Jeremias 5:9

9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this.

Jeremias 5:9 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 5:9

Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord
For such adulteries and lasciviousness, and that in a way of punishment. The Targum adds,

``to bring evil upon them;''
the evil of punishment for the evil of sin: and shall not my soul be avenged upon such a nation as this?
which cannot delight in sin, but hates it; and therefore must punish for it; vindictive and punitive justice is essential to God; as sin is contrary to his nature, it is agreeable to it to punish for it; he cannot but do it; and he does avenge all sin, either on the sinner himself, or on his surety.

Jeremias 5:9 In-Context

7 In what shall I forgive thee for these things? Thy sons have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: and I fed them to the full, and they committed adultery, and lodged in harlots' houses.
8 They became as wanton horses: they neighed each one after his neighbour's wife.
9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this.
10 Go up upon her battlements, and break down; but make not a full end: leave her buttresses: for they are the Lord's.
11 For the house of Israel have indeed dealt treacherously against me, saith the Lord: the house of Juda also

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.