Jeremiah 25

1 This is the word [message, declaration] that came to Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] concerning all [every single one] the people of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] in the fourth [fourth year of his reign] year of Jehoiakim [Jehovah raises up] son of Josiah [whom Jehovah heals] king of Judah, which was the first [initial, beginning] year of Nebuchadnezzar [ruler of the Babylonian empire] king of Babylon [city of confusion, land of the Chaldeans]. word study 2 So the prophet [a spokesperson for God] Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed] spoke [to communicate, declare] to all [every single one] the people [a nation, community] of Judah [the tribe descended from Judah] and all [every single one] the residents [inhabitants, dwellers] of Jerusalem [the city of peace] as follows: word study 3 “From the thirteenth year of Josiah [whom Jehovah heals, a king of Judah] son of Amon [a king of Judah, son of Manasseh] king of Judah until this very day [the present time, the current moment]—twenty-three [three and twenty, a period of testing] years—the word [the divine message, the voice of God] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant name of God] has come to me, and I have spoken to you again and again [rising early and speaking, with persistence and urgency], but you have not listened [hearkened, given attention to, or obeyed]. word study 4 And the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has sent [dispatched, risen up early to commission] all His servants [faithful attendants, bondslaves] the prophets [spokesmen for God, messengers] to you again and again, but you have not listened [hearkened, given attention] or inclined [stretched, bent] your ear [organ of hearing, ability to listen] to hear [obey, respond to]. word study 5 The prophets told you, ‘Turn now [please, I pray], each of you, from your evil [morally bad, wicked] ways [path, manner of life] and deeds [actions, practices], and you can dwell [live, reside] in the land [earth, ground] that the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] has given [granted, provided] to you and your fathers [ancestors, forefathers] forever [always, eternally] and ever [perpetually, endlessly]. word study 6 Do not [refuse to, cease from] follow other [different, foreign] gods to serve [worship, obey] and worship [bow down to, pay homage to] them, and do not [never, under no circumstances] provoke Me to anger [irritate, enrage] with the works [deeds, actions] of your hands [by your own efforts, through your own strength]. Then I will do you no [absolutely no, none] harm [hurt, evil].’ word study 7 ‘But to your own harm [causing evil to yourselves, for your own hurt], you have not listened [hearkened, given ear] to Me,’ declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], ‘so you have provoked [made angry, stirred up] Me to anger [wrath, indignation] with the works [deeds, actions] of your hands [an open hand; strength, a side or share].’ word study 8 Therefore [thus, in this manner] this is what the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord of Israel] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces] says: ‘Because [since, for the reason that] you have not [refused to, failed to] obeyed [heard and followed, heeded] My words [commands, teachings, divine message], word study 9 behold [look, take notice], I will summon [gather, send for] all the families [clans, tribes] of the north [Zaphon, the northern region], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and I will send for [appoint, commission] My servant [attendant, messenger] Nebuchadnezzar [Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon] king of Babylon [Babel, the city of confusion], whom I will bring [lead, march] against this land [the earth, the territory], against its residents [inhabitants, dwellers], and against all the surrounding [encircling, neighboring] nations [Gentiles, foreign countries]. So I will devote [destroy, consecrate] them to destruction [desolation, ruin] and make them an object of horror [shammah, a state of ruin] and contempt [hissing, scorn], an everlasting [eternal, perpetual] desolation [waste, devastation]. word study 10 Moreover, I will banish from them the sounds [voices] of joy [rejoicing, gladness] and gladness [happiness, celebration], the voices [sounds] of the bride [daughter-in-law, newly married woman] and bridegroom [son-in-law, husband], the sound [noise] of the millstones [grinding stones, tools for grain], and the light [radiance, illumination] of the lamp [candle, source of light]. word study 11 And this whole [entire] land will become a desolate [waste] wasteland, and these [nearby, Gentile] nations will serve [be in bondage to, work for] the king [ruler, sovereign] of Babylon [confusion, mixing] for [a period of] seventy years. word study 12 But when seventy [a period of completion, a lifetime] years are complete, I will punish [visit judgment upon, reckon with] the king of Babylon [the ruler of confusion, the city of mixing] and that nation [the Gentile people, those not of Israel], the land of the Chaldeans [the region of wisdom and astrology], for their guilt [iniquity, moral evil, sin], declares the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], and I will make it an everlasting [forever, perpetual] desolation [a state of devastation, a wasteland]. word study 13 I will bring upon that land [as a judgment, in fulfillment of My promises] all the words [messages, prophecies, and warnings] I have pronounced [spoken, declared, and threatened] against it, all that is written [recorded, inscribed] in this book [scroll, prophetic document], which Jeremiah [whom Jehovah has appointed, a prophet of God] has prophesied [spoken under divine inspiration, foretold] against all the nations [Gentile peoples, non-Hebrew countries]. word study 14 For many [numerous, several] nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] and great [powerful, mighty] kings [rulers, monarchs] will enslave [make bondmen of, reduce to servitude] them, and I will repay [recompense, give reward to] them according to their deeds [actions, works] and according to the work [labor, task] of their hands [strength, ability].’” word study 15 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel, said to me: “Take from My hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] this cup [a vessel for drinking, often used figuratively] of the wine [fermented wine] of wrath [intense anger, like a burning fire], and make all [everything, the entirety] the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] to whom I send [dispatch, commission] you drink from it [partake, receive]. word study 16 And they will drink [and feast, to drink excessively] and stagger [reel to and fro, be moved] and go out of their minds [be mad, be foolish, act like crazy people], because of the sword [cutting instrument, war] that I [the speaker, God] will send [to depart, to bring] among them [between, in the midst of].” word study 17 So I took [received, grasped] the cup [divine wrath] from the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] hand [power, direction] and made all [every, the whole] the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples] drink from it [to water, give a drink], each one [every nation, all peoples] to whom [toward which, in the direction of] the LORD [Yehovah, the Lord God] had sent [dispatched, commissioned] me [as a prophet, messenger], word study 18 to make them a ruin [desolation, waste place], an object of horror [consternation] and contempt [rejection, disdain] and cursing [a curse, evil spoken], as they are to this day [as it is at this time]—Jerusalem [the city of peace] and the cities of Judah [the region of Judah], its kings [royal rulers] and officials [princes, leaders]; word study 19 Pharaoh [the king of Egypt, ruler of the land] king of Egypt, his [servant/slave, attendant] officials [leaders, princes], his [ruling, in charge] leaders, and all [every, the entire nation] his people [nation, community]; word study 20 all the mixed tribes [of people, foreigners living there]; all the kings of Uz [a region east of Palestine]; all the kings of the Philistines [immigrants from other places]: Ashkelon [a major city], Gaza [the strong city], Ekron [one of the five major Philistine cities], and the remnant [what is left after destruction] of Ashdod [a powerful Philistine city]; word study 21 Edom [the twin brother of Jacob, a region in the south], Moab [descendants of Lot, a neighboring land], and the Ammonites [sons of Ammon, a Transjordan nation]; word study 22 all the kings [rulers, monarchs] of Tyre [a major Phoenician city] and Sidon [an ancient city on the Mediterranean coast]; the kings [royal persons, sovereigns] of the coastlands [islands, habitable spots] across [beyond, on the other side of] the sea [a large body of water, the Mediterranean]; word study 23 Dedan [a low-lying area], Tema [a desert region], Buz [a place in Arabia], and all [everything, every person] who cut [to cut off, as a ritual] the corners [sides, edges] of their hair [beard, as a sign of mourning or devotion]; word study 24 all the kings [rulers, monarchs] of Arabia [the country east of Palestine], and all the kings [sovereigns, royal persons] of the mixed tribes [mingled people, diverse population] who dwell [reside, live] in the desert [wilderness, barren land]; word study 25 all [every single one] the kings [royal rulers, monarchs] of Zimri [a region, a people], Elam [a son of Shem, a nation], and Media [a land, the Medes, a people-group]; word study 26 all the kings [rulers, monarchs] of the north [Zaphon, a direction], both near [close, adjacent] and far [distant, remote], one after another [in succession, sequentially]—all the kingdoms [domains, territories] on the face [surface, presence] of the earth [land, ground]. And after all of them, the king [monarch, ruler] of Sheshach will drink [consume, partake] it too. word study 27 “Then you are to tell them that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army], the God [Elohim, the one supreme God] of Israel [the symbolic name of Jacob, referring to his descendants], says: ‘Drink, get drunk [to become intoxicated, under the influence], and vomit [to forcefully expel food from the stomach]. Fall down [to fall, to fail, to be defeated] and never get up again [to not rise, to not stand up], because of the sword [a cutting instrument, a tool for war] I will send [to depart, to dispatch] among you [between you, in your midst].’ word study 28 If they refuse [to say no, reject] to take the cup from your hand [an open hand; strength, a side or share] and drink [to fully experience, partake of] it, you are to tell them that this is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [a large group of people or things, often referring to an army] says: ‘You most certainly must drink [to surely and completely consume] it! word study 29 For behold [look, see], I am beginning [starting, initiating] to bring disaster [evil, calamity] on the city [town, settlement] that bears [is called by] My Name [My identity, reputation], so how could you possibly [utterly, completely] go unpunished [be innocent, escape free]? You will not [certainly not, by no means] go unpunished [be without penalty], for I am calling down [summoning, proclaiming] a sword [war, judgment] upon all [every, the whole] the inhabitants [dwellers, residents] of the earth [land, world], declares [says, affirms] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] of Hosts [armies, heavenly forces].’ word study 30 So you are to prophesy [speak under divine inspiration] all these words against them and say to them: ‘The LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] will roar [utter a mighty, thunderous voice] from on high [a lofty, exalted place]; He will raise His voice [sound forth a loud, clear call] from His holy habitation [the sacred, set-apart dwelling place]. He will roar loudly [with intense, powerful sound] over His pasture [the land of His people, the flock He cares for]; like those who tread [walk upon, crush] the grapes, He will call out [shout, proclaim] with a shout [a loud, joyful cry] against all the inhabitants [those who dwell, live] of the earth [the land, the world]. word study 31 The tumult [a loud, rushing sound, uproar] will resound to the ends [borders, edges] of the earth [land, territory, world] because the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] brings a charge [a controversy, dispute] against the nations [Gentiles, non-Hebrew peoples]. He brings judgment [to govern, vindicate, or punish] on all mankind [all flesh, humanity] and puts the wicked [morally wrong, guilty of sin] to the sword [a cutting instrument],’” declares the LORD [through an utterance, divine declaration]. word study 32 This is what the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] of Hosts [army, a large group of people or things] says: “Behold [look, pay attention]! Disaster [evil, moral or natural harm] is spreading [going out, coming out] from nation [Gentile, a large group of people] to nation; a mighty [great, powerful] storm [tempest, whirlwind] is rising [being stirred up] from the ends [sides, flanks] of the earth [land, territory].” word study 33 Those slain [killed, destroyed] by the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] on that day [a specific point in time, a day of reckoning] will be spread [scattered, dispersed] from one end [border, edge] of the earth [land, ground] to the other [opposite, farthest]. They will not be mourned [lamented, grieved], gathered [collected, brought together], or buried [interred, laid to rest]. They will be like dung [manure, worthless refuse] lying [left, abandoned] on the ground [face of the earth, soil]. word study 34 Wail [howl, cry out in distress], you shepherds [leaders, caretakers of God’s people], and cry out [lament, mourn]; roll in the dust [wallow in ashes, show extreme sorrow], you leaders [principals, chiefs] of the flock [God’s people, the congregation]. For the days [periods, seasons] of your slaughter [killing, destruction] have come; you will fall [be defeated, fail] and be shattered [broken, fragmented] like fine pottery [a precious, delicate vessel]. word study 35 Flight [to escape, flee away] will evade [perish, be lost from] the shepherds [House of Shepherds, rulers], and escape [survivor, deliverance] will elude [have no way to flee] the leaders [great, powerful ones] of the flock [sheep, people under care]. word study 36 Hear the cry [a voice of distress, a wailing sound] of the shepherds [the leaders, the caregivers], the wailing [howling, lamenting] of the leaders [the great ones, the nobles] of the flock [the sheep, the people], for the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God] is destroying [laying waste, ruining] their pasture [their land, their inheritance]. word study 37 The [serene] peaceful meadows [habitations, pastures, fields of peace] have been silenced [brought to silence, cut down, ruined] because of the LORD’s [Yehovah] burning [fierce, intense] anger [wrath, indignation, nose, countenance]. word study 38 He has left [forsaken, abandoned] His den [lair, secret place] like a lion [young lion, fierce beast], for their land [country, territory] has been made a desolation [horror, waste] by the sword [oppressing power] of the oppressor [one who treats violently], and because of the fierce [burning, intense] anger [wrath, indignation] of the LORD [the supreme God, Almighty]. word study