60 These words are not in the text but are supplied in the translation to show clearly the shift in speaker. Jeremiah has been speaking; now the Lord answers, giving the reason for the devastation Jeremiah foresees.
61 Heb “For.…” This gives the explanation for the destruction envisaged in 4:20 to which Jeremiah responds in 4:19, 21.
62 Heb “They are senseless children.”

In other versions

“For my people are foolish;

they know me not;

they are stupid children;

they have no understanding.

They are ‘wise’—in doing evil!

But how to do good they know not.”

“My people are fools;

they do not know me.

They are senseless children;

they have no understanding.

They are skilled in doing evil;

they know not how to do good.”

“For my people are fools;

they do not know me.

They are foolish children,

without understanding.

They are skilled in doing what is evil,

but they do not know how to do what is good.”

“My people are foolish

and do not know me,” says the Lord.

“They are stupid children

who have no understanding.

They are clever enough at doing wrong,

but they have no idea how to do right!”

“For my people are foolish,

they have not known me.

They are foolish children,

and they do not have insight.

They are skillful at doing evil,

and they do not know how to do good.”

For my people is foolish, they have not known me;

They are sottish children, and they have none understanding:

They are wise to do evil, but to do good they have no knowledge.

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