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24 Then Jeremiah said to all those men and women, “People of Judah who are now in Egypt, hear the word of the Lord: 25 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God of Israel, says: You and your wives did what you said you would do. You said, ‘We will certainly keep the ·promises [vows] we made. We ·promised [vowed] to ·make sacrifices [or offer incense] to the Queen Goddess and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ So, go ahead. Do the things you ·promised [vowed], and keep your ·promises [vows]. 26 But hear the word of the Lord. Listen, all you ·Jews [L Judeans] living in Egypt. The Lord says, ‘I have sworn by my great name: The people of Judah now living in Egypt will never again ·use [pronounce] my name to make promises. They will never again say in Egypt, “As surely as the Lord God lives…” 27 I am watching over them, not ·to take care of them, but to hurt them [L for good but for evil/harm]. The ·Jews [L Judeans] who live in Egypt will die from swords or ·hunger [famine] until they are all ·destroyed [annihilated]. 28 A few will escape being killed by the sword and will come back to Judah from Egypt. Then, of the people of Judah who came to ·live [sojourn; wander] in Egypt, ·those who are left alive [the remnant] will know ·if my word or their word came true [L whose word will stand, theirs or mine]. 29 I will give you a sign that I will punish you here in this place [C Egypt],’ says the Lord. ‘When you see it happen, you will know that my ·promises to hurt you will really happen [L words for you will be carried out for harm/evil].’ 30 This is what the Lord says: ‘Hophra king of Egypt [C also known as Apries, ruled 587–570 bc] has enemies who ·want to kill him [L seek his life]. Soon I will hand him over to his enemies just as I handed Zedekiah king of Judah over to Nebuchadnez-zar king of Babylon, who ·wanted to kill him [L sought his life; 39:5–7].’”
A Message to Baruch
45 It was the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah [C 605 bc]. Jeremiah the prophet told these things to Baruch son of Neriah [32:12–13; 36; 43:1–3], and Baruch wrote them on a scroll: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to you, Baruch: 3 You have said, ‘·How terrible it is for [Woe is] me! The Lord has given me sorrow along with my pain. I am tired because of my ·suffering [groaning] and cannot rest.’”
4 The Lord said, “Say this to Baruch: ‘This is what the Lord says: I will soon ·tear [break] down what I have built, and I will ·pull [pluck] up what I have planted everywhere in all this land [C Judah]. 5 Baruch, you are ·looking [seeking] for great things for yourself. Don’t ·look for [seek] them, because I will bring ·disaster [evil; trouble] on all ·the people [L flesh], says the Lord. You will have to go many places, but I will ·let you escape alive [L give you your life as plunder] wherever you go.’”
Messages to the Nations
46 The Lord spoke this word to Jeremiah the prophet about the nations [C chapters 46–51 are oracles against the foreign nations; see also Is. 13–23; Ezek. 25–32; Amos 1–2; Nah.; Obad.]:
2 This message is to Egypt. It is about the army of Neco king of Egypt [C ruled 610–595 bc], which ·was defeated at [L struck] the city of Carchemish on the Euphrates River by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. This was in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah [C 605 bc]. This is the Lord’s message to Egypt:
3 “Prepare your shields, large and small,
and ·march out [advance] for battle!
4 Harness the horses
and ·get on them [L mount the steeds]!
·Go to your places for battle [Take your station]
and put on your helmets!
·Polish [Burnish] your spears.
Put on your ·armor [coats of mail]!
5 What do I see?
That army is terrified,
and the soldiers ·are running away [have turned back].
Their warriors are defeated.
They ·run away [flee] quickly
without looking back.
There is terror on every side [6:5; 20:3, 10; 49:29]!” says the Lord.
6 “The fast runners cannot ·run away [flee];
the strong soldiers cannot escape.
They stumble and fall
in the north, by the Euphrates River.
7 Who is this, rising up like the Nile River,
like ·strong, fast rivers [rivers whose waters surge]?
8 Egypt rises up like the Nile River,
like ·strong, fast rivers [rivers whose waters surge].
Egypt says, ‘I will rise up and cover the earth.
I will destroy cities and the people in them!’
9 ·Horsemen [or Horses], ·charge into battle [advance]!
·Chariot drivers [or Chariots], drive hard!
·March on [L Go out], brave soldiers—
soldiers from the countries of Cush [C Ethiopia] and Put [C Libya] who carry shields,
soldiers from Lydia [C from eastern Asia Minor] who ·use [L grasp and draw] bows.
10 “But that day belongs to the Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
At that time he will give ·those people [his foes] the punishment they deserve.
The sword will ·kill [L devour] until it is ·finished [satisfied; sated],
until it ·satisfies its thirst for [L gets satiated/drunk with] their blood.
The Lord God ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] will offer a sacrifice
in the land of the north, by the Euphrates River [C Babylon].
11 “Go up to Gilead and get some balm [8:22],
·people [L virgin daughter] of Egypt!
You have prepared many medicines,
·but they will not work [in vain];
you will not be healed.
12 The nations have heard of your ·shame [humiliation],
and your cries fill all the earth.
One warrior has ·run into [L stumbled over] another;
both of them have fallen down together!”
13 This is the message the Lord spoke to Jeremiah the prophet about Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon’s coming to ·attack [L strike] Egypt:
14 “·Announce this message [Declare] in Egypt, and ·preach it [L make it heard] in Migdol.
·Preach it [L Make it heard] also in the cities of Memphis and Tahpanhes [44:1]:
‘·Get ready for war [Take your stations and be ready],
because the ·battle is [L sword devours] all around you.’
15 Egypt, why ·were your warriors killed [was it swept away; or has Apis fled; C the sacred bull of Egypt]?
They could not stand because the Lord pushed them down.
16 They stumbled again and again
and fell over each other.
They said, ‘Get up. Let’s go back
to our own people and our homeland.
·We must get away from our enemy’s sword [L …because of the destroyer’s/oppressor’s sword]!’
17 ·In their homelands those soldiers [L There they] called out,
‘The king of Egypt is only a lot of noise.
He missed his chance [C for glory]!’”
18 The King’s name is the Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts].
He says, “As surely as I live,
one [C a powerful leader] will come.
He will be like Mount Tabor among the mountains,
like Mount Carmel by the sea [C distinctive and majestic mountains].
19 ·People [L Daughter] of Egypt, pack your things
to be taken away as ·captives [exiles],
because Memphis will be ·destroyed [a desolation].
It will be a ruin, and no one will live there.
20 “Egypt is like a beautiful ·young cow [heifer],
but a ·horsefly [gadfly] is coming
from the north [C Babylon] to attack her [C though small, gadflies are annoying].
21 ·The hired soldiers in Egypt’s army [L Its mercenaries]
are like fat calves,
because even they all turn and ·run away [flee] together;
they do not stand [C strong against the attack].
Their ·time of destruction [L day of their devastation/calamity] is coming;
·they will soon be punished [L the time of their punishment].
22 Egypt is like a hissing snake that is trying to escape.
The ·enemy [L army] comes closer and closer.
They come against it [C Egypt] with axes
like men who cut down trees.
23 They will ·chop [cut] down her forest [C Egypt’s army]
·as if it were a great forest [or for they cannot be numbered; C could refer either to the Babylonians or the Egyptians],” says the Lord.
“There are more [C enemy soldiers] than locusts;
there are too many to count.
24 The people of Egypt will be ·ashamed [humiliated].
They will be handed over to the enemy from the north [C Babylon].”
25 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts], the God of Israel, says: “Very soon I will punish Amon, the god of the city of Thebes [C a sun god]. And I will punish Egypt, her ·kings [L Pharaohs], her gods, and the people who ·depend on [have confidence in] the king. 26 I will hand those people over to ·their enemies, who want to kill them [L those who seek their life]. I will give them to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and his ·officers [L servants]. But in the future, Egypt will live as it once did of old [C in peace],” says the Lord.
A Message to Israel
27 “People of Jacob, my servants, don’t be afraid;
don’t be frightened, Israel.
I will surely ·save [rescue] you from those faraway places
and your ·children [L seed] from the lands where they are captives.
The people of Jacob will have peace and safety again,
and no one will make them afraid.
28 People of Jacob, my servants, do not be afraid,
because I am with you,” says the Lord.
“I will ·completely destroy the many different [L make an end of all the] nations
where I ·scattered [drove] you.
But I will not ·completely destroy [L make an end of] you.
I will ·punish [chastise; discipline] you ·fairly [with justice],
but I will not let you escape your punishment.”
A Message to the Philistines
47 Before the king of Egypt ·attacked [L struck] the city of Gaza, the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah the prophet. This message is to the Philistine people [C to the west of Israel; Gen. 10:14; 21:32, 34].
2 This is what the Lord says:
“See, waters are rising from the north [C representing the overwhelming force of the Babylonians].
They will become like an overflowing ·stream [torrent]
and will cover the whole country ·like a flood [L and its fullness],
even the towns and the people living in them.
Everyone living in that country
will cry for help;
the people will ·cry painfully [wail].
3 They will hear the sound of the ·running horses [L hoofs of the chargers]
and the noisy chariots
and the rumbling chariot wheels.
·Parents [Fathers] will not ·help their children to safety [turn back for their children],
because ·they will be too weak to help [L their hands will be weak].
4 The ·time [L day] has come
to destroy all the Philistines.
It is time to ·destroy [L cut off] all who ·are left alive [survive]
who could help the cities of Tyre and Sidon [C the two most important Phoenician cities; the Philistines, Egypt’s allies, could no longer help them].
The Lord will soon destroy the Philistines,
·those left alive from the island of Crete [L the remnant of the coastline of Caphtor].
5 ·The people from the city of Gaza will be sad and shave their heads [L Baldness will come to Gaza].
The people from the city of Ashkelon will be made silent.
·Those left alive [Remnant] from the valley,
how long will you ·cut [gash] yourselves [C a mourning ritual]?
6 “·You cry [L Ah], ‘Sword of the Lord,
how long ·will you keep fighting [L before you rest]?
Return to your ·holder [sheath].
Stop and be still.’
7 But how can his sword rest
when the Lord has given it a command?
He has ·ordered [assigned] it
to attack Ashkelon and the seacoast.”
22 But ·run away from [flee] the ·evil desires [passions; desires] of youth. ·Try hard to live right and to have [L Pursue righteousness,] faith, love, and peace, together with those who ·trust in [L call upon] the Lord from pure hearts. 23 ·Stay away from [Avoid; Having nothing to do with] foolish and ·stupid [ignorant] ·arguments [controversies; speculation], because you know they ·grow into [breed; beget] quarrels. 24 And a ·servant [slave; bondservant] of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, a ·good [qualified; able] teacher, and patient. 25 ·The Lord’s servant must gently teach [L …gently instructing/correcting] those who ·disagree [are opponents]. Then ·maybe [perhaps] God will ·let them change their minds [L grant them repentance] ·so they can accept [L leading to knowledge of] the truth. 26 And they may ·wake up [come to their senses] and escape from the ·trap [snare] of the devil, who catches them to do ·what he wants [his will].
The Last Days
3 ·Remember [Know] this! In the last days there will be ·many troubles [L difficult/terrible times], 2 because people will love themselves, love money, ·brag [boast], and be ·proud [arrogant]. They will ·say evil things against others [speak abusively; or blaspheme] and will not obey their parents or be ·thankful [grateful] or be ·the kind of people God wants [holy; pious]. 3 They will not love others, will refuse to ·forgive [reconcile], will ·gossip [slander], and will not control themselves. They will be ·cruel [brutal], will ·hate [L not love] what is good, 4 will ·turn against their friends [be treacherous/traitors], and will ·do foolish things without thinking [be reckless]. They will be conceited, will love pleasure instead of God, 5 ·and will act as if they serve God [L having a form/appearance of godliness/piety] but will ·not have his [or deny his/its] power. ·Stay away from [Avoid] those people. 6 [L For] Some of them ·go [sneak; worm their way; talk their way] into homes and ·get control of [captivate; gain influence over] ·silly [vulnerable; or idle] women who are ·full of [or burdened with (the guilt of)] sin and are ·led [swayed; controlled] by ·many [all kinds of] evil desires. 7 These women are always ·learning [or seeking out] new teachings, but they are never able to ·understand [arrive at] the truth fully. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres were against Moses [C the traditional names (not found in the OT) of the Egyptian magicians who opposed Moses; Ex. 7:11], these people are against the truth. Their ·thinking has been ruined [minds/thoughts are corrupted/depraved], and they ·have failed in trying to follow the faith [or are teaching a counterfeit faith]. 9 But they will not ·be successful in what they do [or get much further], because as with Jannes and Jambres, everyone will see ·that they are foolish [their folly/ignorance].
Obey the Teachings
10 But you have followed what I teach, the way I live, my ·goal [purpose/aim (in life)], faith, patience, and love. ·You know I never give up [L …my endurance]. 11 ·You know how I have been hurt and have suffered […my persecution and suffering], as in Antioch [Acts 13:14–52], Iconium [Acts 14:1–5], and Lystra [Acts 14:6–20]. I have ·suffered [L endured such persecutions], but the Lord ·saved [rescued; delivered] me from all those troubles. 12 [L Indeed; In fact] Everyone who wants to live ·as God desires [in a godly manner], in Christ Jesus, will be persecuted. 13 But people who are evil and ·cheat others [impostors; charlatans] will go from bad to worse. ·They will fool others, but they will also be fooling themselves [L …deceiving and being deceived].
14 But you should continue following the teachings you learned. You ·know [are confident] they are true, ·because you trust those who taught you [L knowing from whom you learned them]. 15 Since you were a ·child [infant] you have known the ·Holy Scriptures [or sacred writings] which are able to make you wise. And that wisdom leads to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is ·inspired by God [breathed out by God; L God-breathed] and is useful for teaching, for ·showing people what is wrong in their lives [refuting error; rebuking], for correcting faults, and for ·teaching how to live right [training in righteousness]. 17 ·Using the Scriptures, [L …so that] ·the person who serves God [L God’s person] will be ·capable [competent], ·having all that is needed [fully equipped] to do every good work.
God Will Pay Back His Enemies
94 The Lord is a God ·who punishes [of vengeance; Deut. 32:35; Is. 34:8; Ezek. 24:8; 25:14–17; Nah. 1:2; Rom. 12:19; 1 Thess. 4:6].
·God, show your greatness and punish [L God of vengeance, shine forth]!
2 Rise up, Judge of the earth,
and give the ·proud [arrogant] ·what they deserve [their due].
3 How long will the wicked be ·happy [joyful]?
How long, Lord?
4 They ·are full of [L bubble forth, speaking] ·proud [insolent] words;
those who do evil ·brag about what they have done [L talk a lot].
5 Lord, they crush your people
and ·make your children suffer [L afflict your inheritance].
6 They kill widows and ·foreigners [sojourners; wanderers]
and murder orphans [Ex. 22:21–24].
7 They say, “The Lord doesn’t see;
the God of Jacob [C another name for Israel] doesn’t ·notice [understand].”
8 You ·stupid [senseless; dull witted] ones among the people, ·pay attention [L understand].
You fools, when will you ·understand [get insight]?
9 Can’t the ·creator [L planter] of ears hear?
Can’t the ·maker [former; shaper] of eyes see?
10 Won’t the one who ·corrects [instructs; disciplines] nations ·punish [reprimand; reprove] you?
Doesn’t the teacher of people know everything?
11 The Lord knows ·what people think [L the thoughts of humans].
He knows their thoughts are ·just a puff of wind [a bubble/vapor/meaningless/futile; Eccl. 1:2].
12 Lord, those you ·correct [instruct; discipline] are ·happy [blessed];
you teach them from your ·law [instruction; teaching].
13 You give them ·rest [peace; quiet] from ·times [L days] of ·trouble [harm; evil]
until a pit is dug for the wicked [Prov. 26:7; Eccl. 10:8].
14 The Lord won’t ·leave [abandon; cast off] his people
nor ·give up [abandon; forsake] his ·children [L inheritance].
15 Judgment will again be ·fair [just; righteous],
and all who are ·honest [L upright/virtuous of heart] will follow it.
16 Who will ·help me fight [L rise up with me] against the wicked?
Who will stand with me against those who do evil?
17 If the Lord had not helped me,
I would have ·died in a minute [L quickly dwelled in silence].
18 I said, “·I am about to fall [L My feet totter],”
but, Lord, your ·love [loyalty] ·kept me safe [steadied/supported me].
19 ·I was very worried [L In my many disquieting thoughts in my insides],
but you comforted me and ·made me happy [cheered me up].
20 ·Crooked leaders [L Ruinous thrones] cannot be your ·friends [allies].
They use the ·law [statute; ordinance; requirement] to cause ·suffering [distress].
21 They ·join forces [band together] against ·people who do right [righteous people]
and ·sentence [condemn] to death the innocent.
22 But the Lord is my ·defender [stronghold; fortress];
my God is the rock [28:1; 42:9; 62:2; Deut. 32:4] of my ·protection [refuge].
23 God will pay them back for their ·sins [guilt; iniquity]
and will destroy them for their evil.
The Lord our God will destroy them.
6 Sending a message by a foolish person
is like cutting off your feet or drinking ·poison [L violence].
7 A ·wise saying spoken by [L proverb in the mouth of] a fool
·is as useless as [L dangles like] the legs of a crippled person.
8 Giving honor to a foolish person
is like ·tying a stone [L a bag of stones] in a slingshot.
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