Jeremías 9:1-10

1 ¡Ojalá mi cabeza fuera un manantial,y mis ojos una fuente de lágrimas,para llorar de día y de nochepor los muertos de mi pueblo!

2 ¡Ojalá tuviera yo en el desiertouna posada junto al camino!Abandonaría a mi pueblo,y me alejaría de ellos.Porque todos ellos son adúlteros,son una banda de traidores.

3 «Tensan su lengua como un arco;en el país prevalece la mentira, no la verdad,porque van de mal en peor,y a mí no me conocen—afirma el SEÑOR—.

4 Cuídese cada uno de su amigo,no confíe ni siquiera en el hermano,porque todo hermano engaña,y todo amigo difama.

5 Se engañan unos a otros;no se hablan con la verdad.Han enseñado sus lenguas a mentir,y pecan hasta el cansancio.

6 »Tú, Jeremías, vives en medio de engañadores,que por su engaño no quieren reconocerme»,afirma el SEÑOR.

7 Por eso, así dice el SEÑORTodopoderoso:«Voy a refinarlos, a ponerlos a prueba.¿Qué más puedo hacer con mi pueblo?

8 Su lengua es una flecha mortífera,su boca solo sabe engañar;hablan cordialmente con su amigo,mientras en su interior le tienden una trampa.

9 ¿Y no los he de castigar por esto?—afirma el SEÑOR—.¿Acaso no he de vengarme de semejante nación?»

10 Lloraré y gemiré por las montañas,haré lamentos por las praderas del desierto,porque están desoladas:ya nadie las transitani se escuchan los mugidos del ganado.Desde las aves del cielo hasta los animales del campo,todos han huido.

Jeremías 9:1-10 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.