Jeremiah 5:6–9

6 Therefore a lion from the forest will attack them,

a wolf from the desert will ravage them,

a leopard will lie in wait near their towns

to tear to pieces any who venture out,

for their rebellion is great

and their backslidings many.

7 “Why should I forgive you?

Your children have forsaken me

and sworn by gods that are not gods.

I supplied all their needs,

yet they committed adultery

and thronged to the houses of prostitutes.

8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions,

each neighing for another man’s wife.

9 Should I not punish them for this?”

declares the Lord.

“Should I not avenge myself

on such a nation as this?

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?

6 So now a lion from the forest will attack them;

a wolf from the desert will pounce on them.

A leopard will lurk near their towns,

tearing apart any who dare to venture out.

For their rebellion is great,

and their sins are many.

7 “How can I pardon you?

For even your children have turned from me.

They have sworn by gods that are not gods at all!

I fed my people until they were full.

But they thanked me by committing adultery

and lining up at the brothels.

8 They are well-fed, lusty stallions,

each neighing for his neighbor’s wife.

9 Should I not punish them for this?” says the Lord.

“Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?

6 Therefore a lion from the forest shall slay them,

A wolf of the deserts shall destroy them;

A leopard will watch over their cities.

Everyone who goes out from there shall be torn in pieces,

Because their transgressions are many;

Their backslidings have increased.

7 “How shall I pardon you for this?

Your children have forsaken Me

And sworn by those that are not gods.

When I had fed them to the full,

Then they committed adultery

And assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.

8 They were like well-fed lusty stallions;

Every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife.

9 Shall I not punish them for these things?” says the Lord.

“And shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?

6 So a lion from the forest will attack them.

A wolf from the desert will kill them.

A leopard is waiting for them near their towns.

It will tear to pieces anyone who comes out of the city,

because the people of Judah have sinned greatly.

They have wandered away from the Lord many times.

7 The Lord said, “Tell me why I should forgive you.

Your children have left me

and have made promises to idols that are not gods at all.

I gave your children everything they needed,

but they still were like an unfaithful wife to me.

They spent much time in houses of prostitutes.

8 They are like well-fed horses filled with sexual desire;

each one wants another man’s wife.

9 Shouldn’t I punish the people of Judah for doing these things?” says the Lord.

“Shouldn’t I give a nation such as this the punishment it deserves?

6 Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall destroy them, a leopard shall watch against 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 can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots’ houses; 8 they were as fed horses roaming at large; every one neighed after his neighbor’s wife. 9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith Jehovah; and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

6 Therefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, a wolf of the evenings shall waste them; the leopard lurketh against their cities, every one that goeth out thence is torn in pieces: for their transgressions are multiplied, their backslidings are increased. 7 Wherefore should I pardon thee? Thy children have forsaken me, and swear by them that are not God. I have satiated them, and they have committed adultery, and they troop to the harlots’ house. 8 As well fed horses, they roam about, every one neigheth after his neighbour’s wife. 9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith Jehovah, and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

6 That is why a lion from the forest will attack them. 

A wolf from the wilderness will destroy them. 

A leopard will lie in ambush outside their cities. 

All who leave the cities will be torn to pieces, 

because they rebel so often 

and they become more and more unfaithful. 

7 “Why should I forgive you? 

Your children abandoned me. 

They took godless oaths. 

They committed adultery, even though I satisfied their needs. 

They traveled in crowds to the houses of prostitutes. 

8 They are like well-fed stallions that are wild with desire. 

They neigh for their neighbors’ wives. 

9 I will punish them for these things,” declares the Lord. 

“I will punish this nation. 

6 Therefore, a lion from the forest will strike them down.

A wolf from an arid plain will ravage them.

A leopard keeps watch over their cities.

Anyone who leaves them will be torn to pieces

because their rebellious acts are many,

their unfaithful deeds numerous.

7 Why should I forgive you?

Your children have abandoned Me

and sworn by those who are not gods.

I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery;

they gashed themselves at the prostitute’s house.

8 They are well-fed, eager stallions,

each neighing after someone else’s wife.

9 Should I not punish them for these things?

This is the Lord’s declaration.

Should I not avenge Myself

on such a nation as this?

6 Therefore a lion from the forest shall kill them;

a wolf from the desert shall destroy them.

A leopard is watching against their cities;

everyone who goes out of them shall be torn in pieces,

because their transgressions are many;

their faithlessness is great.

7 How can I pardon you?

Your children have forsaken me

and have sworn by those who are no gods.

When I fed them to the full,

they committed adultery

and trooped to the houses of prostitutes.

8 They were well-fed lusty stallions,

each neighing for his neighbor’s wife.

9 Shall I not punish them for these things?

says the Lord,

and shall I not bring retribution

on a nation such as this?

6 Therefore a lion from the forest will kill them,

A wolf from the desert plains will devastate them.

A leopard is watching their cities,

everyone who goes out from there will be torn,

because their transgressions are many,

their apostasies are numerous.

7 “How can I forgive you?

Your children have forsaken me,

and they have sworn by those who are not gods.

But I fed them to the full,

and they committed adultery,

and flocked to the house of a prostitute.

8 They were well-fed lusty horses,

they neighed each to the wife of his neighbor.

9 Because of these things shall I not punish?” declares Yahweh,

“and on a nation who is like this, shall I not take revenge?

6 So a lion from the forest will attack them.

A wolf from the desert will destroy them.

A leopard will hide and wait near their towns.

It will tear to pieces anyone who dares to go out.

Again and again they have refused to obey the Lord.

They have turned away from him many times.

7 The Lord says, “Jerusalem, why should I forgive you?

Your people have deserted me.

They have taken their oaths in the names of gods

that are not really gods at all.

I supplied everything they needed.

But they committed adultery.

Large crowds went to the houses of prostitutes.

8 Your people are like stallions that have plenty to eat.

Their sinful longings are out of control.

Each of them goes after another man’s wife.

9 Shouldn’t I punish them for that?”

announces the Lord.

“Shouldn’t I pay back the nation

that does those things?

6 Therefore a lion from the forest will slay them,

A wolf of the deserts will destroy them,

A leopard is watching their cities.

Everyone who goes out of them will be torn in pieces,

Because their transgressions are many,

Their apostasies are numerous.

7 “Why should I pardon you?

Your sons have forsaken Me

And sworn by those who are not gods.

When I had fed them to the full,

They committed adultery

And trooped to the harlot’s house.

8 “They were well-fed lusty horses,

Each one neighing after his neighbor’s wife.

9 “Shall I not punish these people,” declares the Lord,

“And on a nation such as this

Shall I not avenge Myself?