Jeremiah 4:2–4

2 and if in a truthful, just and righteous way

you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’

then the nations will invoke blessings by him

and in him they will boast.”

3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:

“Break up your unplowed ground

and do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,

circumcise your hearts,

you people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

or my wrath will flare up and burn like fire

because of the evil you have done—

burn with no one to quench it.

2 And thou shalt swear, The Lord liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory. 3 For thus saith the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

2 Then when you swear by my name, saying,

‘As surely as the Lord lives,’

you could do so

with truth, justice, and righteousness.

Then you would be a blessing to the nations of the world,

and all people would come and praise my name.”

3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and Jerusalem:

“Plow up the hard ground of your hearts!

Do not waste your good seed among thorns.

4 O people of Judah and Jerusalem,

surrender your pride and power.

Change your hearts before the Lord,

or my anger will burn like an unquenchable fire

because of all your sins.

2 And you shall swear, ‘The Lord lives,’

In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness;

The nations shall bless themselves in Him,

And in Him they shall glory.”

3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

“Break up your fallow ground,

And do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord,

And take away the foreskins of your hearts,

You men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

Lest My fury come forth like fire,

And burn so that no one can quench it,

Because of the evil of your doings.”

2 If you say when you make a promise,

‘As surely as the Lord lives,’

and you can say it in a truthful, honest, and right way,

then the nations will be blessed by him,

and they will praise him for what he has done.”

3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem:

“Plow your unplowed fields,

and don’t plant seeds among thorns.

4 Give yourselves to the service of the Lord,

and decide to obey him,

people of Judah and people of Jerusalem.

If you don’t, my anger will spread among you like a fire,

and no one will be able to put it out,

because of the evil you have done.

2 and thou shalt swear, As Jehovah liveth, in truth, in justice, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

3 For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem, Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

2 —and thou shalt in truth, in justice, and in righteousness swear, As Jehovah liveth! and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory.

3 For thus saith Jehovah to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up for you a fallow ground, and sow not among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves for Jehovah, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my fury come forth like fire and burn, and there be none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

2 if you take the oath, ‘As the Lord lives …’ 

in an honest, fair, and right way, 

then the nations will be blessed, 

and they will be honored by me.” 

3 This is what the Lord says to the people of Judah and to Jerusalem: 

Plow your unplowed fields, 

and don’t plant among thorns. 

4 Be circumcised by the Lord, 

and get rid of the foreskins of your hearts, 

people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem. 

If you don’t, my fury will flare up like a fire. 

It will burn, and no one will be able to put it out, 

because of the evil you do. 

2 then you can swear, “As the Lord lives,”

in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,

then the nations will be blessed by Him

and will pride themselves in Him.

3 For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem:

Break up the unplowed ground;

do not sow among the thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;

remove the foreskin of your hearts,

men of Judah and residents of Jerusalem.

Otherwise, My wrath will break out like fire

and burn with no one to extinguish it

because of your evil deeds.

2 and if you swear, “As the Lord lives!”

in truth, in justice, and in uprightness,

then nations shall be blessed by you,

and by you they shall boast.

3 For thus says the Lord to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem:

Break up your fallow ground,

and do not sow among thorns.

4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord;

remove the foreskin of your hearts,

O people of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

or else my wrath will go forth like fire

and burn with no one to quench it,

because of the evil of your doings.

2 and you swear, ‘As Yahweh lives,’

in truth, in justice, and in righteousness,

then nations will be blessed by him,

and in him they will boast.”

3 For thus says Yahweh

to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem,

“Break up for yourselves prepared virgin soil,

and you must not sow among thornbushes.

4 Circumcise yourselves to Yahweh,

and remove the foreskins of your hearts,

men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

lest my wrath goes forth like the fire and burns,

and there is no one who extinguishes it,

because of the evil of your deeds.”

2 Take all of your oaths in my name.

Say, ‘You can be sure that the Lord is alive.’

Let all of your promises be truthful, fair and honest.

Then I will bless the nations.

And they will take delight in me.”

3 Here is what the Lord is telling the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He says,

“Your hearts are as hard as a field

that has not been plowed.

So change your ways and produce good crops.

Do not plant seeds among thorns.

4 People of Judah and Jerusalem, obey me.

Do not let your hearts be stubborn.

If you do, my anger will blaze out against you.

It will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done.

No one will be able to put it out.

2 And you will swear, ‘As the Lord lives,’

In truth, in justice and in righteousness;

Then the nations will bless themselves in Him,

And in Him they will glory.”

3 For thus says the Lord to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem,

“Break up your fallow ground,

And do not sow among thorns.

4 “Circumcise yourselves to the Lord

And remove the foreskins of your heart,

Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem,

Or else My wrath will go forth like fire

And burn with none to quench it,

Because of the evil of your deeds.”