Jeremías 9:17-26

17 Así dijo el SEÑOR de los ejércitos: Considerad con atención, y llamad endecheras que vengan; y enviad por las sabias que vengan;

18 y dense prisa, y levanten llanto sobre nosotros, y córranse nuestros ojos en lágrimas, y nuestros párpados en aguas se destilen.

19 Porque voz de endecha fue oída de Sion: ¡Cómo hemos sido destruidos! En gran manera hemos sido avergonzados. ¿Por qué dejamos la tierra? ¿Por qué nos han echado de sí nuestras moradas?

20 Oíd, pues, oh mujeres, palabra del SEÑOR, y vuestro oído reciba la palabra de su boca; y enseñad endechas a vuestras hijas, y cada una a su amiga, lamentación.

21 Porque la muerte ha subido por nuestras ventanas, ha entrado en nuestros palacios; para talar los niños de las calles, los jóvenes de las plazas.

22 Habla: Así dijo el SEÑOR: Los cuerpos de los hombres muertos caerán como estiércol sobre la faz del campo, y como manojo tras el segador, que no hay quien lo recoja.

23 Así dijo el SEÑOR: No se alabe el sabio en su sabiduría, ni se alabe el valiente en su valentía, ni el rico se alabe en sus riquezas.

24 Mas alábese en esto el que se hubiere de alabar: en entenderme y conocerme, que yo soy el SEÑOR, que hago misericordia, juicio, y justicia en la tierra, porque estas cosas quiero, dijo el SEÑOR.

25 He aquí que vienen días, dijo el SEÑOR, y visitaré a todo circuncidado junto con el de prepucio:

26 A Egipto, y a Judá, y a Edom, y a los hijos de Amón y de Moab, y a todos los arrinconados en el postrer rincón, que moran en el desierto; porque todos los gentiles tienen prepucio; y toda la Casa de Israel tiene prepucio en el corazón.

Jeremías 9:17-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 9

This chapter is a continuation of the judgments of God upon the Jews for their sins and transgressions herein mentioned; illustrated by the lamentation of the prophet; by calling for the mourning women, and upon other women that had lost their husbands or children, with an intimation that none of any rank and class should escape. The prophet is introduced mourning over the destruction of his people, Jer 9:1, and as uneasy at his stay with them, because of their uncleanness, treachery, lying, unfaithfulness, and deceit, Jer 9:2-6, wherefore the Lord threatens to melt and try them; and for their deceitfulness particularly to visit them, and avenge himself on them, Jer 9:7-9, the destruction is described by the desolation of the mountains and habitations of the wilderness; they being so burnt up, that there were neither grass upon them, nor beasts nor birds to be seen or heard about them; and of Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, so that there was no inhabitant in them, Jer 9:10,11, upon which a wise man is inquired after, to give the true reason of all this, Jer 9:12 but none appearing, the Lord gives it himself; which were their disobedience to his law, and their worship of idols, following the imagination of their own hearts, Jer 9:13,14 wherefore they are threatened to be fed with wormwood and gall; to be scattered among the nations, and a sword sent after them to their utter consumption, Jer 9:15,16, hence, for the certainty of it, mourning women are ordered to be called for in haste, to assist them in their mourning, on account of their distress, Jer 9:17-19, and such as were mothers of children are bid to teach their daughters and neighbours lamentation, because of the children and young men cut off by death, and for the carcasses of men that should fall as dung in the field, and as the handful after the harvestman, Jer 9:20-22, and it is suggested that none should escape; not the wise man by any art or cunning he was master of; nor the strong man by his strength; nor the rich man by his riches; and therefore ought not either of them to glory in these things, but in the Lord, as exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, Jer 9:23,24, and the chapter is concluded with a strong asseveration, that the wicked, both circumcised and uncircumcised, should be punished, Jer 9:25,26.