Jeremiah 25:34–38

34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;

roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.

For your time to be slaughtered has come;

you will fall like the best of the rams.

35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,

the leaders of the flock no place to escape.

36 Hear the cry of the shepherds,

the wailing of the leaders of the flock,

for the Lord is destroying their pasture.

37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste

because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

38 Like a lion he will leave his lair,

and their land will become desolate

because of the sword of the oppressor

and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.

34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry;

And wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye principal of the flock:

For the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished;

And ye shall fall like a pleasant vessel.

35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee,

Nor the principal of the flock to escape.

36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds,

And an howling of the principal of the flock, shall be heard:

For the Lord hath spoiled their pasture.

37 And the peaceable habitations are cut down

Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

38 He hath forsaken his covert, as the lion:

For their land is desolate

Because of the fierceness of the oppressor,

And because of his fierce anger.

34 Weep and moan, you evil shepherds!

Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock!

The time of your slaughter has arrived;

you will fall and shatter like a fragile vase.

35 You will find no place to hide;

there will be no way to escape.

36 Listen to the frantic cries of the shepherds.

The leaders of the flock are wailing in despair,

for the Lord is ruining their pastures.

37 Peaceful meadows will be turned into a wasteland

by the Lord’s fierce anger.

38 He has left his den like a strong lion seeking its prey,

and their land will be made desolate

by the sword of the enemy

and the Lord’s fierce anger.

34 “Wail, shepherds, and cry!

Roll about in the ashes,

You leaders of the flock!

For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions are fulfilled;

You shall fall like a precious vessel.

35 And the shepherds will have no way to flee,

Nor the leaders of the flock to escape.

36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds,

And a wailing of the leaders to the flock will be heard.

For the Lord has plundered their pasture,

37 And the peaceful dwellings are cut down

Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

38 He has left His lair like the lion;

For their land is desolate

Because of the fierceness of the Oppressor,

And because of His fierce anger.”

34 Cry, you leaders! Cry out loud!

Roll around in the dust, leaders of the people!

It is now time for you to be killed.

You will fall and be scattered,

like pieces of a broken jar.

35 There will be no place for the leaders to hide;

they will not escape.

36 I hear the sound of the leaders shouting.

I hear the leaders of the people crying loudly,

because the Lord is destroying their land.

37 Those peaceful pastures will be like an empty desert,

because the Lord is very angry.

38 Like a lion, he has left his den.

Their land has been destroyed

because of the terrible war he brought,

because of his fierce anger.

34 Wail, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow in ashes, ye principal of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are fully come, and ye shall fall like a goodly vessel. 35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape. 36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the principal of the flock! for Jehovah layeth waste their pasture. 37 And the peaceable folds are brought to silence because of the fierce anger of Jehovah. 38 He hath left his covert, as the lion; for their land is become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppressing sword, and because of his fierce anger.

34 Howl, ye shepherds, and cry; and wallow yourselves in the dust, noble ones of the flock: for the days of your slaughter are accomplished, and I will disperse you; and ye shall fall like a precious vessel. 35 And refuge shall perish from the shepherds, and escape from the noble ones of the flock. 36 There shall be a voice of the cry of the shepherds, and a howling of the noble ones of the flock: for Jehovah layeth waste their pasture; 37 and the peaceable enclosures shall be desolated, because of the fierce anger of Jehovah. 38 He hath forsaken his covert as a young lion; for their land is a desolation because of the fierceness of the oppressor, and because of his fierce anger.

34 Mourn, you shepherds, and cry. 

Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock. 

The time has come for you to be slaughtered. 

The time has come for you to be scattered, 

and you will break like fine pottery. 

35 There will be no place for the shepherds to flee, 

no escape for the leaders of the flock. 

36 The shepherds are crying 

and the leaders of the flock are mourning 

because the Lord is stripping their pasture. 

37 The peaceful pastures are destroyed by the Lord’s burning anger. 

38 He has left his lair like a lion. 

Their land has been ruined 

because of the heat of the oppressor, 

because of the fury of his anger. 

34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry out.

Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.

Because the days of your slaughter have come,

you will fall and become shattered like a precious vase.

35 Flight will be impossible for the shepherds,

and escape, for the leaders of the flock.

36 Hear the sound of the shepherds’ cry,

the wail of the leaders of the flock,

for the Lord is destroying their pasture.

37 Peaceful grazing land will become lifeless

because of the Lord’s burning anger.

38 He has left His den like a lion,

for their land has become a desolation

because of the sword of the oppressor,

because of His burning anger.

34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry out;

roll in ashes, you lords of the flock,

for the days of your slaughter have come—and your dispersions,

and you shall fall like a choice vessel.

35 Flight shall fail the shepherds,

and there shall be no escape for the lords of the flock.

36 Listen! The cry of the shepherds

and the wail of the lords of the flock!

For the Lord is despoiling their pasture,

37 and the peaceful folds are devastated

because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

38 Like a lion he has left his den,

for their land has become a waste

because of the cruel anger

and because of his fierce anger.

34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry out.

And roll about in mourning in the dust, O leaders of the flock.

For your days of slaughter and your dispersions have arrived,

and you will fall like a vessel of desire.

35 And flight will perish from the shepherds,

and escape from the leaders of the flock.

36 A sound, the cry of distress of the shepherds

and the wailing of the leaders of the flock,

for Yahweh is despoiling their pasture.

37 And the peaceful settlements are devastated

because of the burning anger of Yahweh.

38 He has left his den like a lion,

for their land has become a horror,

because of the anger of the oppressors,

and because of his burning anger.”

34 Sob and cry, you shepherds.

Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.

Your time to be killed has come.

You will fall and be broken to pieces like fine clay pots.

35 The shepherds won’t have any place to run to.

The leaders of the flock won’t be able to escape.

36 Listen to the cries of the shepherds.

Hear the sobs of the leaders of the flock.

The Lord is destroying their grasslands.

37 Their peaceful meadows will be completely destroyed

because of the Lord’s burning anger.

38 Like a lion he will leave his den.

The land of those leaders will become a desert.

That’s because the sword of the Lord brings great harm.

His anger will burn against them.

34 “Wail, you shepherds, and cry;

And wallow in ashes, you masters of the flock;

For the days of your slaughter and your dispersions have come,

And you will fall like a choice vessel.

35 “Flight will perish from the shepherds,

And escape from the masters of the flock.

36 “Hear the sound of the cry of the shepherds,

And the wailing of the masters of the flock!

For the Lord is destroying their pasture,

37 “And the peaceful folds are made silent

Because of the fierce anger of the Lord.

38 “He has left His hiding place like the lion;

For their land has become a horror

Because of the fierceness of the oppressing sword

And because of His fierce anger.”