Jeremiah 9:1-5

Jeremiah Grieves for His People

1 1 m Oh that my head were waters,
and my eyes a fountain of tears,
that I might weep day and night
for the slain of j the daughter of my people!
 2 2 Oh that I had in the desert
a travelers' lodging place,
that I might leave my people
and go away from them!
For they are all n adulterers,
a company of o treacherous men.
 3 p They bend their tongue like a bow;
falsehood and not truth has grown strong 3 in the land;
for they proceed from evil to evil,
q and they do not know me, declares the Lord.

4 r Let everyone beware of his neighbor,
and put no trust in any brother,
for every s brother is a deceiver,
and every neighbor t goes about as a slanderer.
 5 Everyone deceives his neighbor,
and no one speaks the truth;
they have taught their tongue to speak lies;
they weary themselves committing iniquity.

  1. Cross References
    Jeremiah 13:17
    But if you will not listen, my soul will weep in secret for your pride; my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears, because the Lord 's flock has been taken captive.
  2. Cross References
    Jeremiah 8:21
    For the wound of the daughter of my people is my heart wounded; I mourn, and dismay has taken hold on me.
  3. Cross References
    Jeremiah 5:7 - 8
    How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me and have sworn by those who are no gods. When I fed them to the full, they committed adultery and trooped to the houses of whores.
    Jeremiah 23:10
    For the land is full of adulterers; because of the curse the land mourns, and the pastures of the wilderness are dried up. Their course is evil, and their might is not right.
    Hosea 7:4
    They are all adulterers; they are like a heated oven whose baker ceases to stir the fire, from the kneading of the dough until it is leavened.
  4. Cross References
    Isaiah 21:2
    A stern vision is told to me; the traitor betrays, and the destroyer destroys. Go up, O Elam; lay siege, O Media; all the sighing she has caused I bring to an end.
  5. Cross References
    Psalms 64:3
    Who whet their tongues like swords, who aim bitter words like arrows.
  6. Cross References
    Judges 2:10
    And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
    Hosea 4:1
    Hear the word of the Lord, O children of Israel, for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land. There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God in the land.
  7. Cross References
    Jeremiah 12:6
    For even your brothers and the house of your father, even they have dealt treacherously with you; they are in full cry after you; do not believe them, though they speak friendly words to you.
    Psalms 41:9
    Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me.
    Micah 7:5
    Put no trust in a neighbor; have no confidence in a friend; guard the doors of your mouth from her who lies in your arms.
  8. Cross References
    Genesis 27:36
    Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing." Then he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?
  9. Cross References
    Jeremiah 6:28
    They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron; all of them act corruptly.
    Leviticus 19:16
    You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.