Jeremiah 7:5

5 But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice;

Jeremiah 7:5 Meaning and Commentary

Jeremiah 7:5

For if ye thoroughly amend your ways and your doings
Or, "if ye make your ways good, and do your works well", which is what is exhorted to ( Jeremiah 7:3 ) , and respects the duties of the moral law; which are more acceptable to God than legal sacrifices, when done from right principles, and with right views, from love, in faith, and to the glory of God; which is doing good works well; the particulars of which follow: if you thoroughly execute judgment between a man and his neighbour;
without respect to persons, without favour and affection, without bribery and corruption; passing a righteous sentence, and making an equitable decision of the case between them, according to the law of God, and the rules of justice and equity: this respects judges and civil magistrates.

Jeremiah 7:5 In-Context

3 This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “‘Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land.
4 But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the LORD ’s Temple is here. They chant, “The LORD ’s Temple is here! The LORD ’s Temple is here!”
5 But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice;
6 only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols.
7 Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.
Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.