‏ Jeremiah 4

CHAPTER 4

The LORD Calls Israel to Return

1If Israel should return, says the lord, to me, he shall be returned. And if he should remove   his abominations from   his mouth, and [²from   ³in front ⁴of me ¹should show reverence], 2and should swear by an oath, The lord lives, with truth, in equity and in righteousness; then they shall bless [²by ³him ¹nations]. And by him they shall give praise to  God in Jerusalem. 3For thus says the lord  to the men of Judah, and to the ones dwelling in Jerusalem, Plow to yourselves fields prepared for plowing! and you should not sow among thorn-bushes. 4Circumcise yourselves to  your God, and circumcise the hardness of your heart, O men of Judah, and O ones dwelling in Jerusalem! lest [²should go forth ³as ⁴fire   ¹my rage], and shall be kindled, and there will not be   one extinguishing from in front of the wickednesses of your practices.

The Coming Destruction of Jerusalem

5Announce in   Judah, and hearken in Jerusalem! Say! Signify with a trumpet unto the land! Cry out great! Say! Be gathered together! and, We should enter into the [²cities   ¹walled]. 6In taking up your things, flee unto Zion! Hasten, do not stand! for [³evils ¹I ²bring] from the north, and [²destruction ¹great]. 7[²ascended ¹The lion] from out of   his lair, utterly destroying nations. He lifted away and came forth from out of   his place,   to make the earth for desolation; and   your cities shall be demolished, so as to  not dwell them. 8Concerning these things  gird yourselves with sackcloths, and lament, and shout! because [⁵shall not ⁶be turned ¹the ²rage ³of the anger ⁴of the lord] from you. 9And it will be in that   day, says the lord, [⁵shall perish ¹the ²heart ³of the ⁴king], and the heart of the rulers; and the priests shall be amazed, and the prophets shall wonder. 10And I said, O master, O lord, Surely indeed in beguiling you beguiled   this people, and   Jerusalem, saying, Peace will be to you; whereas [³shall touch ¹the ²sword] unto   their soul. 11In   that time they shall say   to this people, and   to Jerusalem, There is a spirit of addiction to a delusion in the wilderness; the way of the daughter   of my people is not to purity, nor to holiness. 12A spirit of fullness shall come to me; but now I shall speak my judgments against them. 13Behold, as a cloud he shall ascend, and [²as ³a blast   ¹his chariots]. Lighter than eagles are  his horses. Woe to us, for we are in misery. 14Wash [²from ³evils   ¹your heart], O Jerusalem! that you should be delivered. For how long shall [³exist ⁴in ⁵you ¹the devices ²of your miseries]? 15Because a voice of one announcing from out of Dan shall come; and [⁵shall be heard ¹the misery ²from out of ³mount ⁴Ephraim]. 16Remind nations! Behold, announce in Jerusalem! Confederacies are come from out of a land far off, and they uttered [²against ³the ⁴cities ⁵of Judah ¹their voices]. 17As ones guarding a field they have come upon her round about; for you neglected me, says the lord. 18  Your ways and   your practices did these things  to you; this is    your evil, for it is bitter, for it touched unto   your heart. 19  My belly,   my belly aches, and the senses   of my heart. [²is irresistibly led   ¹My soul]. [²is being thrown into a spasm   ¹My heart]. I shall not keep silent, for [³the sound ⁴of a trumpet ²heard   ¹my soul], a cry of war, 20and of misery. Conflict is being called upon, for [⁴is in misery ¹all ²the ³land] suddenly. [³languishes ¹The ²tent]; [²have been pulled apart   ¹my hide coverings]. 21For how long shall I see ones fleeing, hearing the sound of a trumpet? 22For the ones leading   my people [³me ¹do not ²know]; [³sons ²foolish ¹they are], and not discerning. They are wise   to do evil, but the [²good ¹doing] they have not recognized. 23I looked upon the earth, and behold -- nothing; and into the heaven, and [³not ²were    ¹its lights]. 24I beheld the mountains, and they was  trembling, and all the hills were being disturbed. 25I looked, and behold, [²did not exist ¹a man], and all the birds of the heaven were terrified. 26I beheld, and behold,   Carmel was desolate, and all the cities being set on fire by fire from the countenance of the lord; and from the countenance of the anger of his rage they were removed from view. 27Thus says the lord, [⁵desolate ⁴will be ¹All ²the ³earth]; [⁴unto completion ¹but ²in no way ³will I do it]. 28Upon these things  let [³mourn ¹the ²earth], and let [⁴be darkened ¹the ²heaven ³above]! Because I have spoken, and I shall not change my mind. I advanced it, and I will not turn from it. 29From the sound of a horseman, and tightly stretched bow, [³withdrew ¹every   ²place]; they have entered into the caves, and [²in ³the ⁴sacred groves ¹they were hid]; and [²upon ³the ⁴rocks ¹they ascended]. Every city they abandoned; [²does not ³dwell ⁴in ⁵them ¹man]. 30And you, what shall you do? If you should put on scarlet, and should be adorned with an ornament of gold; and if you should rub antimony on    your eyes, [²is in ³vain ¹your finery]; [²thrusted you away   ¹your lovers],   [³life ²your ¹they seek]. 31For [²a sound ³as ⁴women travailing ¹I heard];   your moaning as one giving birth for the first time. The voice of the daughter of Zion shall faint, and [²shall weaken   ¹her hands]; saying, Woe am  I, for [²fails   ¹my soul] over the ones being done away with.