The Old Testament Book of Jeremiah
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that
walketh to direct his steps. O LORD, correct me, but with judgment; not in
thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
Jer 10:23 KJV
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* CHAP * COMMENTS
The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah of the priests that were in
Anathoth in the land of Benjamin.
* 1 * The Call of Jeremiah. The words of Jeremiah - to whom the Lord's
words came in the days of Josiah, Jehoiakim, and unto the 11th
year of Zedekiah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem. The Lord
said, "I knew you before I formed you in the belly and ordained you
a prophet. Behold I have put my words in your mouth. Gird up your
loins. Arise, and speak all that I command thee."
* 2 * Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem. Thus saith the Lord, "What
iniquity have your fathers found in me that they are gone far from
me? My people have committed 2 evils: They have forsaken me --
the fountain of living water; and made broken cisterns that can't
hold water. I planted you as a noble vine - how have you turned into
a degenerate plant? Where are the gods that you have made? Can a
maid forget her ornaments or a bride her attire? Yet my people have
forgotten me -- days without number.
* 3 * As a man who returns to a wife that he has put away after she has
gone to another pollutes the land; you have played the harlot with
many lovers and return to me. The Lord said, "Have you seen what
backsliding Israel has done? Her treacherous sister Judah saw it;
feared not; and played the harlot also. Return Israel. Acknowledge
your iniquity. Turn backsliding children and I will heal your
backslidings." The salvation of Israel is in the LORD our God.
* 4 * Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, lest my fury come forth like fire.
Wash thine heart from wickedness - that thou mayest be saved. My
people are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
The whole land shall be desolate, yet will I not make a full end.
* 5 * Search Jerusalem - if you can find a man that executeth judgment and
seeks the truth I will pardon it. They were as fed horses in the
morning. Everyone neighed after his neighbor's wife. I will bring
an ancient nation upon you from afar. As you served strange gods in
your land, ye will serve strangers in a land that is not yours.
Your sins have kept good things from you. As a cage is full of
birds-so their houses are full of deceit. Astonishment & filthiness
is committed in the land. The Prophets prophesy falsely; priests
bear rule by their means; and my people love it so.
* 6 * As a fountain casteth out her waters, so Jerusalem casteth out her
wickedness. The remnant of Israel shall be throughly gleaned as a
vine. To whom will I give warning? Their ear is uncircumcised, they
cannot hearken. From the least to the greatest they are given to
covetousness. From the prophet to the priest, all deal falsely.
Stand and ask for the old paths where is the good way, and walk
therein & ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said we will
not walk therein. I will bring evil upon this people because they
have not hearkened to my words, nor my law, but rejected it. Their
burnt offerings and sacrifices are not acceptable to me. Don't
go into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy
and fear is on every side.
* 7 * Trust not in lying words. Throughly amend your ways and I'll cause you
to live in this place. You trust in lying words that can't profit.
Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn
incense to Baal and come to stand before me in this house which is
called after my name and say we are delivered to do all these
abominations? Go see what I did in Shiloh for the wickedness of my
people. Don't pray for these people for I won't hear you. I sent my
servants the prophets, but they hearkened not to me. The days come
that it will not be called the valley of Tophet but the valley of
slaughter for they will bury in Tophet till there will be no place.
* 8 * Death shall be chosen rather than life by the residue that remain of
the evil family of the king of Judah. The stork knows her appointed
times, the turtle, the crane, and the swallow observe the time of
their coming, but my people do not know the judgment of the Lord.
They have said PEACE - PEACE - when there is no peace. I will surely
consume them, saith the Lord. Is there no balm in Gilead?
* 9 * My people are all adulterous, an assembly of treacherous men. They
proceed from evil to evil and they know not me, saith the Lord. They
weary themselves to commit iniquity. Because they have forsaken my
law, I will feed this people with wormwood and give them water of
gall to drink. Let not the wise glory in his wisdom, nor the mighty
in his might, nor the rich in his riches, But let him that glorieth,
glory in that he understands and knows me.
* 10 * Learn not the way of the heathen! There is none like unto you, O Lord.
He has made the earth by his power, he has established the world by
His wisdom and has stretched out the heavens by his discretion. O
Lord, I know that the way of man is not in himself. It is not in man
that walketh to direct his steps. O Lord, correct me, but with
judgment; not in thine anger, lest thou bring me to nothing.
* 11 * The Lord God is Israel says, "Cursed is the man that obeyeth not the
words of this covenant. Because they are turned back to the
iniquities of their forefathers and went after other gods -- they
have broken my covenant. I will bring evil on them that they will
not be able to escape. Pray not for them -- for I will not hear in
the time that they cry to me for their trouble.
* 12 * Jeremiah asks the Lord, You are righteous, O Lord, when I plead with
You. Why does the way of the wicked prosper?
* 13 * The Lord tells Jeremiah to get a girdle and then to hide it. After
many days he is told to get it. It was marred and profitable for
nothing. The Lord said he would mar the pride of Judah and Jerusalem
in a similar manner - because they would not hear. Can the Ethiopian
change his skin, or the leopard his spots? then may ye also do good
that are accustomed to do evil.
* 14 * The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth. The
children find no water in the wells & the plowmen cover their heads.
The hind forsakes its calf and the eyes of the wild asses fail
because there was no grass. O Lord, though our iniquites testify
against us -- Thou art in the midst of us. We are called by thy name.
Leave us not! The Lord said, pray not for this people, for their
good. The prophets prophecy lies in my name. Can any of the gentiles'
vanities cause rain? O Lord our God -- we will wait on thee -- for
you have made all things.
* 15 * Then the Lord said, though Moses & Samuel stood before me, my mind
could not be toward this people. Cast them out to death, to the
sword, to the famine and to the captivity. You have forsaken me. I am
weary with repenting. O Lord, you know: remember and visit me, and
revenge me of my persecutors. Therefore the Lord said, if you take
the precious from the vile, you will be as my mouth. Let them return
to thee; return not thou unto them. I am with thee to save & deliver
thee.
* 16 * Do not take a wife nor have sons or daughters in this place. For all
born in this place will die grievous deaths. Do not mourn for them,
for I have taken my peace, my lovingkindness and mercies from this
people. I will cause to cease the voice of mirth, gladness, and the
voice of the bridegroom and bride. Your fathers worshiped other gods,
forsook me, and didn't keep my law. You have done worse, by walking
after the imagination of your evil heart. I will cast you out of
this land. The days are coming when the people will not say, the
God that brought us out of Egypt -- but the Lord liveth that brought
the children of Israel from all of the lands whither he had driven
them.
* 17 * The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron and the point of a
diamond. cursed be the man that trusts in man and makes flesh his
arm and whose heart departs from the Lord. Blessed is the man that
trusteth in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is. The heart is
deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved,
for you are my praise.
* 18 * The word of the Lord came saying, as the clay is in the potter's hand,
so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel. Because my people have
forgotten me, I will scatter them. Then said they, come and let us
devise devices against Jeremiah. Yeah, Lord--you know their council
against me.
* 19 * Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I will bring evil on this place because
they have forsaken me. They have built the high places of Baal to
burn their sons. I will make this city desolate and cause them to eat
the flesh of their sons and daughters.
* 20 * Pashur the son of the priest smote Jeremiah and put him in the stocks
when he heard that Jeremiah prophecied these things. On the morrow
when he brought Jeremiah out -- Jeremiah said -- The Lord saith I
will make thee a terror to thyself and thy friends. Jeremiah said, I
will not speak in his name, but his word was in my heart as a burning
fire and I could not stay. Sing unto the Lord. Cursed be the day
wherein I was born.
* 21 * When Zedekiah inquired of Jeremiah, Jeremiah said, the Lord God of
Israel says, "I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your
hands. I, myself, will fight against you. I set before you the way
of life and the way of death. He that stays in the city shall die;
But he that goes out to the Chaldeans shall live.
* 22 * Hear the word of the Lord - O King of Judah. Execute judgement and
righteousness and do no wrong. If ye will not hear these words, this
house will become a desolation. Woe to him that builds his house by
unrighteousness. The Lord says concerning Jehoiakim. He will be
buried with the burial of an ass. No man of his seed (Coniah son of
Jehoiakim) shall prosper sitting on the throne of David and ruling
in Judah.
* 23 * Woe to the pastors that destroy & scatter the sheep of my pasture,
saith the Lord. The days come that I will raise unto David a
righteous Branch. The Land is full of adulterers. Both prophet &
priest are profane. I will feed them with wormwood. I have not sent
these prophets, yet they ran. Am I a God at hand and not a God afar
off. Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?
Is not my word as a fire, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in
pieces?
* 24 * Two basket of figs are set before the temple of the Lord. The basket of
good figs is likened to those who are carried away captive from Judah.
The basket of evil figs is likened to Zedekiah and the residue of
Jerusalem tat remain in the land.
* 25 * Because you have not heard my words, said the Lord of Hosts, I will
send my servant Nebuchadrezzar against this land. I will take from
them the voice of mirth, of gladness, of the bridegroom and of the
bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle. This
whole land shall be a desolation and shall serve the king of Babylon
70 years. I begin to bring evil on the city which is called by my
name, and should ye be utterly unpunished?
* 26 * In the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign the Lord told Jeremiah to stand
and speak all the words that he would be commanded to speak. The
priests and prophets said that Jeremiah was worthy of death because
he prophesied evil of the city. Jeremiah told the people to amend
their ways and obey--and the Lord would repent of the evil that he
had pronounced against them. He said he was in their hands to do to
him as seemed right to them -- but if they kill him they would
bring innocent blood upon themselves. Certain elders arose and said
that Hezekiah did not put Micah to death when he prophesied against
the city. There was a man Urijah who fled to Egypt from Jehoiakim's
threats after he had prophesied against the city, but Jehoiakim
brought him back and slew him.
* 27 * In the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign the Lord told Jeremiah to make
bonds & yokes and send them to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,
Tyrus and Zidon saying, " The Lord of Hosts says ' I have made the
earth by my great power & have given it to whom it seemed meet unto
me. Now I have given these lands to the king of Babylon,
Nebuchadnezzar, my servant. All nations will serve him - his son -
and grandson.' " Jeremiah spake also to Zedekiah, King of Judah,
saying bring your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon,
and serve him and live.
* 28 * In the 4th year of Zedekiah's Hananiah said the Lord had spoken to
him saying that he had broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
Jeremiah said Amen. The prophet that prophecies of peace, shall be
known as the Lord's prophet - when the word of the prophet shall
come to pass. The Lord told Jeremiah to tell Hananiah that he had
broken yokes of wood, but that they would have yokes of iron -- and
that Hananiah would die that year because he taught rebellion
against the Lord.
* 29 * Jeremiah sent a letter to those Nebuchadnezzar had carried away
captive, telling them to marry, to give sons & daughters in
marriage -- to pray for the peace of the city to which they were
led captive. After 70 years, the Lord would visit them and they
would be able to find him, when they searched with all their heart.
The Lord promised to persecute those who did not go into captivity.
Nebuchadrezzar would slay the prophets in Jerusalem that prophesy
a lie.
* 30 * Jeremiah is told to write the words of the Lord in a book for one
day Judah will return to the land. The day of Jacob's trouble is
great -- but he will be saved out of it. Though a full end shall
be made of the nations to which Judah is scattered -- Jacob shall
return and be at rest. Jacob will not be left unpunished. There
is none to plead for you. All have forsaken you. Why do you cry?
I have done these things to you because your sins were increased.
But I will restore health to you and you will be my people and I
will be your God.
* 31 * Hear the word of the Lord. He that scattered Israel will gather Him.
A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation & bitter weeping. Rachel
weeping for her children refused to be comforted because they were
not. The Lord says to refrain from weeping. They will come again
from the Lord of the enemy. Behold the days come that I will make
a new covenant with the house of Israel.
* 32 * The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah in the 10th year of
Zedekiah. Zedekiah had shut up Jeremiah for his prophecies. The Lord
tells Jeremiah to redeem a field from his cousin, because houses,
fields, and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land. Jeremiah
prays to the Lord. The Lord says I am the LORD, the God of all flesh,
is there anything too hard for me? The Lord tells Jeremiah that
because of the evil that it had done, this city will be delivered to
the King of Babylon; But the Lord will gather them out of all the
cities to which he has scattered them. They will be his people, He
will be their God. He will give them one heart to fear him. And He
will make an everlasting covenant with them. He will put his fear in
their hearts so they will not depart from Him.
* 33 * The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the 2nd time while he was shut
up in the court of the prison. Call unto me and I will answer thee,
and show thee great & mighty things which you know not. I will
cleanse them of their iniquity. It will be to me a name of joy. I
will cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David. If you
can break my covenant of day & night, then may my covenant be broken
with David my servant.
* 34 * The word which came to Jeremiah, when the king of Babylon fought
against Jerusalem. I will give this city to Babylon. He shall burn
it with fire. You will be taken, but you will die in peace.Zedekiah
proclaimed liberty to all the people at Jerusalem. The princes & the
people heard and obeyed the command but latter caused their former
servants and handmaidens to return again to their bondage. The Lord
declared that they had not hearkened unto Him in this.
* 35 * The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah in the days of Jehoiakim.
Bring the Rechabite into one of the chambers of the house of the
Lord and give them wine to drink. when Jeremiah did so, they told
him that they would drink no wine because their father had commanded
them and their sons to never drink any wine. The Lord told Jeremiah
to take this example of obedience to the men of Judah.
* 36 * In the 4th year of Jehoiakim, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah,
saying, write all the words I have spoken unto you against Judah and
against Israel and the nations. Perhaps Judah will hear & return.
Baruch wrote from Jeremiah's words and read from the book in the
Lord's house. The elders sent for Baruch to read the words to them.
They told Baruch & Jeremiah to hide while they gave the book to the
king. As the king read the book, he cut it with a knife and cast it
into the fire. The Lord told Jeremiah to write the book again and
to tell Jehoiakim that his dead body would be cast out to the heat
of day & frost of night.
* 37 * When Zedekiah came to the throne, neither he nor the people hearkened
to the word of the Lord. Zedekiah asked Jeremiah to pray for them.
When Pharoah's army came out of Egypt, the Caldeans left Jerusalem.
The word of the Lord came saying, the Chaldeans will return and burn
this city. Jeremiah attempted to leave the city to go to Benjamin.
The son of Hananiah - Irijah prevented him. The princes then cast
Jeremiah into prison. Zedekiah secretly asked Jeremiah for the word
of the Lord, and gave orders that he was to be kept in the court of
the prison.
* 38 * The princes asked the king to have Jeremiah put to death because they
believed that the words of the Lord weakened the hands of the
soldiers defending the city. They cast Jeremiah into the dungeon,
and Jeremiah sank into the mire. Ebedmelech told the king what was
done.. Zedekiah sent him and 30 men to pull Jeremiah out of the
dungeon. Zedekiah asked for the word of the Lord, but he feared to
obey.
* 39 * Nebuchadrezzar besieged Jerusalem in the 9th year of Zedekiah. King
Zedekiah tried to flee, but the Chaldeans pursued and caught them.
Zedekiah's sons were killed before him. Zedekiah's eyes were put
out. The nobles were killed. The city was burned & the walls were
broken down. The people were carried away captive. But the poor
were left, and were given vineyards & fields. Nebuchadrezzar gave
the captain of the guard command to look after Jeremiah.
* 40 * The captain of the guard told Jeremiah that he could go to Babylon
with him or he could go anywhere he wanted in the land. Jeremiah
dwelt with Gedaliah. Jews returned to the land of Judah from lands
to which they had fled, after they heard that the king of Babylon
had left a remnant of Judah and had set Gedaliah over them. Johanan
told Gedaliah that the king of Ammon had sent Ishmael to slay him,
but Gedaliah did not believe it.
* 41 * In the 7th month, Ishmael slew Gedaliah, the Jews and the Chaldeans
that were with him. When Johanan heard this, he and the captains of
forces with him went to fight with Ishmael. Ishmael escaped & fled
unto the Ammonites. Johanan dwelt by Bethlehem to go into Egypt
because of fear of the Chaldeans.
* 42 * The people asked Jeremiah to pray for them that the Lord would show
them the way to walk and the thing to do. They promised to obey the
voice of the Lord. The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after 10
days for the people to abide in the land. If they went into Egypt,
the Lord said that the sword would follow them there.
* 43 * Azariah & Johanan accused Jeremiah of falsely prophesying that they
were not to go to Egypt. They took all the people that Nebuzaraden
the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah -- and Jeremiah the
prophet & came into the land of Egypt. The word of the Lord came to
Jeremiah saying that Nebuchadrezzar would smite the land of Egypt
and Burn the houses of the Egyptian gods.
* 44 * The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah saying that none of the remnant
of Judah which are come into the land of Egypt shall return. The
people told Jeremiah that they would not obey the words that he had
spoken in the name of the Lord; but would burn incense to the queen
of heaven. The Lord said,"I have sworn that my name shall no more
be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt,
saying, The Lord GOD liveth.
* 45 * The Lord told Jeremiah to tell Baruch to not seek great things for
himself, but God had given him his life in all places whither he
goest.
* 46 * The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah against the Gentiles. Against
Egypt -- against Pharoah-Necho. Prepare to go into captivity.
* 47 * The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah against the Philistines, before
Pharaoh smote Gaza. O thou sword of the LORD, how long will it be
ere thou be quiet? put up thyself into thy scabbard, rest, and be
still. How can it be quiet, seeing the Lord hath given it a charge?
* 48 * The LORD of hosts says against Moab, there shall be no more praise
of Moab: Moab is destroyed; her little ones have caused a cry to be
heard. Flee, save your lives. Because you have trusted in your works
and in your treasures, you shall also be taken. The spoiler shall
come upon every city. No city shall escape. Cursed be he that doeth
the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back
his sword from blood. The calamity of Moab is near. Make him
drunken for he magnified himself against the LORD. Was not Israel
a derision unto thee. I have broken Moab like a vessel wherein is
no pleasure, saith the Lord.
* 49 * The Lord spake concerning the Ammonites. Why does their king inherit
Gad? Hath Israel no sons? I will bring a fear upon thee from those
about thee. Ye shall be driven out and none shall gather him that
wondereth. The Lord spake concerning Edom Is wisdom no more in
Teman? Though you make your nest as high as the eagle, I will bring
you down from there. Edom shall be a desolation. Who is like me? and
who will appoint me the time? Who is that shepherd that will stand
before me? The earth is moved at the noise of their fall. The Lord
said concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor. Fear is on every
side. Hazor shall be a dwelling for dragons and a desolation
forever: There shall no man abide there, nor any son of man
dwell in it. The word of the Lord came against Elam in the
beginning of the right of Zedekiah. I will break the bow
of Elam. I will bring the 4 winds from the 4 quarters of
and will scatter them such that there shall be no nation
whither the outcasts of Elam shall not come.
* 50 * The word that the Lord spake against Babylon and the land of the
Chaldeans by Jeremiah the prophet. A nation will come out of the
North against Babylon which shall make her land desolate and none
shall dwell therein. In those days my people will seek the Lord
their God. They have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused
them to go astray. I will raise an assembly of great nations from
the North against Babylon. A sound of battle is in the land, and of
great destruction. According to all that she hath done, do unto her:
for she hath been proud against the LORD. The children of Israel &
the children of Judah were oppressed together. Their redeemer is
strong. A sword is upon the Chaldeans and upon Babylon. The wild
beasts shall dwell there and the owls. It shall be no more
inhabited for ever: neither shall it be dwelt in from generation
to generation. The earth is moved at the noise of the taking of
Babylon.
* 51 * The Lord says I will raise up a destroying wind against Babylon.
Although their land was filled with sin, Judah and Israel are not
forsaken. The Lord has raised the spirit of the Kings of the Medes.
He hath made the earth by his power, he has established the world by
His wisdom, and has stretched out the heaven by his understanding.
And the land shall tremble and sorrow: for every purpose of the Lord
shall be performed against Babylon, to make the land a desolation
without an inhabitant.
* 52 * Zedekiah was 21 years of age when he reigned. He did evil in the eyes
of the Lord. Nebuchadrezzar besieged the city in the 9th year until
the 11th year of his reign - so there was no bread for the people of
the land. Zedekiah and the men of arms fled the city, but were
pursued by the army of the Chaldeans. Zedekaih was captured and was
taken to the King of Babylon. Zedekiah's sons were slain before him;
Zedekiahs eyes were put out. All of the houses of Jerusalem,
including the king's house and the house of the Lord were burnt.
Jerusalem's walls were destroyed. The vessels from the Lord's house
were taken into Babylon. The people were carried into captivity.
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