Lamentations 4:13–16

³¹The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?

^31*‖The prophets prophecie falsely, and the priests beare rule by their meanes, and my people loue to haue it so: and what will yee doe in the end therof?

¹³For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely.

^13*For from the least of them euen vnto the greatest of them, euery one is giuen to couetousnesse, and from the prophet euen vnto the priest, euery one dealeth falsly.

²⁶Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean, and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.

²⁷Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain.

²⁸And her prophets have daubed them with untempered morter, seeing vanity, and divining lies unto them, saying, Thus saith the Lord God, when the Lord hath not spoken.

^26†Her priests haue violated my law, and haue prophaned mine holy things: they haue put no difference betweene the holy and prophane, neither haue they shewed difference between the vncleane and the cleane, and haue hid their eyes from my Sabbaths, and I am prophaned among them.

^27*Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolues rauening the praye, to shed blood, and to destroy soules, to get dishonest gaine.

²⁸And her prophets haue dawbed them with vntempered morter, seeing vanity, and diuining lies vnto them, saying, Thus saith the LORD God, when the LORD hath not spoken.

⁸¶ Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

⁹Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

⁸¶ Now it came to passe when Ieremiah had made an ende of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speake vnto all the people, that the priests and the prophets, and all the people tooke him, saying; Thou shalt surely die.

⁹Why hast thou prophecied in the Name of the LORD, saying, This house shalbe like Shiloh, and this city shalbe desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Ieremiah in the house of the LORD.

¹⁴Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment.

^14*Thy Prophets haue seene vaine and foolish things for thee, and they haue not discouered thine iniquitie, to turne away thy captiuitie: but haue seene for thee false burdens, and causes of banishment.

³¹Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets.

³¹Wherefore ye bee witnesses vnto your selues, that yee are the children of them which killed the Prophets.

¹⁵Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

¹⁶Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

¹⁵Who both killed the Lord Iesus, and their owne Prophets, and haue ^‖persecuted vs: and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

¹⁶Forbidding vs to speake to the Gentiles, that they might bee saued, to fill vp their sinnes alway: for the wrath is come vpon them to the vttermost.

⁵²Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:

⁵²Which of the Prophets haue not your fathers persecuted? And they haue slaine them which shewed before of the comming of the Iust one, of whom ye haue bene now the betrayers and murderers:

¹⁴Then the Lord said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

^14*Then the LORD said vnto me, The prophets prophecie lies in my Name, I sent them not, neither haue I commanded them, neither spake vnto them: they prophecie vnto you a false vision and diuination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.

²⁰¶ For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.

²⁰¶ ^‖**For of old time I haue broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands, and thou saidst; I will not transgresse: when vpon euery high hill, and vnder euery greene tree thou wandrest, playing the harlot.

¹¹For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.

¹²Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness: they shall be driven on, and fall therein: for I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.

¹³And I have seen folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophesied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to err.

¹⁴I have seen also in the prophets of Jerusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walk in lies: they strengthen also the hands of evildoers, that none doth return from his wickedness: they are all of them unto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

¹⁵Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts concerning the prophets; Behold, I will feed them with wormwood, and make them drink the water of gall: for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land.

¹⁶Thus saith the Lord of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Lord.

¹⁷They say still unto them that despise me, The Lord hath said, Ye shall have peace; and they say unto every one that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, No evil shall come upon you.

¹⁸For who hath stood in the counsel of the Lord, and hath perceived and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

¹⁹Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind: it shall fall grievously upon the head of the wicked.

²⁰The anger of the Lord shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly.

²¹I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran: I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied.

¹¹For both prophet and priest are prophane, yea in my house haue I found their wickednesse, saith the LORD.

¹²Wherefore their way shalbe vnto them as slippery wayes in the darkenes: they shalbe driuen on and fall therein: for I will bring euill vpon them, euen the yeere of their visitation, saith the LORD.

^13‖And I haue seene folly in the prophets of Samaria; they prophecied in Baal, and caused my people Israel to erre.

^14‖*I haue seene also in the prophets of Ierusalem an horrible thing: they commit adultery, and walke in lies: they strengthen also the hands of euill doers, that none doeth returne from his wickednesse: they are all of them vnto me as Sodom, and the inhabitants thereof as Gomorrah.

^15*‖Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts concerning the Prophets; Behold, I will feede them with wormewood, and make them drinke the water of gall: for from the Prophets of Ierusalem is profanenesse gone forth into all the land.

¹⁶Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not vnto the wordes of the prophets that prophecie vnto you; they make you vaine: they speake a vision of their owne heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.

^17*‖They say still vnto them that despise me; The LORD hath sayde, Yee shall haue peace; and they say vnto euery one that walketh after the imagination of his owne heart, No euill shall come vpon you.

^18‖For who hath stood in the counsell of the LORD, and hath perceiued, and heard his word? who hath marked his word, and heard it?

^19*Behold, a whirlewinde of the LORD is gone foorth in furie, euen a grieuous whirlewinde, it shall fall grieuously vpon the head of the wicked.

^20*The anger of the LORD shall not returne, vntill hee haue executed, and til he haue performed the thoughts of his heart: in the latter dayes ye shall consider it perfectly.

^21*I haue not sent these prophets, yet they ranne: I haue not spoken to them, yet they prophecied.

⁴⁷Woe unto you! for ye build the sepulchres of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

⁴⁸Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

⁴⁹Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:

⁵⁰That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

⁵¹From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.

^47*Woe vnto you: for ye build the sepulchres of the Prophets, and your fathers killed them.

⁴⁸Truely ye beare witnesse that ye allowe the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and yee build their sepulchres.

⁴⁹Therefore also said the wisedome of God, I wil send them Prophets and Apostles, and some of them they shal slay and persecute:

⁵⁰That the blood of all the Prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation,

^51*From the blood of Abel vnto the blood of Zacharias, which perished betweene the Altar and the Temple: Uerely I say vnto you, it shall be required of this generation.

³³Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?

³⁴¶ Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:

³⁵That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.

³⁶Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.

³⁷O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

³³Yee serpents, yee generation of vipers, How can yee escape the damnation of hell?

³⁴¶ Wherefore behold, I send vnto you Prophets, and wisemen, and Scribes, and some of them yee shall kill and crucifie, and some of them shall yee scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from citie to citie:

³⁵That vpon you may come all the righteous blood shed vpon the earth, ^*from the blood of righteous Abel, vnto the blood of Zacharias, sonne of Barachias, whom yee slew betweene the temple and the altar.

³⁶Uerily I say vnto you, All these things shal come vpon this generation.

^37*O Hierusalem, Hierusalem, thou that killest the Prophets, ^*and stonest them which are sent vnto thee, how often would ^*I haue gathered thy children together, euen as a hen gathereth her chickens vnder her wings, and yee would not?

¹¹The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, Is not the Lord among us? none evil can come upon us.

¹²Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest.

^11†The heads thereof iudge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hyre, and the Prophets thereof diuine for money: yet will they leane vpon the LORD, and say; Is not the LORD among vs? none euill can come vpon vs.

^12*Therefore shall Zion for your sake be plowed as a field, and Ierusalem shal become heapes, and the mountaine of the house, as the high places of the forrest.

³Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

⁴Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.

³Her princes within her are roaring ^*lyons; her Iudges are euening wolues, they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

⁴Her ^*prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests haue polluted the Sanctuarie, they haue done ^*violence to the Law.

¹⁵And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

¹⁵And when ye spread foorth your ^*handes, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when yee ^†make many prayers I will not heare: your hands are full of ^*†blood.

³⁴Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.

^34†Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the soules of the poore innocents: I haue not found it by secret search, but vpon all these.

²⁸The Lord shall smite thee with madness, and blindness, and astonishment of heart:

²⁹And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.

²⁸The LORD shall smite thee with madnesse, and blindnesse, and astonishment of heart.

²⁹And thou shalt grope at noone dayes, as the blind gropeth in darknes, and thou shalt not prosper in thy waies: and thou shalt be onely oppressed, and spoiled euermore, and no man shal saue thee.

¹⁰His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.

^10‖His watchmen are blinde: they are all ignorant, they are all dumbe dogs, they cannot barke; sleeping, lying downe, louing to slumber.

¹⁶And whosoever toucheth one that is slain with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

¹⁶And whosoeuer toucheth one that is slaine with a sword in the open fields, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a graue, shall be vncleane seuen dayes.

¹⁸Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

¹⁸Hauing the vnderstanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the ^*‖blindnesse of their heart:

²By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood.

^2†By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adulterie, they breake out, and blood toucheth blood.

¹⁰For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.

¹¹And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

¹²And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

^10†For the LORD hath powred out vpon you the spirit of deepe sleepe, and hath closed your eyes: the Prophets and your rulers, the Seers hath hee couered.

^11‖And the vsion of all is become vnto you, as the wordes of a booke that is sealed, which men deliuer to one that is learned, saying, Reade this, I pray thee: and hee saith, I cannot, for it is sealed.

¹²And the booke is deliuered to him that is not learned, saying, Reade this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.

⁹¶ Therefore is judgment far from us, neither doth justice overtake us: we wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness.

¹⁰We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.

¹¹We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us.

⁹¶ Therefore is iudgement farre from vs, neither doth iustice ouertake vs: we waite for light, but behold obscuritie, for brightnesse, but we walke in darknesse.

¹⁰We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eies: we stumble at noone day as in the night, we are in desolate places as dead men.

¹¹We roare all like beares, and mourne sore like doues: we looke for iudgement, but there is none; for saluation, but it is farre off from vs.

¹⁴Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

¹⁴Let them alone: ^*they be blinde leaders of the blinde. And if the blinde lead the blinde, both shall fall into the ditch.

⁶Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them.

⁷Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God.

^6††Therefore night shall be vnto you, that yee shall not haue a vision, and it shall be darke vnto you, that yee shall not diuine, and the Sunne shall goe downe ouer the Prophets, and the day shall be darke ouer them.

^7†Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diuiners confounded: yea, they shall all couer their lips; for there is no answere of God.

³³So ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are: for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

³³So ye shall not pollute the lande wherein ye are: for blood, it defileth the land: and the ^†land cannot bee cleansed of the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed it.

⁴⁵And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

⁴⁶All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

⁴⁵And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a couering vpon his vpper lip, and shall cry, Uncleane, vncleane.

⁴⁶All the dayes wherein the plague shall bee in him, he shall bee defiled, hee is vncleane: he shall dwell alone, ^*without the campe shall his habitation be.

¹⁴Therefore the Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail, branch and rush, in one day.

¹⁵The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

¹⁶For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed.

¹⁴Therefore the LORD will cut off from Israel head and taile, branch and rush in one day.

¹⁵The ancient and honourable, hee is the head: and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the taile.

^16‖‖†For the leaders of this people cause them to erre, and they that are ledde of them, are destroyed.

¹²Princes are hanged up by their hand: the faces of elders were not honoured.

¹²Princes are hanged vp by their hand: the faces of Elders were not honoured.

²⁶I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease from among men:

²⁶I said, I would scatter them into corners, I would make the remembrance of them to cease frō among men:

²⁵The Lord shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seven ways before them: and shalt be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth.

²⁵The LORD shall cause thee to be smitten before thine enemies: thou shalt go out one way against them, and flee seuen wayes before them, and shalt be ^†remoued into all the kingdomes of the earth.

⁶⁴And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone.

⁶⁵And among these nations shalt thou find no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foot have rest: but the Lord shall give thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind:

⁶⁴And the LORD shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth, euen vnto the other: and there thou shalt serue other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers haue knowen, euen wood and stone.

⁶⁵And among these nations shalt thou finde no ease, neither shall the sole of thy foote haue rest: but the LORD shall giue thee there a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, & sorrow of minde.

⁹Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

⁹Not according to the Couenant that I made with their fathers, in the day when I tooke them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my Couenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

⁹And I will deliver them to be removed into all the kingdoms of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproach and a proverb, a taunt and a curse, in all places whither I shall drive them.

^9†*And I will deliuer them to be remoued into all the kingdomes of the earth for their hurt, to be a reproch and a prouerbe, a taunt and a curse in all places whither I shall driue them.

¹⁷Therefore he brought upon them the king of the Chaldees, who slew their young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary, and had no compassion upon young man or maiden, old man, or him that stooped for age: he gave them all into his hand.

^17*Therefore hee brought vpon them the king of the Caldees, who slew their yong men with the sword, in the house of their sanctuarie, and had no compassion vpon yong man or maiden, olde man, or him that stouped for age: he gaue them all into his hand.

¹⁸¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

¹⁹And out of the city he took an officer that was set over the men of war, and five men of them that were in the king’s presence, which were found in the city, and the principal scribe of the host, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the city:

²⁰And Nebuzar-adan captain of the guard took these, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah:

²¹And the king of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath. So Judah was carried away out of their land.

¹⁸¶ And the captaine of the guard, tooke Seraiah the chiefe Priest, and Zephaniah the second Priest, and the three keepers of the ^†doore.

¹⁹And out of the citie hee tooke an ^‖Officer, that was set ouer the men of warre, and fiue men of them that ^†were in the kings presence, which were found in the citie, and the ^‖principall Scribe of the hoste, which mustered the people of the land, and threescore men of the people of the land that were found in the citie.

²⁰And Nebuzaradan captaine of the guard tooke these, and brought them to the king of Babylon, to Riblah.

²¹And the King of Babylon smote them, and slew them at Riblah in the land of Hamath: so Iudah was caried away out of their land.

⁷Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

⁷Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruell: I will diuide them in Iacob, and scatter them in Israel.

⁴And I will cause them to be removed into all kingdoms of the earth, because of Manasseh the son of Hezekiah king of Judah, for that which he did in Jerusalem.

^4†**And I will cause them to be remoued into all kingdomes of the earth, because of Manasseh the sonne of Hezekiah king of Iudah, for that which hee did in Ierusalem.

³³And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

³⁴Then shall the land enjoy her sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and ye be in your enemies’ land; even then shall the land rest, and enjoy her sabbaths.

³⁵As long as it lieth desolate it shall rest; because it did not rest in your sabbaths, when ye dwelt upon it.

³⁶And upon them that are left alive of you I will send a faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies; and the sound of a shaken leaf shall chase them; and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword; and they shall fall when none pursueth.

³⁷And they shall fall one upon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and ye shall have no power to stand before your enemies.

³⁸And ye shall perish among the heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up.

³⁹And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquity in your enemies’ lands; and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

³³And I will scatter you among the heathen, and will draw out a sword after you: and your land shall be desolate, and your cities waste.

³⁴Then shall the lande enioy her Sabbaths, as long as it lieth desolate, and yee be in your enemies land, euen then shall the land rest, and enioy her Sabbaths.

³⁵As long as it lieth desolate, it shall rest: because it did not rest in your Sabbaths, when ye dwelt vpon it.

³⁶And vpon them that are left aliue of you, I will send a faintnesse into their hearts in the lands of their enemies, and the sound of a ^†shaken leafe shall chase them, and they shall flee, as fleeing from a sword: and they shall fall, when none pursueth.

³⁷And they shall fall one vpon another, as it were before a sword, when none pursueth: and yee shall haue no power to stand before your enemies.

³⁸And yee shall perish among the Heathen, and the land of your enemies shall eate you vp.

³⁹And they that are left of you shall pine away in their iniquitie in your enemies lands, and also in the iniquities of their fathers shall they pine away with them.

⁴⁴Nevertheless he regarded their affliction, when he heard their cry:

⁴⁴Neuertheles he regarded their affliction: when he heard their crie.