Common English Bible CEB
New International Version NIV
1 If only my head were a spring of water, and my eyes a fountain of tears, I would weep day and night for the wounds of my people.
1
Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears! I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.
2 If only I could flee for shelter in the desert, to leave my people and forget them— for they are all adulterers, a bunch of crooks.
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Oh, that I had in the desert a lodging place for travelers, so that I might leave my people and go away from them; for they are all adulterers, a crowd of unfaithful people.
3 They bend their tongues like bows to spew out lies; they are renowned in the land, but not for truth. They go from bad to worse. They don't know me! declares the LORD.
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“They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; it is not by truth that they triumph in the land. They go from one sin to another; they do not acknowledge me,” declares the LORD.
4 Be wary of your friends! Don't trust your sibling! Every sibling is a cheater, and every friend traffics in slander.
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“Beware of your friends; do not trust anyone in your clan. For every one of them is a deceiver,and every friend a slanderer.
5 One cheats the other; no one tells the truth; they train themselves to lie; they wear themselves out by doing wrong.
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Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. They have taught their tongues to lie; they weary themselves with sinning.
6 You live in a world of deceit, and in their deceit they refuse to know me, declares the LORD.
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You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the LORD.
7 Therefore, the LORD of heavenly forces proclaims: I'm going to refine and test them, for what else can I do with my people?
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Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty says: “See, I will refine and test them, for what else can I do because of the sin of my people?
8 Their tongue is a lethal arrow; their words are deceitful. They wish their neighbors well, but in their hearts plot their ruin.
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Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaks deceitfully. With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors, but in their hearts they set traps for them.
9 Shouldn't I punish them for this? declares the LORD; shouldn't I avenge such a nation?
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Should I not punish them for this?” declares the LORD. “Should I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?”
10 I will weep and wail for the mountains, and lament for the grazing lands in the wilderness. They are dried up and deserted; no sound of the flocks is heard; no sign of birds or animals is seen; all have vanished.
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I will weep and wail for the mountains and take up a lament concerning the wilderness grasslands. They are desolate and untraveled, and the lowing of cattle is not heard. The birds have all fled and the animals are gone.
11 I will reduce Jerusalem to ruins, a den for wild dogs. I will make the towns of Judah a wasteland, without inhabitant.
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“I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a haunt of jackals; and I will lay waste the towns of Judah so no one can live there.”
Copyright © 2011 Common English Bible
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.