Jeremiah — Chapter 9

📖 Jeremiah — Chapter 9 (KJV)

Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.

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Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.

Jeremiah 9:1 ^TOh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might ^Rweep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

Jeremiah 9:2 Oh ^Rthat I had in the wilderness a lodging place of wayfaring men; that I might leave my people, and go from them! for they be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

Jeremiah 9:3 And ^Rthey bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:4 Take ^Rye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.

Jeremiah 9:5 And ^Rthey will ^Tdeceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth: they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity.

Jeremiah 9:6 Thine ^Rhabitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:7 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, ^RI will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

Jeremiah 9:8 Their ^Rtongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but ^Tin heart he layeth ^This wait.

Jeremiah 9:9 Shall I not visit them for these things? saith the LORD: shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?

Jeremiah 9:10 For ^Rthe mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the ^Thabitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are ^Tburned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; ^Tboth the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

Jeremiah 9:11 And I will make ^RJerusalem heaps, and a den of dragons; and I will make the cities of Judah ^Tdesolate, without an inhabitant.

Jeremiah 9:12 Who is ^Rthe wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through?

Jeremiah 9:13 And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein;

Jeremiah 9:14 But have ^Rwalked after the ^Timagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them:

Jeremiah 9:15 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, ^RI will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.

Jeremiah 9:16 I will ^Rscatter them also among the heathen, whom neither they nor their fathers have known: and I will send a sword after them, till I have consumed them.

Jeremiah 9:17 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Consider ye, and ^Rcall for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for cunning women, that they may come:

Jeremiah 9:18 And let them make haste, and ^Rtake up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters.

Jeremiah 9:19 For ^Ra voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we spoiled! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because our dwellings have cast us out.

Jeremiah 9:20 Yet ^Rhear the word of the LORD, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth, and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbour lamentation.

Jeremiah 9:21 For death is come up into our windows, and is entered into our palaces, to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets.

Jeremiah 9:22 Speak, Thus saith the LORD, Even the carcases of men shall ^Rfall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman, and none shall gather them.

Jeremiah 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the ^Rwise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

Jeremiah 9:24 But ^Rlet him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 9:25 Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, ^Rthat I will ^Tpunish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised;

Jeremiah 9:26 ^REgypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are ^Tin the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

📚 Study This Chapter

📖 What We’re Reading

Jeremiah 9:1–9 — Tears amid deception and violence

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Jeremiah longs to weep for the slain and withdraw from a treacherous community. Lies poison neighborly trust, and the Lord confronts a people who refuse to know him.

Key Truth: Practice truthful speech that rebuilds trust.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Jeremiah 9:10–18 — Desolation prompts a public lament

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Burned pastures and ruined Jerusalem call for mourning. Forsaking the law and following Baalim explain the scattering, while mourning women are summoned to teach the community to weep.

Key Truth: Grieve harm without hiding its causes.

Check What You Remember

📖 What We’re Reading

Jeremiah 9:19–26 — Boast in knowing the Lord

🌱 What These Verses Teach Us

Wailing over death leads to a challenge against boasting in wisdom, might, or riches. Knowing the Lord means recognizing his lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness; outward circumcision alone cannot change the heart.

Key Truth: Let knowing God shape mercy and righteousness.

Check What You Remember

Related Scripture (KJV)

1 Corinthians 1:31 — Paul directs boasting toward the Lord.

1 Corinthians 1:31 (KJV) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

This related passage is selected for its connection with this chapter. It is separate from the chapter text.

Reflect and Apply

What source of pride should give way to knowing God’s character?

Chapter Navigation

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