Jeremiah 6

Preparation for War Jeremiah 6:4–6

⁴Verse 4. “Prepare war against her! Arise, and let us go up at noon. Woe to us! For the day declines, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out. ⁵Verse 5. Arise, and let us go up by night, and let us destroy her palaces.” ⁶Verse 6. For Yahweh of Armies said, “Cut down trees, and cast up a mound against Jerusalem. This is the city to be visited. She is wholly oppression within herself.

Judgment on Wickedness Jeremiah 6:7–11

⁷Verse 7. As a well produces its waters, so she produces her wickedness. Violence and destruction is heard in her. Sickness and wounds are continually before me. ⁸Verse 8. Be instructed, Jerusalem, lest my soul be alienated from you; lest I make you a desolation, an uninhabited land.” ⁹Verse 9. Yahweh of Armies says, “They will thoroughly glean the remnant of Israel like a vine. Turn again your hand as a grape gatherer into the baskets.” ¹⁰Verse 10. To whom should I speak and testify, that they may hear? Behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they can’t listen. Behold, Yahweh’s word has become a reproach to them. They have no delight in it.

¹¹Verse 11. Therefore I am full of Yahweh’s wrath. I am weary with holding it in. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the assembly of young men together; for even the husband with the wife will be taken, the aged with him who is full of days.

Consequences of Corruption Jeremiah 6:12–15

¹²Verse 12. Their houses will be turned to others,their fields and their wives together;for I will stretch out my hand on the inhabitants of the land, says Yahweh.”¹³Verse 13. “For from their least even to their greatest, everyone is given to covetousness.From the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely.¹⁴Verse 14. They have healed also the hurt of my people superficially,saying, ‘Peace, peace!’ when there is no peace.¹⁵Verse 15. Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?No, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush.Therefore they will fall among those who fall.When I visit them, they will be cast down,” says Yahweh.

Call to Repentance Jeremiah 6:16–19

¹⁶Verse 16. Yahweh says, “Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, ‘Where is the good way?’ and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ ¹⁷Verse 17. I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, ‘We will not listen!’ ¹⁸Verse 18. Therefore hear, you nations, and know, congregation, what is among them. ¹⁹Verse 19. Hear, earth! Behold, I will bring evil on this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not listened to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.

Rejection of Sacrifices Jeremiah 6:20–24

²⁰Verse 20. To what purpose does frankincense from Sheba come to me, and the sweet cane from a far country? Your burnt offerings are not acceptable, and your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.” ²¹Verse 21. Therefore Yahweh says, “Behold, I will lay stumbling blocks before this people. The fathers and the sons together will stumble against them. The neighbor and his friend will perish.” ²²Verse 22. Yahweh says, “Behold, a people comes from the north country. A great nation will be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. ²³Verse 23. They take hold of bow and spear. They are cruel, and have no mercy. Their voice roars like the sea, and they ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Zion.”

²⁴Verse 24. We have heard its report. Our hands become feeble. Anguish has taken hold of us, and pains as of a woman in labor.

Destruction Approaches Jeremiah 6:25–30

²⁵Verse 25. Don’t go out into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and terror are on every side. ²⁶Verse 26. Daughter of my people, clothe yourself with sackcloth, and wallow in ashes! Mourn, as for an only son, most bitter lamentation, for the destroyer will suddenly come on us. ²⁷Verse 27. “I have made you a tester of metals and a fortress among my people, that you may know and try their way. ²⁸Verse 28. They are all grievous rebels, going around to slander. They are brass and iron. All of them deal corruptly. ²⁹Verse 29. The bellows blow fiercely. The lead is consumed in the fire. In vain they go on refining, for the wicked are not plucked away.

³⁰Verse 30. Men will call them rejected silver, because Yahweh has rejected them.”