Jeremiah 9:3-13

3 et extenderunt linguam suam quasi arcum mendacii et non veritatis confortati sunt in terra quia de malo ad malum egressi sunt et me non cognoverunt dicit Dominus

4 unusquisque se a proximo suo custodiat et in omni fratre suo non habeat fiduciam quia omnis frater subplantans subplantabit et omnis amicus fraudulenter incedet

5 et vir fratrem suum deridebit et veritatem non loquentur docuerunt enim linguam suam loqui mendacium ut inique agerent laboraverunt

6 habitatio tua in medio doli in dolo rennuerunt scire me dicit Dominus

7 propterea haec dicit Dominus exercituum ecce ego conflabo et probabo eos quid enim aliud faciam a facie filiae populi mei

8 sagitta vulnerans lingua eorum dolum locuta est in ore suo pacem cum amico suo loquitur et occulte ponit ei insidias

9 numquid super his non visitabo dicit Dominus aut in gentem huiuscemodi non ulciscetur anima mea

10 super montes adsumam fletum ac lamentum et super speciosa deserti planctum quoniam incensa sunt eo quod non sit vir pertransiens et non audierunt vocem possidentis a volucre caeli usque ad pecora transmigraverunt et recesserunt

11 et dabo Hierusalem in acervos harenae et cubilia draconum et civitates Iuda dabo in desolationem eo quod non sit habitator

12 quis est vir sapiens qui intellegat hoc et ad quem verbum oris Domini fiat ut adnuntiet istud quare perierit terra exusta sit quasi desertum eo quod non sit qui pertranseat

13 et dixit Dominus quia dereliquerunt legem meam quam dedi eis et non audierunt vocem meam et non ambulaverunt in ea

Jeremiah 9:3-13 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.