Jeremiah 4:14–18

14 Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart and be saved.

How long will you harbor wicked thoughts?

15 A voice is announcing from Dan,

proclaiming disaster from the hills of Ephraim.

16 “Tell this to the nations,

proclaim concerning Jerusalem:

‘A besieging army is coming from a distant land,

raising a war cry against the cities of Judah.

17 They surround her like men guarding a field,

because she has rebelled against me,’ ”

declares the Lord.

18 “Your own conduct and actions

have brought this on you.

This is your punishment.

How bitter it is!

How it pierces to the heart!”

14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved.

How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

15 For a voice declareth from Dan,

And publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim.

16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem,

That watchers come from a far country,

And give out their voice against the cities of Judah.

17 As keepers of a field, are they against her round about;

Because she hath been rebellious against me, saith the Lord.

18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee;

This is thy wickedness, because it is bitter,

Because it reacheth unto thine heart.

14 O Jerusalem, cleanse your heart

that you may be saved.

How long will you harbor

your evil thoughts?

15 Your destruction has been announced

from Dan and the hill country of Ephraim.

16 “Warn the surrounding nations

and announce this to Jerusalem:

The enemy is coming from a distant land,

raising a battle cry against the towns of Judah.

17 They surround Jerusalem like watchmen around a field,

for my people have rebelled against me,”

says the Lord.

18 “Your own actions have brought this upon you.

This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!”

14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness,

That you may be saved.

How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?

15 For a voice declares from Dan

And proclaims affliction from Mount Ephraim:

16 “Make mention to the nations,

Yes, proclaim against Jerusalem,

That watchers come from a far country

And raise their voice against the cities of Judah.

17 Like keepers of a field they are against her all around,

Because she has been rebellious against Me,” says the Lord.

18 “Your ways and your doings

Have procured these things for you.

This is your wickedness,

Because it is bitter,

Because it reaches to your heart.”

14 People of Jerusalem, clean the evil from your hearts so that you can be saved.

Don’t continue making evil plans.

15 A voice from Dan makes an announcement

and brings bad news from the mountains of Ephraim.

16 “Report this to the nations.

Spread this news in Jerusalem:

‘Invaders are coming from a faraway country,

shouting words of war against the cities of Judah.

17 The enemy has surrounded Jerusalem as men guard a field,

because Judah turned against me,’ ” says the Lord.

18 “The way you have lived and acted

has brought this trouble to you.

This is your punishment.

How terrible it is!

The pain stabs your heart!”

14 O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thine evil thoughts lodge within thee? 15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth evil from the hills of Ephraim. 16 Make ye mention to the nations; behold, publish against Jerusalem, that watchers come from a far country, and give out their voice against the cities of Judah. 17 As keepers of a field are they against her round about, because she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah. 18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reacheth unto thy heart.

14 Wash thy heart, Jerusalem, from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee? 15 For a voice declareth from Dan, and publisheth affliction from mount Ephraim. 16 Inform the nations; behold, make Jerusalem to hear: Besiegers come from a far country, and raise their voice against the cities of Judah. 17 As keepers of a field are they against her round about; for she hath been rebellious against me, saith Jehovah. 18 Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, yea, it is bitter, yea, it reacheth unto thy heart.

14 Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart 

so that you may be rescued. 

Don’t continue making evil plans. 

15 A message is heard from Dan, 

and a report of disaster comes from the mountains of Ephraim. 

16 Warn the nations about these things. 

Bring them to the attention of Jerusalem. 

“Hostile troops are coming from a distant country. 

They are shouting battle cries against the cities of Judah. 

17 They surround them like men guarding a field, 

because Judah has rebelled against me,” 

declares the Lord. 

18 “You brought this on yourself. 

This is your punishment. 

It is bitter. 

It breaks your heart.” 

14 Wash the evil from your heart, Jerusalem,

so that you will be delivered.

How long will you harbor

malicious thoughts within you?

15 For a voice announces from Dan,

proclaiming malice from Mount Ephraim.

16 Warn the nations: Look!

Proclaim to Jerusalem:

Those who besiege are coming

from a distant land;

they raise their voices

against the cities of Judah.

17 They have her surrounded

like those who guard a field,

because she has rebelled against Me.

This is the Lord’s declaration.

18 Your way of life and your actions

have brought this on you.

This is your punishment. It is very bitter,

because it has reached your heart!

14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart clean of wickedness

so that you may be saved.

How long shall your evil schemes

lodge within you?

15 For a voice declares from Dan

and proclaims disaster from Mount Ephraim.

16 Tell the nations, “Here they are!”

Proclaim against Jerusalem,

“Besiegers come from a distant land;

they shout against the cities of Judah.

17 They have closed in around her like watchers of a field

because she has rebelled against me,

says the Lord.

18 Your ways and your doings

have brought this upon you.

This is your doom; how bitter it is!

It has reached your very heart.”

14 Cleanse your heart from wickedness, O Jerusalem,

so that you may be saved.

How long will your thoughts of mischief

dwell in your inner part?

15 For a voice is declaring from Dan,

and is proclaiming disaster from the mountain of Ephraim.

16 “Report to the nations, ‘Here they are!’

Proclaim against Jerusalem,

‘Besiegers are coming from a distant land,

and they raise their voice against the cities of Judah.’

17 Like watchers of a field they were against her from all around,

because she has rebelled against me,” declares Yahweh.

18 “You obtained this for yourself

because of your way and your deeds.

This is your doom, for it is bitter,

yes, it has reached up to your heart.”

14 People of Jerusalem, wash your sins from your hearts and be saved.

How long will you hold on to your evil thoughts?

15 A voice is speaking all the way from the city of Dan.

From the hills of Ephraim it announces

that trouble is coming.

16 “Tell the nations.

Warn Jerusalem.

Say, ‘An army will attack you.

It is coming from a land far away.

It will shout a war cry

against the cities of Judah.

17 It will surround them like people who guard a field.

Judah has refused to obey me,’ ”

announces the Lord.

18 “The army will attack you

because of your conduct and actions.

That is how you will be punished.

It will be so bitter!

It will cut deep down into your hearts!”

14 Wash your heart from evil, O Jerusalem,

That you may be saved.

How long will your wicked thoughts

Lodge within you?

15 For a voice declares from Dan,

And proclaims wickedness from Mount Ephraim.

16 “Report it to the nations, now!

Proclaim over Jerusalem,

‘Besiegers come from a far country,

And lift their voices against the cities of Judah.

17 ‘Like watchmen of a field they are against her round about,

Because she has rebelled against Me,’ declares the Lord.

18 “Your ways and your deeds

Have brought these things to you.

This is your evil. How bitter!

How it has touched your heart!”