1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
2 And though they say, The LORD liveth; surely they swear falsely.
3 O LORD, are not thine eyes upon the truth? thou hast stricken them, but they have not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
4 Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.
5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.
6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.
7 How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots' houses.
8 They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.
9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
10 Go ye up upon her walls, and destroy; but make not a full end: take away her battlements; for they are not the LORD's.
11 For the house of Israel and the house of Judah have dealt very treacherously against me, saith the LORD.
12 They have belied the LORD, and said, It is not he; neither shall evil come upon us; neither shall we see sword nor famine:
13 And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done unto them.
14 Wherefore thus saith the LORD God of hosts, Because ye speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
15 Lo, I will bring a nation upon you from far, O house of Israel, saith the LORD: it is a mighty nation, it is an ancient nation, a nation whose language thou knowest not, neither understandest what they say.
16 Their quiver is as an open sepulchre, they are all mighty men.
17 And they shall eat up thine harvest, and thy bread, which thy sons and thy daughters should eat: they shall eat up thy flocks and thine herds: they shall eat up thy vines and thy fig trees: they shall impoverish thy fenced cities, wherein thou trustedst, with the sword.
18 Nevertheless in those days, saith the LORD, I will not make a full end with you.
19 And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not your's.
20 Declare this in the house of Jacob, and publish it in Judah, saying,
21 Hear now this, O foolish people, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not:
22 Fear ye not me? saith the LORD: will ye not tremble at my presence, which have placed the sand for the bound of the sea by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass it: and though the waves thereof toss themselves, yet can they not prevail; though they roar, yet can they not pass over it?
23 But this people hath a revolting and a rebellious heart; they are revolted and gone.
24 Neither say they in their heart, Let us now fear the LORD our God, that giveth rain, both the former and the latter, in his season: he reserveth unto us the appointed weeks of the harvest.
25 Your iniquities have turned away these things, and your sins have withholden good things from you.
26 For among my people are found wicked men: they lay wait, as he that setteth snares; they set a trap, they catch men.
27 As a cage is full of birds, so are their houses full of deceit: therefore they are become great, and waxen rich.
28 They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
29 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?
30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land;
31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
Chapter 5 of the Book of Jeremiah in the King James Version (KJV) of the Holy Bible is a profound discourse on divine judgment, human rebellion, and the inescapable consequences of sin. This chapter continues the narrative of the prophet Jeremiah, who serves as God's mouthpiece to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.
As the chapter begins, Jeremiah is instructed by God to walk through the streets of Jerusalem to find even one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth. This quest for righteousness is the foundation for the chapter's exploration of the themes of human wickedness, divine judgment, and the consequences of sin. Jeremiah's search is fruitless, highlighting the widespread corruption and spiritual decay that have infected the city.
The narrative of Jeremiah 5 is marked by a poignant dialogue between God and Jeremiah. God is portrayed as a just and righteous judge who, despite His deep love for His people, cannot ignore their persistent sin. He describes the people of Jerusalem as those who have "made their faces harder than a rock" and have "refused to return" (Jeremiah 5:3, KJV). This vivid imagery encapsulates the stubbornness and rebellion of the people, and their refusal to repent and return to God.
In the face of such defiant sinfulness, God declares that His judgment is inevitable. The people of Jerusalem, having forsaken God and turned to idols, are likened to "a lion out of the forest" and "a wolf of the deserts" that will "destroy and devour" (Jeremiah 5:6, KJV). These metaphors underscore the destructive consequences of sin and the inevitability of divine judgment.
Jeremiah 5 is a stark reminder of the inescapable consequences of sin. The people of Jerusalem have not only turned away from God, but they have also exploited and oppressed the poor and vulnerable. They have "sworn falsely" and have "committed adultery" (Jeremiah 5:2, KJV). These actions are not without consequences. God declares that because of their sins, the city will be "consumed by fire" (Jeremiah 5:14, KJV), a powerful symbol of divine judgment and purification.
The chapter also highlights the futility of relying on human strength and wisdom in the face of divine judgment. Despite their fortified cities and strong military, the people of Jerusalem are powerless against God's judgment. Their reliance on human strength is contrasted with their neglect of God's wisdom and instruction, leading to their downfall.
Despite the grim picture painted by Jeremiah 5, the chapter is also a call to repentance. God, through Jeremiah, implores the people of Jerusalem to "fear the Lord" and "repent of their wickedness" (Jeremiah 5:22, KJV). This call to repentance demonstrates God's desire for reconciliation with His people, even in the midst of judgment.
In conclusion, Chapter 5 of the Book of Jeremiah offers a sobering reflection on the consequences of sin and the inevitability of divine judgment. Yet, it also offers hope in the form of repentance and reconciliation with God. The chapter serves as a timeless reminder of the importance of righteousness, the dangers of rebellion, and the enduring mercy of God.
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