Jer 4 | ABEn | STEP | If Israel should return, says the lord , to me, he shall be returned. And if he should remove his abominations from his mouth, and [ 2 from 3 in front 4 of me 1 should show reverence],

Jeremiah 4

CHAPTER 4 The LORD Calls Israel to Return

1 If 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], 2 and 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. 3 For 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. 4 Circumcise 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

5 Announce 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]. 6 In 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. 8 Concerning 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. 9 And 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. 10 And 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. 11 In 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. 12 A spirit of fullness shall come to me; but now I shall speak my judgments against them. 13 Behold, 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. 14 Wash [²from ³evils ¹your heart], O Jerusalem! that you should be delivered. For how long shall [³exist ⁴in ⁵you ¹the devices ²of your miseries]? 15 Because a voice of one announcing from out of Dan shall come; and [⁵shall be heard ¹the misery ²from out of ³mount ⁴Ephraim]. 16 Remind 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]. 17 As 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, 20 and 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]. 21 For how long shall I see ones fleeing, hearing the sound of a trumpet? 22 For 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. 23 I looked upon the earth, and behold -- nothing; and into the heaven, and [³not ²were ¹its lights]. 24 I beheld the mountains, and they was trembling, and all the hills were being disturbed. 25 I looked, and behold, [²did not exist ¹a man], and all the birds of the heaven were terrified. 26 I 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. 27 Thus says the lord, [⁵desolate ⁴will be ¹All ²the ³earth]; [⁴unto completion ¹but ²in no way ³will I do it]. 28 Upon 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. 29 From 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]. 30 And 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]. 31 For [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.