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JEREMIAH 14-16

« Jeremiah 13 | Jeremiah 14-16 | Jeremiah 17 »

Famine, Sword, and Pestilence
  14:1 The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the drought:
2
“Judah mourns,
and her gates languish;
her people lament on the ground,
and the cry of Jerusalem goes up.
3
Her nobles send their servants for water;
they come to the cisterns;
they find no water;
they return with their vessels empty;
they are ashamed and confounded
and cover their heads.
4
Because of the ground that is dismayed,
since there is no rain on the land,
the farmers are ashamed;
they cover their heads.
5
Even the doe in the field forsakes her newborn fawn
because there is no grass.
6
The wild donkeys stand on the bare heights;
they pant for air like jackals;
their eyes fail
because there is no vegetation.

7
“Though our iniquities testify against us,
act, O Lord, for your name’s sake;
for our backslidings are many;
we have sinned against you.
8
O you hope of Israel,
its savior in time of trouble,
why should you be like a stranger in the land,
like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night?
9
Why should you be like a man confused,
like a mighty warrior who cannot save?
Yet you, O Lord, are in the midst of us,
and we are called by your name;
do not leave us.”

10
Thus says the Lord concerning this people:
“They have loved to wander thus;
they have not restrained their feet;
therefore the Lord does not accept them;
now he will remember their iniquity
and punish their sins.”

    
11 The Lord said to me: “Do not pray for the welfare of this people. 12 Though they fast, I will not hear their cry, and though they offer burnt offering and grain offering, I will not accept them. But I will consume them by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence.” Lying Prophets
13 Then I said: “Ah, Lord God, behold, the prophets say to them, ‘You shall not see the sword, nor shall you have famine, but I will give you assured peace in this place.’” 14 And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds. 15 Therefore thus says the Lord concerning the prophets who prophesy in my name although I did not send them, and who say, ‘Sword and famine shall not come upon this land’: By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed. 16 And the people to whom they prophesy shall be cast out in the streets of Jerusalem, victims of famine and sword, with none to bury them—them, their wives, their sons, and their daughters. For I will pour out their evil upon them.
17
“You shall say to them this word:
‘Let my eyes run down with tears night and day,
and let them not cease,
for the virgin daughter of my people is shattered with a great wound,
with a very grievous blow.
18
If I go out into the field,
behold, those pierced by the sword!
And if I enter the city,
behold, the diseases of famine!
For both prophet and priest ply their trade through the land
and have no knowledge.’”

19
Have you utterly rejected Judah?
Does your soul loathe Zion?
Why have you struck us down
so that there is no healing for us?
We looked for peace, but no good came;
for a time of healing, but behold, terror.
20
We acknowledge our wickedness, O Lord,
and the iniquity of our fathers,
for we have sinned against you.
21
Do not spurn us, for your name’s sake;
do not dishonor your glorious throne;
remember and do not break your covenant with us.
22
Are there any among the false gods of the nations that can bring rain?
Or can the heavens give showers?
Are you not he, O Lord our God?
We set our hope on you,
for you do all these things.
The Lord Will Not Relent
  15:1 Then the Lord said to me, “Though Moses and Samuel stood before me, yet my heart would not turn toward this people. Send them out of my sight, and let them go! 2 And when they ask you, ‘Where shall we go?’ you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord:
“‘Those who are for pestilence, to pestilence,
and those who are for the sword, to the sword;
those who are for famine, to famine,
and those who are for captivity, to captivity.’
3 I will appoint over them four kinds of destroyers, declares the Lord: the sword to kill, the dogs to tear, and the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. 4 And I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth because of what Manasseh the son of Hezekiah, king of Judah, did in Jerusalem.
5
“Who will have pity on you, O Jerusalem,
or who will grieve for you?
Who will turn aside
to ask about your welfare?
6
You have rejected me, declares the Lord;
you keep going backward,
so I have stretched out my hand against you and destroyed you—
I am weary of relenting.
7
I have winnowed them with a winnowing fork
in the gates of the land;
I have bereaved them; I have destroyed my people;
they did not turn from their ways.
8
I have made their widows more in number
than the sand of the seas;
I have brought against the mothers of young men
a destroyer at noonday;
I have made anguish and terror
fall upon them suddenly.
9
She who bore seven has grown feeble;
she has fainted away;
her sun went down while it was yet day;
she has been shamed and disgraced.
And the rest of them I will give to the sword
before their enemies,declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah’s Complaint
10 Woe is me, my mother, that you bore me, a man of strife and contention to the whole land! I have not lent, nor have I borrowed, yet all of them curse me. 11 The Lord said, “Have I not set you free for their good? Have I not pleaded for you before the enemy in the time of trouble and in the time of distress? 12 Can one break iron, iron from the north, and bronze?
    
13 “Your wealth and your treasures I will give as spoil, without price, for all your sins, throughout all your territory. 14 I will make you serve your enemies in a land that you do not know, for in my anger a fire is kindled that shall burn forever.”
15
O Lord, you know;
remember me and visit me,
and take vengeance for me on my persecutors.
In your forbearance take me not away;
know that for your sake I bear reproach.
16
Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O Lord, God of hosts.
17
I did not sit in the company of revelers,
nor did I rejoice;
I sat alone, because your hand was upon me,
for you had filled me with indignation.
18
Why is my pain unceasing,
my wound incurable,
refusing to be healed?
Will you be to me like a deceitful brook,
like waters that fail?

19
Therefore thus says the Lord:
“If you return, I will restore you,
and you shall stand before me.
If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,
you shall be as my mouth.
They shall turn to you,
but you shall not turn to them.
20
And I will make you to this people
a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you,
but they shall not prevail over you,
for I am with you
to save you and deliver you,declares the Lord.
21
I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,
and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.”
Famine, Sword, and Death
  16:1 The word of the Lord came to me: 2 “You shall not take a wife, nor shall you have sons or daughters in this place. 3 For thus says the Lord concerning the sons and daughters who are born in this place, and concerning the mothers who bore them and the fathers who fathered them in this land: 4 They shall die of deadly diseases. They shall not be lamented, nor shall they be buried. They shall be as dung on the surface of the ground. They shall perish by the sword and by famine, and their dead bodies shall be food for the birds of the air and for the beasts of the earth.
    
5 “For thus says the Lord: Do not enter the house of mourning, or go to lament or grieve for them, for I have taken away my peace from this people, my steadfast love and mercy, declares the Lord. 6 Both great and small shall die in this land. They shall not be buried, and no one shall lament for them or cut himself or make himself bald for them. 7 No one shall break bread for the mourner, to comfort him for the dead, nor shall anyone give him the cup of consolation to drink for his father or his mother. 8 You shall not go into the house of feasting to sit with them, to eat and drink. 9 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will silence in this place, before your eyes and in your days, the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.
    
10 “And when you tell this people all these words, and they say to you, ‘Why has the Lord pronounced all this great evil against us? What is our iniquity? What is the sin that we have committed against the Lord our God?’ 11 then you shall say to them: ‘Because your fathers have forsaken me, declares the Lord, and have gone after other gods and have served and worshiped them, and have forsaken me and have not kept my law, 12 and because you have done worse than your fathers, for behold, every one of you follows his stubborn, evil will, refusing to listen to me. 13 Therefore I will hurl you out of this land into a land that neither you nor your fathers have known, and there you shall serve other gods day and night, for I will show you no favor.’ The Lord Will Restore Israel
14 “Therefore, behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when it shall no longer be said, ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the land of Egypt,’ 15 but ‘As the Lord lives who brought up the people of Israel out of the north country and out of all the countries where he had driven them.’ For I will bring them back to their own land that I gave to their fathers.
    
16 “Behold, I am sending for many fishers, declares the Lord, and they shall catch them. And afterward I will send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain and every hill, and out of the clefts of the rocks. 17 For my eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from me, nor is their iniquity concealed from my eyes. 18 But first I will doubly repay their iniquity and their sin, because they have polluted my land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and have filled my inheritance with their abominations.”
19
O Lord, my strength and my stronghold,
my refuge in the day of trouble,
to you shall the nations come
from the ends of the earth and say:
“Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies,
worthless things in which there is no profit.
20
Can man make for himself gods?
Such are not gods!”

    
21 “Therefore, behold, I will make them know, this once I will make them know my power and my might, and they shall know that my name is the Lord.”



PROVERBS 12

« Proverbs 11 | Proverbs 12 | Proverbs 13 »

12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge,
but he who hates reproof is stupid.
2
A good man obtains favor from the Lord,
but a man of evil devices he condemns.
3
No one is established by wickedness,
but the root of the righteous will never be moved.
4
An excellent wife is the crown of her husband,
but she who brings shame is like rottenness in his bones.
5
The thoughts of the righteous are just;
the counsels of the wicked are deceitful.
6
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the mouth of the upright delivers them.
7
The wicked are overthrown and are no more,
but the house of the righteous will stand.
8
A man is commended according to his good sense,
but one of twisted mind is despised.
9
Better to be lowly and have a servant
than to play the great man and lack bread.
10
Whoever is righteous has regard for the life of his beast,
but the mercy of the wicked is cruel.
11
Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who follows worthless pursuits lacks sense.
12
Whoever is wicked covets the spoil of evildoers,
but the root of the righteous bears fruit.
13
An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
14
From the fruit of his mouth a man is satisfied with good,
and the work of a man’s hand comes back to him.
15
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes,
but a wise man listens to advice.
16
The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
17
Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence,
but a false witness utters deceit.
18
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19
Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
20
Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,
but those who plan peace have joy.
21
No ill befalls the righteous,
but the wicked are filled with trouble.
22
Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.
23
A prudent man conceals knowledge,
but the heart of fools proclaims folly.
24
The hand of the diligent will rule,
while the slothful will be put to forced labor.
25
Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.
26
One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor,
but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
27
Whoever is slothful will not roast his game,
but the diligent man will get precious wealth.
28
In the path of righteousness is life,
and in its pathway there is no death.



PSALM 119

« Psalm 118 | Psalm 119 | Psalm 120 »

Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
Aleph119:1
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the Lord!
2
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,
who seek him with their whole heart,
3
who also do no wrong,
but walk in his ways!
4
You have commanded your precepts
to be kept diligently.
5
Oh that my ways may be steadfast
in keeping your statutes!
6
Then I shall not be put to shame,
having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
7
I will praise you with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous rules.
8
I will keep your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me!
Beth9
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word.
10
With my whole heart I seek you;
let me not wander from your commandments!
11
I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
12
Blessed are you, O Lord;
teach me your statutes!
13
With my lips I declare
all the rules of your mouth.
14
In the way of your testimonies I delight
as much as in all riches.
15
I will meditate on your precepts
and fix my eyes on your ways.
16
I will delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
Gimel17
Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18
Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
19
I am a sojourner on the earth;
hide not your commandments from me!
20
My soul is consumed with longing
for your rules at all times.
21
You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
who wander from your commandments.
22
Take away from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
23
Even though princes sit plotting against me,
your servant will meditate on your statutes.
24
Your testimonies are my delight;
they are my counselors.
Daleth25
My soul clings to the dust;
give me life according to your word!
26
When I told of my ways, you answered me;
teach me your statutes!
27
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28
My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29
Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
30
I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
I set your rules before me.
31
I cling to your testimonies, O Lord;
let me not be put to shame!
32
I will run in the way of your commandments
when you enlarge my heart!
He33
Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes;
and I will keep it to the end.
34
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35
Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37
Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38
Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39
Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
40
Behold, I long for your precepts;
in your righteousness give me life!
Waw41
Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
42
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
44
I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever,
45
and I shall walk in a wide place,
for I have sought your precepts.
46
I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
and shall not be put to shame,
47
for I find my delight in your commandments,
which I love.
48
I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Zayin49
Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope.
50
This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.
51
The insolent utterly deride me,
but I do not turn away from your law.
52
When I think of your rules from of old,
I take comfort, O Lord.
53
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
who forsake your law.
54
Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning.
55
I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
and keep your law.
56
This blessing has fallen to me,
that I have kept your precepts.
Heth57
The Lord is my portion;
I promise to keep your words.
58
I entreat your favor with all my heart;
be gracious to me according to your promise.
59
When I think on my ways,
I turn my feet to your testimonies;
60
I hasten and do not delay
to keep your commandments.
61
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
I do not forget your law.
62
At midnight I rise to praise you,
because of your righteous rules.
63
I am a companion of all who fear you,
of those who keep your precepts.
64
The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
teach me your statutes!
Teth65
You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word.
66
Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68
You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69
The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart I keep your precepts;
70
their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.
71
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72
The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver pieces.
Yodh73
Your hands have made and fashioned me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
74
Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75
I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76
Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77
Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78
Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
79
Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80
May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
Kaph81
My soul longs for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
82
My eyes long for your promise;
I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
83
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84
How long must your servant endure?
When will you judge those who persecute me?
85
The insolent have dug pitfalls for me;
they do not live according to your law.
86
All your commandments are sure;
they persecute me with falsehood; help me!
87
They have almost made an end of me on earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88
In your steadfast love give me life,
that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.
Lamedh89
Forever, O Lord, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
90
Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
91
By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
92
If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
93
I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
94
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
95
The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
96
I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
Mem97
Oh how I love your law!
It is my meditation all the day.
98
Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
99
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
100
I understand more than the aged,
for I keep your precepts.
101
I hold back my feet from every evil way,
in order to keep your word.
102
I do not turn aside from your rules,
for you have taught me.
103
How sweet are your words to my taste,
sweeter than honey to my mouth!
104
Through your precepts I get understanding;
therefore I hate every false way.
Nun105
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
106
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to keep your righteous rules.
107
I am severely afflicted;
give me life, O Lord, according to your word!
108
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,
and teach me your rules.
109
I hold my life in my hand continually,
but I do not forget your law.
110
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
but I do not stray from your precepts.
111
Your testimonies are my heritage forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
112
I incline my heart to perform your statutes
forever, to the end.
Samekh113
I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
114
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
115
Depart from me, you evildoers,
that I may keep the commandments of my God.
116
Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
and let me not be put to shame in my hope!
117
Hold me up, that I may be safe
and have regard for your statutes continually!
118
You spurn all who go astray from your statutes,
for their cunning is in vain.
119
All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies.
120
My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.
Ayin121
I have done what is just and right;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
122
Give your servant a pledge of good;
let not the insolent oppress me.
123
My eyes long for your salvation
and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
124
Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
and teach me your statutes.
125
I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your testimonies!
126
It is time for the Lord to act,
for your law has been broken.
127
Therefore I love your commandments
above gold, above fine gold.
128
Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;
I hate every false way.
Pe129
Your testimonies are wonderful;
therefore my soul keeps them.
130
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it imparts understanding to the simple.
131
I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commandments.
132
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
133
Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134
Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
135
Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
136
My eyes shed streams of tears,
because people do not keep your law.
Tsadhe137
Righteous are you, O Lord,
and right are your rules.
138
You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness
and in all faithfulness.
139
My zeal consumes me,
because my foes forget your words.
140
Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.
141
I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
142
Your righteousness is righteous forever,
and your law is true.
143
Trouble and anguish have found me out,
but your commandments are my delight.
144
Your testimonies are righteous forever;
give me understanding that I may live.
Qoph145
With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!
I will keep your statutes.
146
I call to you; save me,
that I may observe your testimonies.
147
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your words.
148
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
that I may meditate on your promise.
149
Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
O Lord, according to your justice give me life.
150
They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
they are far from your law.
151
But you are near, O Lord,
and all your commandments are true.
152
Long have I known from your testimonies
that you have founded them forever.
Resh153
Look on my affliction and deliver me,
for I do not forget your law.
154
Plead my cause and redeem me;
give me life according to your promise!
155
Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes.
156
Great is your mercy, O Lord;
give me life according to your rules.
157
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
158
I look at the faithless with disgust,
because they do not keep your commands.
159
Consider how I love your precepts!
Give me life according to your steadfast love.
160
The sum of your word is truth,
and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Sin and Shin161
Princes persecute me without cause,
but my heart stands in awe of your words.
162
I rejoice at your word
like one who finds great spoil.
163
I hate and abhor falsehood,
but I love your law.
164
Seven times a day I praise you
for your righteous rules.
165
Great peace have those who love your law;
nothing can make them stumble.
166
I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
and I do your commandments.
167
My soul keeps your testimonies;
I love them exceedingly.
168
I keep your precepts and testimonies,
for all my ways are before you.
Taw169
Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
give me understanding according to your word!
170
Let my plea come before you;
deliver me according to your word.
171
My lips will pour forth praise,
for you teach me your statutes.
172
My tongue will sing of your word,
for all your commandments are right.
173
Let your hand be ready to help me,
for I have chosen your precepts.
174
I long for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my delight.
175
Let my soul live and praise you,
and let your rules help me.
176
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
for I do not forget your commandments.

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