4 “Beware of your friends;

do not trust anyone in your clan.

For every one of them is a deceiver,

and every friend a slanderer.

5 Friend deceives friend,

and no one speaks the truth.

They have taught their tongues to lie;

they weary themselves with sinning.

6 You live in the midst of deception;

in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me,”

declares the Lord.

7 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says:

“See, I will refine and test them,

for what else can I do

because of the sin of my people?

8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow;

it speaks deceitfully.

With their mouths they all speak cordially to their neighbors,

but in their hearts they set traps for them.

9 Should I not punish them for this?”

declares the Lord.

“Should I not avenge myself

on such a nation as this?”

4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbour,

And trust ye not in any brother:

For every brother will utterly supplant,

And every neighbour will walk with slanders.

5 And they will deceive every one his neighbour,

And will not speak the truth:

They have taught their tongue to speak lies,

And weary themselves to commit iniquity.

6 Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit;

Through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the Lord.

7 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts,

Behold, I will melt them, and try them;

For how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

8 Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit:

One speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth,

But in heart he layeth his wait.

9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the Lord:

Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

4 “Beware of your neighbor!

Don’t even trust your brother!

For brother takes advantage of brother,

and friend slanders friend.

5 They all fool and defraud each other;

no one tells the truth.

With practiced tongues they tell lies;

they wear themselves out with all their sinning.

6 They pile lie upon lie

and utterly refuse to acknowledge me,”

says the Lord.

7 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:

“See, I will melt them down in a crucible

and test them like metal.

What else can I do with my people?

8 For their tongues shoot lies like poisoned arrows.

They speak friendly words to their neighbors

while scheming in their heart to kill them.

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

“Should I not avenge myself against such a nation?”

4 “Everyone take heed to his neighbor,

And do not trust any brother;

For every brother will utterly supplant,

And every neighbor will walk with slanderers.

5 Everyone will deceive his neighbor,

And will not speak the truth;

They have taught their tongue to speak lies;

They weary themselves to commit iniquity.

6 Your dwelling place is in the midst of deceit;

Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” says the Lord.

7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:

“Behold, I will refine them and try them;

For how shall I deal with the daughter of My people?

8 Their tongue is an arrow shot out;

It speaks deceit;

One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth,

But in his heart he lies in wait.

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

“Shall I not avenge Myself on such a nation as this?”

4 “Watch out for your friends,

and don’t trust your own relatives,

because every relative is a cheater,

and every friend tells lies about you.

5 Everyone lies to his friend,

and no one speaks the truth.

The people of Judah have taught their tongues to lie.

They have become tired from sinning.

6 Jeremiah, you live in the middle of lies.

With their lies the people refuse to know me,” says the Lord.

7 So this is what the Lord All-Powerful says:

“I will test the people of Judah as a person tests metal in a fire.

I have no other choice,

because my people have sinned.

8 Their tongues are like sharp arrows.

Their mouths speak lies.

Everyone speaks nicely to his neighbor,

but he is secretly planning to attack him.

9 Shouldn’t I punish the people for doing this?” says the Lord.

“Shouldn’t I give a nation like this the punishment it deserves?”

4 Take ye heed every one of his neighbor, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbor will go about with slanders. 5 And they will deceive every one his neighbor, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they weary themselves to commit iniquity. 6 Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah.

7 Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how else should I do, because of the daughter of my people? 8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him. 9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

4 Take ye heed every one of his friend, and confide not in any brother; for every brother only supplanteth, and every friend goeth about with slander. 5 And they act deceitfully every one with his neighbour, and speak not the truth: they teach their tongue to speak falsehood, they weary themselves with perverse dealing. 6 Thy habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith Jehovah. 7 Therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts: Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how else could I do for the daughter of my people? 8 Their tongue is a murderous arrow; it speaketh deceit. A man speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth his ambush. 9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith Jehovah; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

4 “Beware of your neighbors. 

Don’t trust your relatives. 

Every relative cheats. 

Every neighbor goes around slandering. 

5 Everyone cheats his neighbor. 

No one speaks the truth. 

My people train their tongues to speak lies. 

They wear themselves out doing wrong. 

6 Oppression follows oppression.

Deceit follows deceit. 

They refuse to acknowledge me,” declares the Lord. 

7 This is what the Lord of Armies says: 

I will now refine them with fire and test them. 

What else can I do for my dear people? 

8 Their tongues are like deadly arrows. 

They speak deceitfully. 

People speak politely to their neighbors, 

but they think of ways to set traps for them. 

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

I will punish this nation. 

I still won’t be satisfied. 

4 Everyone has to be on guard against his friend.

Don’t trust any brother,

for every brother will certainly deceive,

and every friend spread slander.

5 Each one betrays his friend;

no one tells the truth.

They have taught their tongues to speak lies;

they wear themselves out doing wrong.

6 You live in a world of deception.

In their deception they refuse to know Me.

This is the Lord’s declaration.

7 Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says:

I am about to refine them and test them,

for what else can I do

because of My dear people?

8 Their tongues are deadly arrows—

they speak deception.

With his mouth

a man speaks peaceably with his friend,

but inwardly he sets up an ambush.

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?

4 Beware of your neighbors,

and put no trust in any of your kin;

for all your kin are supplanters,

and every neighbor goes around like a slanderer.

5 They all deceive their neighbors,

and no one speaks the truth;

they have taught their tongues to speak lies;

they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent.

6 Oppression upon oppression, deceit upon deceit!

They refuse to know me, says the Lord.

7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts:

I will now refine and test them,

for what else can I do with my sinful people?

8 Their tongue is a deadly arrow;

it speaks deceit through the mouth.

They all speak friendly words to their neighbors,

but inwardly are planning to lay an ambush.

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

and shall I not bring retribution

on a nation such as this?

4 “Let everyone be on your guard against his neighbor,

and you must not trust in any brother,

for everyone surely betrays,

and every neighbor goes about with slander.

5 And everyone deceives his neighbor,

and they do not speak the truth,

they have taught their tongues to speak lies,

they are tired from going astray.

6 Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit,

upon deceit they refuse to know me,” declares Yahweh.

7 Therefore, thus says Yahweh of hosts:

“Look, I am about to refine them,

and I will test them,

for what else can I do,

because of the presence of the daughter of my people?

8 Their tongue is a murderous arrow,

it speaks deceit.

With his mouth he speaks peace with his neighbor,

but in his inner parts he sets up his ambush.

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

“On a nation that is like this shall I not take revenge?

4 Be on guard against your friends.

Do not trust the members of your own family.

Every one of them cheats.

Every friend tells lies.

5 One friend cheats another.

No one tells the truth.

They have taught their tongues how to lie.

They wear themselves out sinning.

6 Jeremiah, you live among people who tell lies.

When they lie, they refuse to pay any attention to me,”

announces the Lord.

7 So the Lord who rules over all says,

“I will put them through the fire to test them.

What else can I do?

My people are so sinful!

8 Their tongues are like deadly arrows.

They tell lies.

With their mouths all of them speak kindly to their neighbors.

But in their hearts they set traps for them.

9 Shouldn’t I punish them for that?”

announces the Lord.

“Shouldn’t I pay back the nation

that does those things?”

4 “Let everyone be on guard against his neighbor,

And do not trust any brother;

Because every brother deals craftily,

And every neighbor goes about as a slanderer.

5 “Everyone deceives his neighbor

And does not speak the truth,

They have taught their tongue to speak lies;

They weary themselves committing iniquity.

6 “Your dwelling is in the midst of deceit;

Through deceit they refuse to know Me,” declares the Lord.

7 Therefore thus says the Lord of hosts,

“Behold, I will refine them and assay them;

For what else can I do, because of the daughter of My people?

8 “Their tongue is a deadly arrow;

It speaks deceit;

With his mouth one speaks peace to his neighbor,

But inwardly he sets an ambush for him.

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

“On a nation such as this

Shall I not avenge Myself?