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Jeremiah 4

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

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¹ If you return, [1] Israel — this is the LORD’s declaration — you will return to me, ⓗ if you remove your abhorrent idols ⓘ from my presence and do not waver,

² then you can swear, “As the LORD lives,” ⓙ in truth, ⓚ in justice, and in righteousness, ⓛ then the nations will be blessed [2] by him ⓜ and will pride themselves in him. ⓝ

³ For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up the unplowed ground; ⓐ do not sow among the thorns. ⓑ

⁴ Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, ⓒ men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. Otherwise, my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it ⓓ because of your evil deeds.

⁵ Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. ⓔ Cry out loudly and say: Assemble yourselves, and let’s flee to the fortified cities.

⁶ Lift up a signal flag toward Zion. ⓕ Run for cover! Don’t stand still! For I am bringing disaster from the north — a crushing blow. ⓖ

⁷ A lion has gone up from his thicket; ⓗ a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to make your land a waste. Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins. ⓘ

⁸ Because of this, put on sackcloth; mourn and wail, ⓙ for the LORD’s burning anger ⓚ has not turned away from us.

⁹ “On that day” — this is the LORD’s declaration — “the king and the officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be scared speechless.”

¹⁰ I said, “Oh no, Lord GOD, you have certainly deceived ⓛ this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’ ⓜ while a sword is at [3] our throats.”

¹¹ “At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A searing wind ⓝ blows from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to my dear [4] people. It comes not to winnow or to sift;

¹² a wind too strong for this comes at my call. [5] Now I will also pronounce judgments against them.’” ⓐ

¹³ Look, he advances like clouds; ⓑ his chariots are like a storm. ⓒ His horses are swifter than eagles. ⓓ Woe to us, for we are ruined! ⓔ

¹⁴ Wash the evil from your heart, ⓕ Jerusalem, so that you will be delivered. How long will you harbor malicious thoughts? ⓖ

¹⁵ For a voice announces from Dan, proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.

¹⁶ Warn the nations: Look! Proclaim to Jerusalem: Those who besiege are coming from a distant land; ⓗ they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.

¹⁷ They have her surrounded ⓘ like those who guard a field, because she has rebelled against me. ⓙ This is the LORD’s declaration.

¹⁸ Your way and your actions have brought this on you. ⓚ This is your punishment. It is very bitter, because it has reached your heart!

¹⁹ My anguish, my anguish! [6] I writhe in agony! Oh, the pain in [7] my heart! ⓛ My heart pounds; I cannot be silent. For you, my soul, have heard the sound of the ram’s horn — the shout of battle.

²⁰ Disaster after disaster ⓜ is reported because the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment.

²¹ How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the ram’s horn?

²² “For my people are fools; they do not know me. They are foolish children, without understanding. ⓝ They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good.” ⓐ

²³ I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty. ⓑ I looked to the heavens, and their light was gone. ⓒ

²⁴ I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; ⓓ all the hills shook.

²⁵ I looked, and there was no human being, ⓔ and all the birds of the sky had fled. ⓕ

²⁶ I looked, and the fertile field ⓖ was a wilderness. ⓗ All its cities were torn down because of the LORD and his burning anger. ⓘ

²⁷ For this is what the LORD says: The whole land will be a desolation, ⓙ but I will not finish it off. ⓚ

²⁸ Because of this, the earth will mourn; ⓛ the skies above will grow dark. ⓜ I have spoken; I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back from it. ⓝ

²⁹ Every city flees ⓐ at the sound of the horseman and the archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. ⓑ Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left.

³⁰ And you, devastated one, what are you doing ⓒ that you dress yourself in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, that you enhance your eyes with makeup? ⓓ You beautify yourself for nothing. Your lovers reject you; ⓔ they intend to take your life. ⓕ

³¹ I hear a cry like a woman in labor, ⓖ a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child. The cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands: ⓗ “Woe is me, for my life is weary because of the murderers!”

#	CSB
1	If you return, [1] Israel — this is the LORD’s declaration — you will return to me, ⓗ if you remove your abhorrent idols ⓘ from my presence and do not waver,
2	then you can swear, “As the LORD lives,” ⓙ in truth, ⓚ in justice, and in righteousness, ⓛ then the nations will be blessed [2] by him ⓜ and will pride themselves in him. ⓝ
3	For this is what the LORD says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up the unplowed ground; ⓐ do not sow among the thorns. ⓑ
4	Circumcise yourselves to the LORD; remove the foreskin of your hearts, ⓒ men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. Otherwise, my wrath will break out like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it ⓓ because of your evil deeds.
5	Declare in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. ⓔ Cry out loudly and say: Assemble yourselves, and let’s flee to the fortified cities.
6	Lift up a signal flag toward Zion. ⓕ Run for cover! Don’t stand still! For I am bringing disaster from the north — a crushing blow. ⓖ
7	A lion has gone up from his thicket; ⓗ a destroyer of nations has set out. He has left his lair to make your land a waste. Your cities will be reduced to uninhabited ruins. ⓘ
8	Because of this, put on sackcloth; mourn and wail, ⓙ for the LORD’s burning anger ⓚ has not turned away from us.
9	“On that day” — this is the LORD’s declaration — “the king and the officials will lose their courage. The priests will tremble in fear, and the prophets will be scared speechless.”
10	I said, “Oh no, Lord GOD, you have certainly deceived ⓛ this people and Jerusalem, by announcing, ‘You will have peace,’ ⓜ while a sword is at [3] our throats.”
11	“At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, ‘A searing wind ⓝ blows from the barren heights in the wilderness on the way to my dear [4] people. It comes not to winnow or to sift;
12	a wind too strong for this comes at my call. [5] Now I will also pronounce judgments against them.’” ⓐ
13	Look, he advances like clouds; ⓑ his chariots are like a storm. ⓒ His horses are swifter than eagles. ⓓ Woe to us, for we are ruined! ⓔ
14	Wash the evil from your heart, ⓕ Jerusalem, so that you will be delivered. How long will you harbor malicious thoughts? ⓖ
15	For a voice announces from Dan, proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.
16	Warn the nations: Look! Proclaim to Jerusalem: Those who besiege are coming from a distant land; ⓗ they raise their voices against the cities of Judah.
17	They have her surrounded ⓘ like those who guard a field, because she has rebelled against me. ⓙ This is the LORD’s declaration.
18	Your way and your actions have brought this on you. ⓚ This is your punishment. It is very bitter, because it has reached your heart!
19	My anguish, my anguish! [6] I writhe in agony! Oh, the pain in [7] my heart! ⓛ My heart pounds; I cannot be silent. For you, my soul, have heard the sound of the ram’s horn — the shout of battle.
20	Disaster after disaster ⓜ is reported because the whole land is destroyed. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, my tent curtains, in a moment.
21	How long must I see the signal flag and hear the sound of the ram’s horn?
22	“For my people are fools; they do not know me. They are foolish children, without understanding. ⓝ They are skilled in doing what is evil, but they do not know how to do what is good.” ⓐ
23	I looked at the earth, and it was formless and empty. ⓑ I looked to the heavens, and their light was gone. ⓒ
24	I looked at the mountains, and they were quaking; ⓓ all the hills shook.
25	I looked, and there was no human being, ⓔ and all the birds of the sky had fled. ⓕ
26	I looked, and the fertile field ⓖ was a wilderness. ⓗ All its cities were torn down because of the LORD and his burning anger. ⓘ
27	For this is what the LORD says: The whole land will be a desolation, ⓙ but I will not finish it off. ⓚ
28	Because of this, the earth will mourn; ⓛ the skies above will grow dark. ⓜ I have spoken; I have planned, and I will not relent or turn back from it. ⓝ
29	Every city flees ⓐ at the sound of the horseman and the archer. They enter the thickets and climb among the rocks. ⓑ Every city is abandoned; no inhabitant is left.
30	And you, devastated one, what are you doing ⓒ that you dress yourself in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with gold jewelry, that you enhance your eyes with makeup? ⓓ You beautify yourself for nothing. Your lovers reject you; ⓔ they intend to take your life. ⓕ
31	I hear a cry like a woman in labor, ⓖ a cry of anguish like one bearing her first child. The cry of Daughter Zion gasping for breath, stretching out her hands: ⓗ “Woe is me, for my life is weary because of the murderers!”

Footnotes & Cross-References

Footnotes

^{Jeremiah 4:7 [8]} Or Wisdom is supreme; therefore get

^{Jeremiah 4:7 [9]} Or wisdom. / Whatever else you get

^{Jeremiah 4:26 [10]} Or Make level

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