Book of Jeremiah, Chapter 4
Chapter 4 of Jeremiah
says the LORD,
to me you should return.
If you remove your abominations from my presence,
and do not waver,
in truth, in justice, and in uprightness,
then nations shall bless themselves in him,
and in him shall they glory.”
¶ “Break up your fallow ground,
and sow not among thorns.
remove the foreskin of your hearts,
O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem;
lest my wrath go forth like fire,
and burn with none to quench it,
because of the evil of your doings.”
¶ “Blow the trumpet through the land;
cry aloud and say,
‘Assemble, and let us go
into the fortified cities!’
flee for safety, stay not,
for I bring evil from the north,
and great destruction.
a destroyer of nations has set out;
he has gone forth from his place
to make your land a waste;
your cities will be ruins
without inhabitant.
lament and wail;
for the fierce anger of the LORD
has not turned back from us.”
his chariots like the whirlwind;
his horses are swifter than eagles—
woe to us, for we are ruined!
that you may be saved.
How long shall your evil thoughts
lodge within you?
and proclaims evil from Mount E′phraim.
announce to Jerusalem,
“Besiegers come from a distant land;
they shout against the cities of Judah.
because she has rebelled against me,
says the LORD.
have brought this upon you.
This is your doom, and it is bitter;
it has reached your very heart.”
Oh, the walls of my heart!
My heart is beating wildly;
I cannot keep silent;
for I hear the sound of the trumpet,
the alarm of war.
the whole land is laid waste.
Suddenly my tents are destroyed,
my curtains in a moment.
and hear the sound of the trumpet?
they know me not;
they are stupid children,
they have no understanding.
They are skilled in doing evil,
but how to do good they know not.”
and to the heavens, and they had no light.
and all the hills moved to and fro.
and all the birds of the air had fled.
and all its cities were laid in ruins
before the LORD, before his fierce anger.
and the heavens above be black;
for I have spoken, I have purposed;
I have not relented nor will I turn back.”
every city takes to flight;
they enter thickets; they climb among rocks;
all the cities are forsaken,
and no man dwells in them.
what do you mean that you dress in scarlet,
that you deck yourself with ornaments of gold,
that you enlarge your eyes with paint?
In vain you beautify yourself.
Your lovers despise you;
they seek your life.
anguish as of one bringing forth her first child,
the cry of the daughter of Zion gasping for breath,
stretching out her hands,
“Woe is me! I am fainting before murderers.”Read Jeremiah Chapter 4 in other Bible versions:
