Jeremiah 4read and compare multiple versions of the Bible
World English Bible
Jeremiah 4 (WEBP)
[1] “If you will return, Israel,” says Yahweh, “if you will return to me, and if you will put away your abominations out of my sight; then you will not be removed;
[2] and you will swear, ‘As Yahweh lives,’ in truth, in justice, and in righteousness. The nations will bless themselves in him, and they will glory in him.”
[3] For Yahweh says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, “Break up your fallow ground, and don’t sow among thorns.
[4] Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh, and take away the foreskins of your heart, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
[5] Declare in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, ‘Blow the trumpet in the land!’ Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves! Let’s go into the fortified cities!’
[6] Set up a standard toward Zion. Flee for safety! Don’t wait; for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.”
[7] A lion has gone up from his thicket, and a destroyer of nations. He is on his way. He has gone out from his place, to make your land desolate, that your cities be laid waste, without inhabitant.
[8] For this, clothe yourself with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the fierce anger of Yahweh hasn’t turned back from us.
[9] “It will happen at that day,” says Yahweh, “that the heart of the king will perish, along with the heart of the princes. The priests will be astonished, and the prophets will wonder.”
[10] Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Surely you have greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, ‘You will have peace;’ whereas the sword reaches to the heart.”
[11] At that time it will be said to this people and to Jerusalem, “A hot wind blows from the bare heights in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to winnow, nor to cleanse.
[12] A full wind from these will come for me. Now I will also utter judgments against them.”
[13] Behold, he will come up as clouds, and his chariots will be as the whirlwind. His horses are swifter than eagles. Woe to us! For we are ruined.
[14] Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long will your evil thoughts lodge within you?
[15] For a voice declares from Dan, and publishes evil from the hills of Ephraim:
[16] “Tell the nations, behold, publish against Jerusalem, ‘Watchers come from a far country, and raise their voice against the cities of Judah.
[17] As keepers of a field, they are against her all around, because she has been rebellious against me,’ ” says Yahweh.
[18] “Your way and your doings have brought these things to you. This is your wickedness, for it is bitter, for it reaches to your heart.”
[19] My anguish, my anguish! I am pained at my very heart! My heart trembles within me. I can’t hold my peace, because you have heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
[20] Destruction on destruction is decreed, for the whole land is laid waste. Suddenly my tents are destroyed, and my curtains gone in a moment.
[21] How long will I see the standard and hear the sound of the trumpet?
[22] “For my people are foolish. They don’t know me. They are foolish children, and they have no understanding. They are skillful in doing evil, but they don’t know how to do good.”
[23] I saw the earth and, behold, it was waste and void, and the heavens, and they had no light.
[24] I saw the mountains, and behold, they trembled, and all the hills moved back and forth.
[25] I saw, and behold, there was no man, and all the birds of the sky had fled.
[26] I saw, and behold, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of Yahweh, before his fierce anger.
[27] For Yahweh says, “The whole land will be a desolation; yet I will not make a full end.
[28] For this the earth will mourn, and the heavens above be black, because I have spoken it. I have planned it, and I have not repented, neither will I turn back from it.”
[29] Every city flees for the noise of the horsemen and archers. They go into the thickets and climb up on the rocks. Every city is forsaken, and not a man dwells therein.
[30] You, when you are made desolate, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with scarlet, though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, though you enlarge your eyes with makeup, you make yourself beautiful in vain. Your lovers despise you. They seek your life.
[31] For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, the anguish as of her who gives birth to her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, who gasps for breath, who spreads her hands, saying, “Woe is me now! For my soul faints before the murderers.”
Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.
King James w/Strong’s #s
Jeremiah 4 (KJVS)
[1] If thou wilt return H7725 (8799), O Israel H3478, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, return H7725 (8799) unto me: and if thou wilt put away H5493 (8686) thine abominations H8251 out of my sight H6440, then shalt thou not remove H5110 (8799).
[2] And thou shalt swear H7650 (8738), The LORD H3068 liveth H2416, in truth H571, in judgment H4941, and in righteousness H6666; and the nations H1471 shall bless H1288 (8694) themselves in him, and in him shall they glory H1984 (8691).
[3] For thus saith H559 (8804) the LORD H3068 to the men H376 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389, Break up H5214 (8798) your fallow ground H5215, and sow H2232 (8799) not among thorns H6975.
[4] Circumcise H4135 (8734) yourselves to the LORD H3068, and take away H5493 (8685) the foreskins H6190 of your heart H3824, ye men H376 of Judah H3063 and inhabitants H3427 (8802) of Jerusalem H3389: lest my fury H2534 come forth H3318 (8799) like fire H784, and burn H1197 (8804) that none can quench H3518 (8764) [it], because H6440 of the evil H7455 of your doings H4611.
[5] Declare H5046 (8685) ye in Judah H3063, and publish H8085 (8685) in Jerusalem H3389; and say H559 (8798), Blow H8628 (8798) ye the trumpet H7782 in the land H776: cry H7121 (8798), gather together H4390 (8761), and say H559 (8798), Assemble H622 (8734) yourselves, and let us go H935 (8799) into the defenced H4013 cities H5892.
[6] Set up H5375 (8798) the standard H5251 toward Zion H6726: retire H5756 (8685), stay H5975 (8799) not: for I will bring H935 (8688) evil H7451 from the north H6828, and a great H1419 destruction H7667.
[7] The lion H738 is come up H5927 (8804) from his thicket H5441, and the destroyer H7843 (8688) of the Gentiles H1471 is on his way H5265 (8804); he is gone forth H3318 (8804) from his place H4725 to make H7760 (8800) thy land H776 desolate H8047; [and] thy cities H5892 shall be laid waste H5327 (8799), without an inhabitant H3427 (8802).
[8] For this gird H2296 (8798) you with sackcloth H8242, lament H5594 (8798) and howl H3213 (8685): for the fierce H2740 anger H639 of the LORD H3068 is not turned back H7725 (8804) from us.
[9] And it shall come to pass at that day H3117, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068, [that] the heart H3820 of the king H4428 shall perish H6 (8799), and the heart H3820 of the princes H8269; and the priests H3548 shall be astonished H8074 (8738), and the prophets H5030 shall wonder H8539 (8799).
[10] Then said H559 (8799) I, Ah H162, Lord H136 GOD H3069! surely H403 thou hast greatly H5377 (8687) deceived H5377 (8689) this people H5971 and Jerusalem H3389, saying H559 (8800), Ye shall have peace H7965; whereas the sword H2719 reacheth H5060 (8804) unto the soul H5315.
[11] At that time H6256 shall it be said H559 (8735) to this people H5971 and to Jerusalem H3389, A dry H6703 wind H7307 of the high places H8205 in the wilderness H4057 toward H1870 the daughter H1323 of my people H5971, not to fan H2219 (8800), nor to cleanse H1305 (8687),
[12] [Even] a full H4392 wind H7307 from those [places] shall come H935 (8799) unto me: now also will I give H1696 (8762) sentence H4941 against them.
[13] Behold, he shall come up H5927 (8799) as clouds H6051, and his chariots H4818 [shall be] as a whirlwind H5492: his horses H5483 are swifter H7043 (8804) than eagles H5404. Woe H188 unto us! for we are spoiled H7703 (8795).
[14] O Jerusalem H3389, wash H3526 (8761) thine heart H3820 from wickedness H7451, that thou mayest be saved H3467 (8735). How long shall thy vain H205 thoughts H4284 lodge H3885 (8686) within H7130 thee?
[15] For a voice H6963 declareth H5046 (8688) from Dan H1835, and publisheth H8085 (8688) affliction H205 from mount H2022 Ephraim H669.
[16] Make ye mention H2142 (8685) to the nations H1471; behold, publish H8085 (8685) against Jerusalem H3389, [that] watchers H5341 (8802) come H935 (8802) from a far H4801 country H776, and give out H5414 (8799) their voice H6963 against the cities H5892 of Judah H3063.
[17] As keepers H8104 (8802) of a field H7704, are they against her round about H5439; because she hath been rebellious H4784 (8804) against me, saith H5002 (8803) the LORD H3068.
[18] Thy way H1870 and thy doings H4611 have procured H6213 (8804) these [things] unto thee; this [is] thy wickedness H7451, because it is bitter H4751, because it reacheth H5060 (8804) unto thine heart H3820.
[19] My bowels H4578, my bowels H4578! I am pained H2342 (8799) (8675) H3176 (8686) at my very H7023 heart H3820; my heart H3820 maketh a noise H1993 (8802) in me; I cannot hold my peace H2790 (8686), because thou hast heard H8085 (8804), O my soul H5315, the sound H6963 of the trumpet H7782, the alarm H8643 of war H4421.
[20] Destruction H7667 upon destruction H7667 is cried H7121 (8738); for the whole land H776 is spoiled H7703 (8795): suddenly H6597 are my tents H168 spoiled H7703 (8795), [and] my curtains H3407 in a moment H7281.
[21] How long shall I see H7200 (8799) the standard H5251, [and] hear H8085 (8799) the sound H6963 of the trumpet H7782?
[22] For my people H5971 [is] foolish H191, they have not known H3045 (8804) me; they [are] sottish H5530 children H1121, and they have none understanding H995 (8737): they [are] wise H2450 to do evil H7489 (8687), but to do good H3190 (8687) they have no knowledge H3045 (8804).
[23] I beheld H7200 (8804) the earth H776, and, lo, [it was] without form H8414, and void H922; and the heavens H8064, and they [had] no light H216.
[24] I beheld H7200 (8804) the mountains H2022, and, lo, they trembled H7493 (8801), and all the hills H1389 moved lightly H7043 (8701).
[25] I beheld H7200 (8804), and, lo, [there was] no man H120, and all the birds H5775 of the heavens H8064 were fled H5074 (8804).
[26] I beheld H7200 (8804), and, lo, the fruitful place H3759 [was] a wilderness H4057, and all the cities H5892 thereof were broken down H5422 (8738) at the presence H6440 of the LORD H3068, [and] by his fierce H2740 anger H639.
[27] For thus hath the LORD H3068 said H559 (8804), The whole land H776 shall be desolate H8077; yet will I not make H6213 (8799) a full end H3617.
[28] For this shall the earth H776 mourn H56 (8799), and the heavens H8064 above H4605 be black H6937 (8804): because I have spoken H1696 (8765) [it], I have purposed H2161 (8804) [it], and will not repent H5162 (8738), neither will I turn back H7725 (8799) from it.
[29] The whole city H5892 shall flee H1272 (8802) for the noise H6963 of the horsemen H6571 and bowmen H7198 H7411 (8802); they shall go H935 (8804) into thickets H5645, and climb up H5927 (8804) upon the rocks H3710: every city H5892 [shall be] forsaken H5800 (8803), and not a man H376 dwell H3427 (8802) therein H2004.
[30] And [when] thou [art] spoiled H7703 (8803), what wilt thou do H6213 (8799)? Though thou clothest H3847 (8799) thyself with crimson H8144, though thou deckest H5710 (8799) thee with ornaments H5716 of gold H2091, though thou rentest H7167 (8799) thy face H5869 with painting H6320, in vain H7723 shalt thou make thyself fair H3302 (8691); [thy] lovers H5689 (8802) will despise H3988 (8804) thee, they will seek H1245 (8762) thy life H5315.
[31] For I have heard H8085 (8804) a voice H6963 as of a woman in travail H2470 (8802), [and] the anguish H6869 as of her that bringeth forth her first child H1069 (8688), the voice H6963 of the daughter H1323 of Zion H6726, [that] bewaileth H3306 (8691) herself, [that] spreadeth H6566 (8762) her hands H3709, [saying], Woe H188 [is] me now! for my soul H5315 is wearied H5888 (8804) because of murderers H2026 (8802).
Young’s Literal Translation
Jeremiah 4 (YLT)
[1] If thou dost turn back, O Israel, An affirmation of Jehovah, unto Me turn back, And if thou dost turn aside Thine abominations from My face, Then thou dost not bemoan.
[2] And thou hast sworn-Jehovah liveth, In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, And blessed themselves in Him have nations, And in Him they boast themselves.
[3] For thus said Jehovah, To the man of Judah, and to Jerusalem: Till for yourselves tillage, And do not sow unto the thorns.
[4] Be circumcised to Jehovah, And turn aside the foreskins of your heart, O man of Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, Lest My fury go out as fire, and hath burned, And there is none quenching, Because of the evil of your doings.
[5] Declare in Judah, and in Jerusalem sound, And say ye, ‘Blow a trumpet in the land,’ Call ye fully, and say ye: ‘Be gathered, and we go in to the fenced city.’
[6] Lift up an ensign Zionward, Strengthen yourselves, stand not still, For evil I am bringing in from the north, And a great destruction.
[7] Gone up hath a lion from his thicket, And a destroyer of nations hath journeyed, He hath come forth from his place To make thy land become a desolation, Thy cities are laid waste, without inhabitant.
[8] For this, gird on sackcloth, lament and howl, For the fierce anger of Jehovah hath not turned back from us.
[9] And it hath come to pass, in that day, An affirmation of Jehovah: ‘Perish doth the heart of the king, And the heart of the princes, And astonished have been the priests, And the prophets do wonder.’
[10] And I say, ‘Ah, Lord Jehovah, Surely thou hast entirely forgotten this people and Jerusalem, saying, Peace is for you, And struck hath a sword unto the soul!’
[11] At that time it is said of this people, And of Jerusalem: ‘A dry wind of high places in the wilderness,’ The way of the daughter of My people, (Not for winnowing, nor for cleansing,)
[12] A full wind from these doth come for Me, Now, also, I speak judgments with them.
[13] Lo, as clouds he cometh up, And as a hurricane his chariots, Lighter than eagles have been his horses, Woe to us, for we have been spoiled.
[14] Wash from evil thy heart, O Jerusalem, That thou mayest be saved, Till when dost thou lodge in thy heart Thoughts of thy strength?
[15] For a voice is declaring from Dan, And sounding sorrow from mount Ephraim.
[16] Make ye mention to the nations, Lo, sound ye to Jerusalem: ‘Besiegers are coming from the land afar off, And they give forth against cities of Judah their voice.
[17] As the keepers of a field They have been against her round about, For with Me she hath been rebellious, An affirmation of Jehovah.’
[18] Thy way and thy doings have done these to thee, This is thy vexation, for it is bitter, For it hath struck unto thy heart.
[19] My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at the walls of my heart, Make a noise for me doth My heart, I am not silent, For the voice of a trumpet I have heard, O my soul-a shout of battle!
[20] Destruction on destruction is proclaimed, For spoiled hath been all the land, Suddenly spoiled have been my tents, In a moment-my curtains.
[21] Till when do I see an ensign? Do I hear the voice of a trumpet?
[22] For my people are foolish, me they have not known, Foolish sons are they, yea, they are not intelligent, Wise are they to do evil, And to do good they have not known.
[23] I looked to the land, and lo, waste and void, And unto the heavens, and their light is not.
[24] I have looked to the mountains, And lo, they are trembling. And all the hills moved themselves lightly.
[25] I have looked, and lo, man is not, And all fowls of the heavens have fled.
[26] I have looked, and lo, The fruitful place is a wilderness, And all its cities have been broken down, Because of Jehovah, Because of the fierceness of His anger.
[27] For thus said Jehovah: All the land is a desolation, but a completion I make not.
[28] For this doth the land mourn, And black have been the heavens above, because I have spoken-I have purposed, And I have not repented, Nor do I turn back from it.
[29] From the voice of the horseman, And of him shooting with the bow, all the city is fleeing, They have come into thickets, And on cliffs they have gone up, All the city is forsaken, And there is no one dwelling in them.
[30] And thou, O spoiled one, what dost thou? For thou puttest on scarlet, For thou adornest thyself with ornaments of gold. For thou rendest with pain thine eyes, In vain thou dost make thyself fair, Kicked against thee have doting ones, Thy life they do seek.
[31] For a voice as of a sick woman I have heard, Distress, as of one bringing forth a first-born, The voice of the daughter of Zion, She bewaileth herself, she spreadeth out her hands, ‘Woe to me now, for weary is my soul of slayers!’