Jacob's Day of Trouble
Jeremiah 37
The Lord commands Jeremiah to write down all his words, promising that though a time of unequaled distress is coming upon Jacob, he will be saved out of it, the yoke of foreign servitude broken, and a king from David's line raised up over the people. The chapter also speaks of healing for a wound the nations thought incurable, and of the Lord's fierce anger accomplishing its purpose before it turns to comfort.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonTHE word which came from the Lord to Jeremias:
BrentonThe Word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, saying,
GreekὉ ΛΟΓΟΣ Ὁ ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΟΣ ΠΡΟΣ ἹΕΡΕΜΙΑΝ ΠΑΡΑ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ, ΕΙΠΕΙΝ,
KJVThe word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
JPSThe word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:
2
ThomsonThus spake the Lord the God of Israel, saying: Write all the words which I have delivered to thee in a book;
BrentonThus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write all the words which I have spoken to thee in a book.
GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος ὁ Θεὸς Ἰσραὴλ, λέγων, Γράψον πάντας τοὺς λόγους οὓς ἐχρημάτισα πρὸς σὲ ἐπὶ βιβλίου.
KJVThus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
JPS’Thus speaketh the LORD, the God of Israel, saying: Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
3
Thomsonfor behold the days are coming, saith the Lord, when I will bring back the captivity of My people Israel and Juda; and I will bring them to this land, which I gave to their fathers and they shall rule over it.
BrentonFor, behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will bring back the captivity of my people Israel and Juda, said the Lord: and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall be lords of it.
GreekὍτι ἰδοὺ ἡμέραι ἔρχονται, φησὶ Κύριος, καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποικίαν λαοῦ μου Ἰσραὴλ καὶ Ἰούδα, εἶπε Κύριος, καὶ ἀποστρέψω αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ἔδωκα τοῖς πατράσιν αὐτῶν, καὶ κυριεύσουσιν αὐτῆς.
KJVFor, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
JPSFor, lo, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will turn the captivity of My people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD; and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’
4
ThomsonNow these are the words which the Lord spake concerning Israel and Juda.
BrentonAnd these are the Words which the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Juda:
GreekΚΑΙ ΟΥΤΟΙ ΟΙ ΛΟΓΟΙ ΟΥΣ ἘΛΑΛΗΣΕ ΚΥΡΙΟΣ ἘΠΙ ἸΣΡΑΗΛ ΚΑΙ ἸΟΥΔΑ.
KJVAnd these are the words that the LORD spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
JPSAnd these are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5
ThomsonThus said the Lord: You shall hear the sound of terror. It is terror and not peace.
BrentonThus said the Lord: Ye shall hear a sound of fear, there is fear, and there is not peace.
GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, φωνὴν φόβου ἀκούσεσθε· φόβος, καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν εἰρήνη.
KJVFor thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
JPSFor thus saith the LORD: We have heard a voice of trembling, Of fear, and not of peace.
6
ThomsonInquire and see! Hath a male ever brought forth? Now with respect to the terror, in which they will hold their loins, it is indeed for a deliverance. (p) Why then have I seen every man with his hands on his loins? Their faces are turned to paleness.
BrentonEnquire, and see if a male has born a child? and ask concerning the fear, wherein they shall hold their loins, and look for safety: for I have seen every man, and his hands are on his loins; their faces are turned to paleness.
GreekἘρωτήσατε, καὶ ἴδετε, εἰ ἔτεκεν ἄρσεν; καὶ περὶ φόβου, ἐν ᾧ καθέξουσιν ὀσφὺν καὶ σωτηρίαν; διότι ἑώρακα πάντα ἄνθρωπον, καὶ αἱ χεῖρες αὐτοῦ ἐπὶ τῆς ὀσφύος αὐτοῦ· ἐστράφησαν πρόσωπα εἰς ἴκτερον.
KJVAsk ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
JPSAsk ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child; Wherefore do I see every man With his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, And all faces are turned into paleness?
7
ThomsonIt is because that great day is come which is unparalleled. saved.
BrentonFor that day is great, and there is not such another; and it is a time of straitness to Jacob; but he shall be saved out of it.
GreekὍτι ἐγενήθη μεγάλη ἡ ἡμέρα ἐκείνη, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι τοιαύτη· καὶ χρόνος στενός ἐστι τῷ Ἰακὼβ,
KJVAlas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
JPSAlas! for that day is great, So that none is like it; And it is a time of trouble unto Jacob, But out of it shall he be saved.
8
ThomsonIn that day, saith the Lord, I will break the yoke from their neck, and burst their bonds asunder; and they shall no more work for strangers.
BrentonIn that day, said the Lord, I will break the yoke off their neck, and will burst their bonds, and they shall no longer serve strangers:
Greekκαὶ ἀπὸ τούτου σωθήσεται. Ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ, εἶπε Κύριος, συντρίψω τὸν ζυγὸν ἀπὸ τοῦ τραχήλου αὐτῶν, καὶ τοὺς δεσμοὺς αὐτῶν διαῤῥήξω· καὶ οὐκ ἐργῶνται αὐτοὶ ἔτι ἀλλοτρίοις,
KJVFor it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
JPSAnd it shall come to pass in that day, Saith the LORD of hosts, That I will break his yoke from off thy neck, And will burst thy bands; And strangers shall no more make him their bondman;
9
ThomsonBut they must work for the Lord their God and I will raise up for them David their king.
Brentonbut they shall serve the Lord their God; and I will raise up to them David their king.
Greekκαὶ ἐργῶνται τῷ Κυρίῳ Θεῷ αὐτῶν· καὶ τὸν Δαυὶδ βασιλέα αὐτῶν ἀναστήσω αὐτοῖς.
KJVBut they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
JPSBut they shall serve the LORD their God, And David their king, Whom I will raise up unto them.
12
Thomson—
BrentonThus saith the Lord; I have brought on thee destruction; thy stroke is painful.
GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ἀνέστησα σύντριμμα, ἀλγηρὰ ἡ πληγή σου,
KJVFor thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
JPSFor thus saith the LORD: Thy hurt is incurable, And thy wound is grievous.
13
Thomsonthere is none to plead thy cause; the attempts to cure thee increased thy pain; there is no relief for thee;
BrentonThere is none to judge thy cause: thou hast been painfully treated for healing, there is no help for thee.
Greekοὐκ ἔστι κρίνων κρίσιν σου, εἰς ἀλγηρὸν ἰατρεύθης, ὠφέλειά σοι οὐκ ἔστι.
KJVThere is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
JPSNone deemeth of thy wound that it may be bound up; Thou hast no healing medicines.
14
Thomsonall thy friends forgot thee. They would make no inquiry for thee, because I inflicted on thee the wound of an enemy, a severe chastisement for all thine iniquity. Thy sins had multiplied:
BrentonAll thy friends have forgotten thee; they shall not ask about thee at all, for I have smitten thee with the stroke of an enemy, even severe correction: thy sins have abounded above all thine iniquity.
GreekΠάντες οἱ φίλοι σου ἐπελάθοντό σου, οὐ μὴ ἐπερωτήσωσιν· ὅτι πληγὴν ἐχθροῦ ἔπαισά σε, παιδείαν στερεάν· ἐπὶ πᾶσαν ἀδικίαν σου ἐπλήθυναν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου.
KJVAll thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
JPSAll thy lovers have forgotten thee, They seek thee not; For I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, With the chastisement of a cruel one; For the greatness of thine iniquity, Because thy sins were increased.
16
Thomsontherefore all that devour thee shall be devoured, and all thine enemies shall eat their own flesh. For the multitude of thine iniquities (thy sins indeed were multiplied) they have done all these things to thee; but they who plunder thee shall be for plunder; and all who have preyed upon thee, I will give for a prey.
BrentonTherefore all that devour thee shall be eaten, and all thine enemies shall eat all their own flesh. Thy sins have abounded beyond the multitude of thine iniquities, therefore they have done these things to thee. And they that spoil thee shall become a spoil, and I will give up to be plundered all that have plundered thee.
GreekΔιατοῦτο πάντες οἱ ἔσθοντές σε βρωθήσονται, καὶ πάντες οἱ ἐχθροί σου κρέας αὐτῶν πᾶν ἔδονται. Ἐπὶ πλῆθος ἀδικιῶν σου ἐπληθύνθησαν αἱ ἁμαρτίαι σου· ἐποίησαν ταῦτά σοι· Καὶ ἔσονται οἱ διαφοροῦντές σε εἰς διαφόρημα, καὶ πάντας τοὺς προνομεύσαντάς σε δώσω εἰς προνομήν.
KJVWhy criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
JPSTherefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured, And all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; And they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, And all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
17
ThomsonBecause I will bring up the cure for thee I will cure thee, saith the Lord, of thy painful wound; because thou wast called the Outcast, the hunt is up after thee. Because there is none who seeketh this outcast,
BrentonFor I will bring about thy healing, I will heal thee of thy grievous wound, saith the Lord; for thou art called Dispersed: she is your prey, for no one seeks after her.
GreekὍτι ἀνάξω τὸ ἴαμά σου, ἀπὸ πληγῆς ὀδυνηρᾶς ἰατρεύσω σε, φησὶ Κύριος· ὅτι Ἐσπαρμένη ἐκλήθης, θήρευμα ὑμῶν ἐστιν, ὅτι ζητῶν οὐκ ἔστιν αὐτήν.
KJVFor I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
JPS—
18
Thomsonthus saith the Lord: Behold I Myself will bring back the outcast of Jacob, and his captivity I will compassionate. And the city shall be rebuilt on its height; and the people shall sit for the administration of justice.
BrentonThus said the Lord; Behold, I will turn the captivity of Jacob, and will have pity upon his prisoners; and the city shall be built upon her hill, and the people shall settle after their manner.
GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποικιαν Ἰακὼβ, καὶ τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν αὐτοῦ ἐλεήσω· καὶ οἰκοδομηθήσεται πόλις ἐπὶ τὸ ὕψος αὐτῆς, καὶ ὁ λαὸς κατὰ τὸ κρίμα αὐτοῦ καθεδεῖται,
KJVThus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
JPSThus saith the LORD: Behold, I will turn the captivity of Jacob’s tents, And have compassion on his dwelling-places; And the city shall be builded upon her own mound, And the palace shall be inhabited upon its wonted place.
19
ThomsonAnd from them shall come forth singers-the sound of the sportive; and I will multiply them and they shall not be diminished.
BrentonAnd there shall go forth from them singers, even the sound of men making merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not at all be diminished.
Greekκαὶ ἐξελεύσονται ἀπʼ αὐτῶν ᾄδοντες, φωνὴ παιζόντων· καὶ πλεονάσω αὐτοὺς, καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐλαττωθῶσι.
KJV—
JPS—
20
ThomsonAnd their sons shall come in as in former times; and their judicatories shall be established in My presence. And I will punish them who afflict them.
BrentonAnd their sons shall go in as before, and their testimonies shall be established before me, and I will visit them that afflict them.
GreekΚαὶ εἰσελεύσονται οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτῶν ὡς τὸ πρότερον, καὶ τὰ μαρτύρια αὐτῶν κατὰ πρόσωπόν μου ὀρθωθήσεται· καὶ ἐπισκέψομαι τοὺς θλίβοντας αὐτοὺς.
KJVTheir children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
JPSTheir children also shall be as aforetime, And their congregation shall be established before Me, And I will punish all that oppress them.
21
ThomsonHis own mighties shall preside over them; and from him his own chief shall come forth; and h e will gather them that they may return to Me-that he who hath given his heart, whoever he is, may return to Me, saith the Lord. -
BrentonAnd their mighty ones shall be over them, and their prince shall proceed of themselves; and I will gather them, and they shall return to me: for who is this that has set his heart to return to me? saith the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ ἔσονται ἰσχυρότεροι αὐτοῦ ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς, καὶ ὁ ἄρχων αὐτοῦ ἐξ αὐτοῦ ἐξελεύσεται· καὶ συνάξω αὐτοὺς, καὶ ἀποστρέψουσι πρὸς μέ· ὅτι τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὃς ἔδωκε τὴν καρδίαν αὐτοῦ, ἀποστρέψαι πρὸς μέ; φησὶ Κύριος·
KJVAnd their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the LORD.
JPSAnd their prince shall be of themselves, And their ruler shall proceed from the midst of them; And I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto Me; For who is he that hath pledged his heart To approach unto Me? saith the LORD.
23
ThomsonBecause the anger of the Lord hath gone forth-hath gone’ forth a furious anger, it will come whirling on the wicked-
BrentonFor the wrathful anger of the Lord has gone forth, even a whirlwind of anger has gone forth: it shall come upon the ungodly.
GreekὍτι ὀργὴ Κυρίου ἐξῆλθε θυμώδης, ἐξῆλθεν ὀργὴ στρεφομένη, ἐπʼ ἀσεβεῖς ἥξει.
KJVBehold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
JPSBehold, a storm of the LORD is gone forth in fury, A sweeping storm; it shall whirl upon the head of the wicked.
24
Thomsonthe fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back, till He hath done-till He hath executed the purpose of His heart. In the latter days you will know these things.
BrentonThe fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he shall execute it, and until he shall establish the purpose of his heart: in the latter days ye shall know these things.
GreekΟὐ μὴ ἀποστραφῇ ὀργὴ θυμοῦ Κυρίου, ἕως ποιήσει, καὶ ἕως καταστήσῃ ἐγχείρημα καρδίας αὐτοῦ· ἐπʼ ἐσχάτων τῶν ἡμερῶν γνώσεσθε αὐτά.
KJVThe fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.
JPSThe fierce anger of the LORD shall not return, Until He have executed, and till He have performed The purposes of His heart In the end of days ye shall consider it.