> [[jeremiah-03|← Previous]] | [[jeremiah-00|TOC]] | [[jeremiah-05|Next →]] --- # Jeremiah, Chapter 4 ## Chapter 4 1 If you return, Israel—oracle of the LORD — ^jeremiah-04-1 return to me. If you put your detestable things out of my sight, and do not stray, 2 And swear, “As the LORD lives,” ^jeremiah-04-2 in truth, in judgment, and in justice, Then the nations shall bless themselves in him and in him glory. 3 For to the people of Judah and Jerusalem, thus says the LORD: ^jeremiah-04-3 Till your untilled ground, and do not sow among thorns. 4 Be circumcised for the LORD, ^jeremiah-04-4 remove the foreskins of your hearts, people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; Or else my anger will break out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of your evil deeds. ### The Invasion from the North 5 Proclaim it in Judah, ^jeremiah-04-5 in Jerusalem announce it; Blow the trumpet throughout the land, call out, “Fill the ranks!” Say, “Assemble, let us march to the fortified cities.” 6 Raise the signal—to Zion! ^jeremiah-04-6 Seek refuge! Don’t stand there! Disaster I bring from the north, and great destruction. 7 Up comes the lion from its lair, ^jeremiah-04-7 the destroyer of nations has set out, has left its place, To turn your land into a desolation, your cities into an uninhabited waste. 8 So put on sackcloth, ^jeremiah-04-8 mourn and wail: “The blazing anger of the LORD has not turned away from us.” 9 In that day—oracle of the LORD — ^jeremiah-04-9 The king will lose heart, and the princes; the priests will be horrified, and the prophets stunned. 10 “Ah! Lord G OD,” they will say, ^jeremiah-04-10 “You really did deceive us When you said: You shall have peace, while the sword was at our very throats.” 11 At that time it will be said ^jeremiah-04-11 to this people and to Jerusalem, A scorching wind from the bare heights comes through the wilderness toward my daughter, the people. Not to winnow, not to cleanse, 12 a strong wind from there comes at my bidding. ^jeremiah-04-12 Now I too pronounce sentence upon them. 13 See! like storm clouds he advances, ^jeremiah-04-13 like a whirlwind, his chariots; Swifter than eagles, his horses: “Woe to us! we are ruined.” 14 Cleanse your heart of evil, Jerusalem, ^jeremiah-04-14 that you may be saved. How long will you entertain wicked schemes? 15 A voice proclaims it from Dan, ^jeremiah-04-15 announces wickedness from Mount Ephraim: 16 “Make this known to the nations, ^jeremiah-04-16 announce it against Jerusalem: Besiegers are coming from the distant land, shouting their war cry against the cities of Judah.” 17 Like watchers in the fields they surround her, ^jeremiah-04-17 for she has rebelled against me—oracle of the LORD. 18 Your conduct, your deeds, have done this to you; ^jeremiah-04-18 how bitter is this evil of yours, how it reaches to your very heart! 19 My body! my body! how I writhe! ^jeremiah-04-19 The walls of my heart! My heart beats wildly, I cannot be still; For I myself have heard the blast of the horn, the battle cry. 20 Ruin upon ruin is reported; ^jeremiah-04-20 the whole land is laid waste. In an instant my tents are ravaged; in a flash, my shelters. 21 How long must I see the signal, ^jeremiah-04-21 hear the blast of the horn! 22 My people are fools, ^jeremiah-04-22 they do not know me; They are senseless children, without understanding; They are wise at evil, but they do not know how to do good. 23 I looked at the earth—it was waste and void; ^jeremiah-04-23 at the heavens—their light had gone out! 24 I looked at the mountains—they were quaking! ^jeremiah-04-24 All the hills were crumbling! 25 I looked—there was no one; ^jeremiah-04-25 even the birds of the air had flown away! 26 I looked—the garden land was a wilderness, ^jeremiah-04-26 with all its cities destroyed before the LORD, before his blazing anger. 27 For thus says the LORD: ^jeremiah-04-27 The whole earth shall be waste, but I will not wholly destroy it. 28 Because of this the earth shall mourn, ^jeremiah-04-28 the heavens above shall darken; I have spoken, I will not change my mind, I have decided, I will not turn back. 29 At the shout of rider and archer ^jeremiah-04-29 each city takes to flight; They shrink into the thickets, they scale the rocks: All the cities are abandoned, no one lives in them. 30 You now who are doomed, what are you doing ^jeremiah-04-30 dressing in purple, bedecking yourself with gold, Enlarging your eyes with kohl? You beautify yourself in vain! Your lovers reject you, they seek your life. 31 Yes, I hear the cry, like that of a woman in labor, ^jeremiah-04-31 like the anguish of a mother bearing her first child— The cry of daughter Zion gasping, as she stretches out her hands: “Ah, woe is me! I sink exhausted before my killers!” \* (4:2) As the LORD lives: this oath, made sincerely, implies Israel’s return and loyal adherence to God. Thus the ancient promises are fulfilled; cf. [[genesis-12|Gen 12]]:3; [18:18]; [22:18]; [26:4]; [Ps 72:17]. \* (4:4) The external rite of circumcision accomplishes nothing unless it is accompanied by the removal of blindness and obstinacy of heart. Jeremiah’s view is reflected in ([[romans-02|Rom 2]]:25], [29]; ([[1-corinthians-07|1 Cor 7]]:19]; [Gal 5:6]; [6:13], [15]. \* (4:10) You really did deceive: Jeremiah complains that the Lord misled the people by fostering their complacency, leaving them unprepared and unrepentant as judgment approaches. \* (4:11) My daughter, the people: the covenant people personified as a young woman. [Ezekiel 16] presents Israel and Judah as female infants whom the Lord adopts and then abandons and punishes because they desire other lords. \* (4:19] – [21) Probably the prophet’s own anguish at the coming destruction of Judah. a. (4:1) [Jer 25:5]. b. (4:2) [Jer 12:16]; [Dt 10:20]; [Is 65:16]. c. (4:3) [[hosea-10|Hos 10]]:12; ([[matthew-13|Mt 13]]:7], [22]. d. (4:4) [Jer 9:24]. e. (4:7) [Jer 2:15]; [5:6]. f. (4:8) [Jer 6:26]; [Is 5:25]. g. (4:10) [Jer 6:14]. h. (4:12) [Jer 1:16]. i. (4:16) [Jer 5:15]. j. (4:17) [Jer 6:3]. k. (4:18) [Jer 2:17], [19]. l. (4:20) [Jer 10:20]. m. (4:22) [Dt 32:5] – [6], [28]. n. (4:23) [[isaiah-24|Is 24]]:1, [3]. o. (4:26) [Lv 26:31]. p. (4:27) [Jer 5:18]. q. (4:28) [[isaiah-24|Is 24]]:4. r. (4:31) [Jer 6:24]. --- _New American Bible, revised edition_ (2010, 1991, 1986, 1970) Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. > [[jeremiah-03|← Previous]] | [[jeremiah-00|TOC]] | [[jeremiah-05|Next →]]