father’
and to a stone, ‘You birthed me.’
They have turned their back to Me
and not their face.
Yet when they are in trouble
they say, ‘Rise up and save us!’
28 Where are your gods that you made for yourself?
Let them come—if they can save you
when you are in trouble!
For you have as many gods
as you have cities, O Judah.
29 Why do you strive with Me?
You have all rebelled against Me.”
It is a declaration of Adonai.
30 “In vain I struck your children.
They took no correction.
Your sword devoured your prophets
like a ravaging lion.”
31 You, generation, heed Adonai’s word!
“Have I been a wilderness to Israel
or a land of thick darkness?
Why do My people say, ‘We are free to roam.
We won’t come to You any more’?
32 Can a virgin forget her ornaments,
or a bride her attire?
Yet My people have forgotten Me,
days without number.
33 How clever are your ways of seeking love.
Therefore you even taught wicked women your ways.
34 Moreover on your skirts is found
the blood of the innocent poor
—you did not find them breaking in.
Yet in spite of all these things,
35 you say, ‘I am innocent—
surely His anger is turned away from me?’
See, I will pass judgment on you,
since you say: ‘I haven’t sinned!’
36 Why do you make light of
changing your way?
You will be put to shame by Egypt
as you were put to shame by Assyria.
37 You will also go out from there
with your hands on your head.
For Adonai has rejected those in whom you trust—
you will not prosper by them.”
Qualifications for Oversight and Service
3 Trustworthy is the saying: “If any man aspires to the office of overseer,[a] he desires a good work.” 2 An overseer, then, must be beyond criticism—the husband of one wife, clear-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine, not violent but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money, 4 managing his own household well, keeping his children under control with all respectfulness. 5 (But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s community?) 6 He must not be a new believer,[b] or he may become puffed up and fall into the same judgment as the devil. 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with those outside, so that he will not fall into disgrace and the devil’s trap.
8 Servant-leaders likewise must be dignified, not double-speaking, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. 9 They must keep hold of the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 Also let them first be tested—then let those who are blameless serve as servant-leaders. 11 Women likewise must be dignified, not backbiting; clear-minded, trustworthy in every respect. 12 Let servant-leaders be husbands of one wife, managing their children and their own households well. 13 For those who have served well as servant-leaders gain for themselves a good standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Messiah Yeshua.
14 These things I write to you, hoping to come to you shortly. 15 But if I delay, I write so you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God—which is the community of the living God, a pillar and foundation of truth. 16 Now beyond question, great is the mystery of godliness:
He was revealed in the flesh,
Vindicated in the Spirit,
Seen by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Trusted throughout the world,
Taken up in glory.
Tree of Life (TLV) Translation of the Bible. Copyright © 2015 by The Messianic Jewish Family Bible Society.