1 IF thou wilt return, O Israel, saith the Lord, return unto me: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remove.
2 And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.
3 For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
5 Declare ye in Judah, and publish in Jerusalem; and say, Blow ye the trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble yourselves, and let us go into the defenced cities.
6 Set up the standard toward Zion: retire, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north, and a great destruction.
7 The lion is come up from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; he is gone forth from his place to make thy land desolate; and thy cities shall be laid waste, without an inhabitant.
8 For this gird you with sackcloth, lament and howl: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned back from us.
9 And it shall come to pass at that day, saith the Lord, that the heart of the king shall perish, and the heart of the princes; and the priests shall be astonished, and the prophets shall wonder.
10 Then said I, Ah, Lord God! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.
11 At that time shall it be said to this people and to Jerusalem, A dry wind of the high places in the wilderness toward the daughter of my people, not to fan, nor to cleanse,
12 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.
13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.
14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?
15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.
16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah.
17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about; because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord.
18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.
19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
20 Destruction upon destruction is cried; for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtains in a moment.
21 How long shall I see the standard, and hear the sound of the trumpet?
22 For my people is foolish, they have not known me; they are sottish children, and they have none understanding: they are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.
23 I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was without form, and void; and the heavens, and they had no light.
24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.
25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.
26 I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.
27 For thus hath the Lord said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.
28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.
29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.
30 And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou do? Though thou clothest thyself with crimson, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of gold, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vain shalt thou make thyself fair; thy lovers will despise thee, they will seek thy life.
31 For I have heard a voice as of a woman in travail, and the anguish as of her that bringeth forth her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth herself, that spreadeth her hands, saying, Woe is me now! for my soul is wearied because of murderers.

1If thou wilt returne, O Israel, saith the Lord, returne vnto mee: and if thou wilt put away thine abominations out of my sight, then shalt thou not remoue.

2And thou shalt sweare, The Lord liueth, in Trueth, in Iudgement, and in Righteousnes, and the nations shall blesse themselues in him, and in him shall they glorie.

3 For thus saith the Lord to the men of Iudah and Ierusalem, Breake vp your fallow ground, and sow not among thornes.

4Circumcise your selues to the Lord, and take away the foreskinnes of your heart, ye men of Iudah, and inhabitants of Ierusalem, lest my furie come forth like fire, and burne that none can quench it, because of the euill of your doings.

5Declare ye in Iudah, and publish in Ierusalem, and say, Blow yee the Trumpet in the land: cry, gather together, and say, Assemble your selues, and let vs goe into the defenced cities.

6Set vp the standards toward Zion: retyre, stay not; for I will bring euil from the North, and a great destruction.

7The Lion is come vp from his thicket, and the destroyer of the Gentiles is on his way; hee is gone foorth from his place to make thy land desolate, and thy cities shall be layed waste, without an inhabitant.

8For this gird you with sackcloth; lament and howle: for the fierce anger of the Lord is not turned backe from vs.

9And it shall come to passe at that day, saith the Lord, that the heart of the King shall perish, and the heart of the Princes: and the Priests shalbe astonished, & the prophets shall wonder.

10Then said I, Ah Lord God, surely thou hast greatly deceiued this people, and Ierusalem, saying, Ye shall haue peace, whereas the sword reacheth vnto the soule.

11At that time shall it bee said to this people, and to Ierusalem; A dry winde of the high places in the wildernes toward the daughter of my people, not to fanne, nor to cleanse.

12Euen a full winde from those places shall come vnto mee: now also will I giue sentence against them.

13Behold, hee shall come vp as cloudes, and his charets shall bee as a whirlewinde: his horses are swifter then Eagles: woe vnto vs, for wee are spoiled.

14O Ierusalem, wash thine heart from wickednesse, that thou mayest bee saued: how long shall thy vaine thoughts lodge within thee?

15For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

16Make ye mention to the nations, behold, publish against Ierusalem, that watchers come from a farre countrey, and giue out their voice against the cities of Iudah.

17As keepers of a fielde are they against her round about; because shee hath bene rebellious against mee, saith the Lord.

18Thy way and thy doings haue procured these things vnto thee, this is thy wickednes because it is bitter, because it reacheth vnto thine heart.

19 My bowels, my bowels, I am pained at my very heart, my heart maketh a noise in mee, I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soule, the sound of the Trumpet, the alarme of warre.

20Destruction vpon destruction is cried, for the whole land is spoiled: suddenly are my tents spoiled, and my curtaines in a moment.

21How long shal I see the standard and heare the sound of the Trumpet?

22For my people is foolish, they haue not knowen me, they are sottish children, and they haue none vnderstanding: they are wise to doe euill, but to doe good they haue no knowledge.

23I beheld the earth, and loe, it was without forme and void: and the heauens, and they had no light.

24I beheld the mountaines, and loe they trembled, and all the hilles mooued lightly.

25I behelde, and loe, there was no man, and all the birdes of the heauens were fled.

26I beheld, and loe, the fruitfull place was a wildernesse, and all the cities thereof were broken downe at the presence of the Lord, and by his fierce anger.

27For thus hath the Lord said; The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full ende.

28For this shall the earth mourne, and the heauens aboue be blacke: because I haue spoken it, I haue purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turne backe from it.

29The whole citie shall flee, for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen, they shall goe into thickets, and climbe vp vpon the rockes: euery city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

30And when thou art spoiled, what wilt thou doe? though thou clothest thy selfe with crimsin, though thou deckest thee with ornaments of golde, though thou rentest thy face with painting, in vaine shalt thou make thy selfe faire, thy louers will despise thee, they will seeke thy life.

31For I haue heard a voice as of a woman in trauel, and the anguish as of her that bringeth foorth her first childe, the voice of the daughter of Zion, that bewaileth her selfe, that spreadeth her hands, saying; Woe is me now, for my soule is wearied because of murderers.

II == Gen 22:18 ; Deut 10:20 ; Ps 72:17 ; Isa 45:23 , 25

III == Matt 13:7 , 22

IV == Rom 2:28-29 ; Col 2:11

V == Jer 8:14

VI == Jer 1:13-15 ; 6:1 , 22

VII == 2nd Kings 24:1 ; Isa 1:7 ; Jer 2:15 ; 5:6 ; 25:9 ; Dan 7:4

VIII == Isa 22:12 ; Jer 6:26

X == Jer 5:12 ; 14:13 ; Ezek 14:9 ; 2nd Thess 2:11

XI == Jer 51:1 ; Ezek 17:10 ; Hos 13:15

XIII == Deut 28:49 ; Isa 5:28 ; Lam 4:19 ; Hos 8:1 ; Hab 1:8

XIV == Isa 1:16 ; James 4:8

XV == Jer 8:16

XVI == Jer 8:16

XVII == 2nd Kings 25:1 , 4

XVIII == Ps 107:17 ; Isa 50:1 ; Jer 2:17 , 19

XIX == Isa 15:5 ; 16:11 ; 21:3 ; 22:4 ; Jer 9:1 , 10 ; Luke 19:42

XX == Ps 42:7 ; Jer 10:20 ; Ezek 7:26

XXII == Rom 16:19

XXIII == Gen 1:2 ; Isa 24:19

XXIV == Isa 5:25

XXV == Zeph 1:3

XXVII == Jer 5:10 , 18 ; 30:11 ; 46:28

XXVIII == Num 23:19 ; Isa 5:30 ; 50:3 ; Jer 7:16 ; Hos 4:3

XXX == 2nd Kings 9:30 ; Jer 22:20 , 22 ; Lam 1:2 , 19 ; Ezek 23:40

XXXI == Gen 18:23 , 26 ; Ps 12:1 ; Isa 1:15 ; Lam 1:17 ; Ezek 22:30

1 If you wish to return, O Israel, says the LORD, return to me. If you put your detestable things out of my sight, and do not stray,

2 Then you can swear, "As the LORD lives," in truth, in judgment, and in justice; Then shall the nations use his name in blessing, and glory in him.

3 For to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, thus says the LORD: Till your untilled ground, sow not among thorns.

4 For the sake of the LORD, be circumcised, remove the foreskins of your hearts, O men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem; Lest my anger break out like fire, and burn till none can quench it, because of your evil deeds.

5 Proclaim it in Judah, make it heard in Jerusalem; Blow the trumpet through the land, summon the recruits! Say, "Fall in, let us march to the fortified cities."

6 Bear the standard to Zion, seek refuge without delay! Evil I bring from the north, and great destruction.

7 Up comes the lion from his lair, the destroyer of nations has set out, has left his place, To turn your land into desolation, till your cities lie waste and empty.

8 So gird yourselves with sackcloth, mourn and wail: "The blazing wrath of the LORD is not turned away from us."

9 In that day, says the LORD, The king will lose heart, and the princes; the priests will be amazed, and the prophets stunned.

10 "Alas! Lord GOD," they will say, "You only deceived us When you said: Peace shall be yours; for the sword touches our very soul."

11 At that time it will be said of this people and of Jerusalem, "From the glaring heights through the desert a wind comes toward the daughter of my people." Not to winnow, not to cleanse,

12 does this wind from the heights come at my bidding; And I myself now pronounce sentence upon them.

13 See! like storm clouds he advances, like a hurricane his chariots; Swifter than eagles are his steeds: "Woe to us! we are ruined."

14 Cleanse your heart of evil, O Jerusalem, that you may be saved. How long must your pernicious thoughts lodge within you?

15 Listen! They proclaim it from Dan, from Mount Ephraim they announce destruction:

16 "Make this known to the nations, announce it to Jerusalem: The besiegers are coming from the distant land, shouting their war cry against the cities of Judah."

17 Like watchmen of the fields they surround her, for she has rebelled against me, says the LORD.

18 Your conduct, your misdeeds, have done this to you; how bitter is this disaster of yours, how it reaches to your very heart!

19 My breast! my breast! how I suffer! The walls of my heart! My heart beats wildly, I cannot be still; For I have heard the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

20 Ruin after ruin is reported; the whole earth is laid waste. In an instant my tents are ravaged; in a flash, my shelters.

21 How long must I see that signal, hear that trumpet sound!

22 Fools my people are, they know me not; Senseless children they are, having no understanding; They are wise in evil, but know not how to do good.

23 I looked at the earth, and it was waste and void; at the heavens, and their light had gone out!

24 I looked at the mountains, and they were trembling, and all the hills were crumbling!

25 I looked and behold, there was no man; even the birds of the air had flown away!

26 I looked and behold, the garden land was a desert, with all its cities destroyed before the LORD, before his blazing wrath.

27 For thus says the LORD: Waste shall the whole land be; I will (not) wholly destroy it.

28 Because of this the earth shall mourn, the heavens above shall darken; I have spoken, I will not repent, I have resolved, I will not turn back.

29 At the shout of horseman and bowman each city takes to flight; They shrink into the thickets, they scale the rocks: All the cities are abandoned, and no one dwells in them.

30 You now who are doomed, what do you mean by putting on purple, bedecking yourself with gold, Shading your eyes with cosmetics, beautifying yourself in vain? Your lovers spurn you, they seek your life.

31 Yes, I hear the moaning, as of a woman in travail, like the anguish of a mother with her first child - The cry of daughter Zion gasping, as she stretches forth her hands: "Ah, woe is me! I sink exhausted before the slayers!"

v 1,2. God is offering blessing if Israel and Judah truly repented.

v 3,4. Weeds must be plowed under before seed is sown and men must have the heart circumcised, both metaphors referring to true repentance or receive God’s wrath.

v 5-9. The trumpet would signal assembly in fortified cities to escape the violent approach of Babylon from the north. The land would be wasted and the people would put on sackcloth in mourning. Civil and religious leaders would be astounded in fear.

v 10. God’s prophets had been warning of punishment, but God allows man to exercise free will to sin, and He allowed false prophets to proclaim peace.

v 11,12. Jeremiah realizes destruction is coming like a scorching desert wind.

v 13-18. Babylon’s invasion would also be like a rain storm and tornadic wind, and only repentance would avert it. Northern Dan would pass the word they were coming, and they had brought this destruction upon themselves by their sins.

v 19-22. Jeremiah was deeply pained as he thought of the coming battle and destruction in Judah. He compared the people to fools and stupid children who could do evil but not good.

v 23- 28. Jeremiah compared the desolation that would come on Judah to the condition of the earth at beginning of creation, except here are cities, v 26, and God will not totally destroy it, v 27. But judgment was certain, v 28.

v 29-31. Most of the people will flee to the rocks and bushes to hide from the soldiers, but those who remained and pled in all contrivance with Egypt for assistance (comparison made to dress of a harlot) would be despised by allies and receive no mercy from the enemy, but face suffering like a woman in labor.