Jeremiah · Bible in Basic English
Jeremiah 25 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 The word which came to Jeremiah about all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah king of Judah; this was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon.
1 The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah (this was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon),
2 This word Jeremiah gave out to all the people of Judah and to those living in Jerusalem, saying,
2 which Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah, the son of Amon, king of Judah, even till this day, for twenty-three years, the word of the Lord has been coming to me, and I have given it to you, getting up early and talking to you; but you have not given ear.
3 From the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even to this day, these twenty-three years, Yahweh’s word has come to me, and I have spoken to you, rising up early and speaking; but you have not listened.
4 And the Lord has sent to you all his servants the prophets, getting up early and sending them; but you have not given attention and your ear has not been open to give hearing;
4 Yahweh has sent to you all his servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them (but you have not listened or inclined your ear to hear),
5 Saying, Come back now, everyone from his evil way and from the evil of your doings, and keep your place in the land which the Lord has given to you and to your fathers, from times long past even for ever:
5 saying, “Return now everyone from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that Yahweh has given to you and to your fathers, from of old and even forever more.
6 Do not go after other gods to be their servants and to give them worship, and do not make me angry with the work of your hands, causing evil to yourselves.
6 Don’t go after other gods to serve them or worship them, and don’t provoke me to anger with the work of your hands; then I will do you no harm.”
7 But you have not given ear to me, says the Lord; so that you have made me angry with the work of your hands, causing evil to yourselves.
7 “Yet you have not listened to me,” says Yahweh, “that you may provoke me to anger with the work of your hands to your own hurt.”
8 So this is what the Lord of armies has said: Because you have not given ear to my words,
8 Therefore Yahweh of Armies says: “Because you have not heard my words,
9 See, I will send and take all the families of the north, says the Lord, and Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, my servant, and make them come against this land, and against its people, and against all these nations on every side; and I will give them up to complete destruction, and make them a cause of fear and surprise and a waste place for ever.
9 behold, I will send and take all the families of the north,” says Yahweh, “and I will send to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against its inhabitants, and against all these nations around. I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.
10 And more than this, I will take from them the sound of laughing voices, the voice of joy, the voice of the newly-married man, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the stones crushing the grain, and the shining of lights.
10 Moreover I will take from them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.
11 All this land will be a waste and a cause of wonder; and these nations will be the servants of the king of Babylon for seventy years.
11 This whole land will be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.
12 And it will come about, after seventy years are ended, that I will send punishment on the king of Babylon, and on that nation, says the Lord, for their evil-doing, and on the land of the Chaldaeans; and I will make it a waste for ever.
12 “It will happen, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation,” says Yahweh, “for their iniquity. I will make the land of the Chaldeans desolate forever.
13◆ And I will make that land undergo everything I have said against it, even everything recorded in this book, which Jeremiah the prophet has said against all the nations.
13 I will bring on that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.
14 For a number of nations and great kings will make servants of them, even of them: and I will give them the reward of their acts, even the reward of the work of their hands.
14 For many nations and great kings will make bondservants of them, even of them. I will recompense them according to their deeds, and according to the work of their hands.”
15 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said to me: Take the cup of the wine of this wrath from my hand, and make all the nations to whom I send you take of it.
15 For Yahweh, the God of Israel, says to me: “Take this cup of the wine of wrath from my hand, and cause all the nations to whom I send you to drink it.
16 And after drinking it, they will go rolling from side to side, and be off their heads, because of the sword which I will send among them.
16 They will drink, and reel back and forth, and be insane, because of the sword that I will send among them.”
17 Then I took the cup from the Lord's hand, and gave a drink from it to all the nations to whom the Lord sent me;
17 Then I took the cup at Yahweh’s hand, and made all the nations to drink, to whom Yahweh had sent me:
18 Jerusalem and the towns of Judah and their kings and their princes, to make them a waste place, a cause of fear and surprise and a curse, as it is this day;
18 Jerusalem, and the cities of Judah, with its kings and its princes, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a curse, as it is today;
19 Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and his servants and his princes and all his people;
19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, with his servants, his princes, and all his people;
20 And all the mixed people and all the kings of the land of Uz, and all the kings of the land of the Philistines, and Ashkelon and Gaza and Ekron and the rest of Ashdod;
20 and all the mixed people, and all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the remnant of Ashdod;
21 Edom and Moab and the children of Ammon,
21 Edom, Moab, and the children of Ammon;
22 And all the kings of Tyre, and all the kings of Zidon, and the kings of the lands across the sea;
22 and all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and the kings of the isle which is beyond the sea;
23 Dedan and Tema and Buz, and all who have the ends of their hair cut;
23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and all who have the corners of their beard cut off;
24 And all the kings of Arabia, and all the kings of the mixed people living in the waste land;
24 and all the kings of Arabia, all the kings of the mixed people who dwell in the wilderness;
25 And all the kings of Zimri, and all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;
25 and all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of the Medes;
26 And all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth.
26 and all the kings of the north, far and near, one with another; and all the kingdoms of the world, which are on the surface of the earth. The king of Sheshach will drink after them.
27 And you are to say to them, This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, has said: Take of this cup and be overcome, and let it come out again from your lips, and from your fall you will never be lifted up again, because of the sword which I will send among you.
27 “You shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says: “Drink, and be drunk, vomit, fall, and rise no more, because of the sword which I will send among you.”’
28 And it will be, if they will not take of the cup in your hand, then you are to say to them, This is what the Lord of armies has said: You will certainly take of it.
28 It shall be, if they refuse to take the cup at your hand to drink, then you shall tell them, ‘Yahweh of Armies says: “You shall surely drink.
29 For see, I am starting to send evil on the town which is named by my name, and are you to be without any punishment? You will not be without punishment: for I will send a sword on all people living on the earth, says the Lord of armies.
29 For, behold, I begin to work evil at the city which is called by my name; and should you be utterly unpunished? You will not be unpunished; for I will call for a sword on all the inhabitants of the earth, says Yahweh of Armies.”’
30 So, as a prophet, give out these words among them, and say to them, The voice of the Lord will be sounding like a lion from on high; he will send out his voice from his holy place, like the loud voice of a lion, against his flock; he will give a cry, like those who are crushing the grapes, against all the people of the earth.
30 “Therefore prophesy against them all these words, and tell them, “‘Yahweh will roar from on high, and utter his voice from his holy habitation. He will mightily roar against his fold. He will give a shout, as those who tread grapes, against all the inhabitants of the earth.
31 A noise will come, even to the end of the earth; for the Lord has a cause against the nations, he will give his decision against all flesh; as for the evil-doers, he will give them to the sword, says the Lord.
31 A noise will come even to the end of the earth; for Yahweh has a controversy with the nations. He will enter into judgment with all flesh. As for the wicked, he will give them to the sword,”’ says Yahweh.”
32 This is what the Lord of armies has said: See, evil is going out from nation to nation, and a great storm will come up from the inmost parts of the earth.
32 Yahweh of Armies says, “Behold, evil will go out from nation to nation, and a great storm will be raised up from the uttermost parts of the earth.”
33 And at that day, the bodies of those whom the Lord has put to death will be seen from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth: there will be no weeping for them, their bodies will not be taken up or put to rest in the earth; they will be like waste on the face of the land.
33 The slain of Yahweh will be at that day from one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth. They won’t be lamented. They won’t be gathered or buried. They will be dung on the surface of the ground.
34 Give cries of grief, you keepers of sheep; give cries for help, rolling yourselves in the dust, you chiefs of the flock: for the days of your destruction have fully come, and I will send you in all directions, and your fall will be like that of the males of the flock.
34 Wail, you shepherds, and cry. Wallow in dust, you leader of the flock; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions have fully come, and you will fall like fine pottery.
35 There will be no way of flight for the keepers of sheep, no road for the chiefs of the flock to get away safely.
35 The shepherds will have no way to flee. The leader of the flock will have no escape.
36 A sound of the cry of the keepers of sheep, and the bitter crying of the chiefs of the flock! for the Lord has made waste their green fields.
36 A voice of the cry of the shepherds, and the wailing of the leader of the flock, for Yahweh destroys their pasture.
37 And there is no sound in the fields of peace, because of the burning wrath of the Lord.
37 The peaceful folds are brought to silence because of the fierce anger of Yahweh.
38 The lion has come out of his secret place, for the land has become a waste because of the cruel sword, and because of the heat of his wrath.
38 He has left his covert, as the lion; for their land has become an astonishment because of the fierceness of the oppression, and because of his fierce anger.
Cross references (37)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Jeremiah 36:1; 2 Kings 24:1–2; Jeremiah 46:2; Daniel 1:1
- 2 Jeremiah 18:11; Jeremiah 26:2; Psalm 49:1–2; Jeremiah 38:1–2; Jeremiah 35:13
- 3 Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 11:7; Jeremiah 1:2; Jeremiah 7:13; Jeremiah 29:19
- 4 Jeremiah 25:3; Jeremiah 26:5; Jeremiah 32:33; 2 Chronicles 36:15–16; Jeremiah 22:21
- 5 Jeremiah 7:7; Genesis 17:8; Isaiah 55:6–7; Jeremiah 17:25; Jonah 3:8–10
- 6 Deuteronomy 8:19; 1 Kings 14:22; 2 Kings 17:35; Deuteronomy 6:14; Jeremiah 35:15
- 7 2 Kings 21:15; Proverbs 8:36; Deuteronomy 32:21; 2 Kings 17:17; Jeremiah 7:18–19
- 9 Jeremiah 1:15; Jeremiah 18:16; Isaiah 13:3; Habakkuk 1:6–10; Ezekiel 29:18–20
- 10 Jeremiah 7:34; Jeremiah 16:9; Ezekiel 26:13; Revelation 18:22–23; Jeremiah 33:10–11
- 11 Daniel 9:2; Zechariah 1:12; Jeremiah 25:12; 2 Chronicles 36:21–22; Zechariah 7:5
- 12 Isaiah 13:19; Daniel 9:2; Jeremiah 29:10; Jeremiah 51:62–64; Jeremiah 50:1–46
- 13 Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 1:5; Daniel 5:28; Revelation 10:11; Daniel 5:31
- 14 Jeremiah 51:6; Jeremiah 27:7; Jeremiah 50:9; Jeremiah 50:41; Isaiah 66:6
- 15 Psalm 75:8; Isaiah 51:17; Job 21:20; Revelation 14:10; Jeremiah 51:7
- 16 Jeremiah 51:7; Nahum 3:11; Revelation 18:3; Jeremiah 25:27; Revelation 14:10
- 17 Jeremiah 1:10; Jeremiah 25:28; Jeremiah 46:1–28; Ezekiel 43:3; Jeremiah 27:3
- 18 Jeremiah 24:9; Jeremiah 44:22; Psalm 60:3; Isaiah 51:17–22; 2 Kings 22:19
- 19 Jeremiah 46:2; Nahum 3:8–10; Jeremiah 46:13–26; Ezekiel 29:1–21; Jeremiah 43:9–11
- 20 Job 1:1; Ezekiel 30:5; Lamentations 4:21; Jeremiah 50:37; Isaiah 20:1
- 21 Jeremiah 48:1–49:22; Jeremiah 9:26; Psalm 137:7; Amos 1:11–2:3; Ezekiel 32:29
- 22 Jeremiah 47:4; Zechariah 9:1–4; Joel 3:4–8; Jeremiah 31:10; Jeremiah 27:3
- 23 Jeremiah 9:26; Jeremiah 49:8; Jeremiah 49:32; Job 6:19; Genesis 22:21
- 24 2 Chronicles 9:14; Jeremiah 25:20; Ezekiel 30:5; Jeremiah 50:37; Jeremiah 49:28–33
- 25 Genesis 10:22; Isaiah 11:11; Isaiah 13:17; Jeremiah 49:34–39; Jeremiah 51:11
- 26 Jeremiah 51:41; Jeremiah 25:9; Isaiah 13:1–14; Daniel 5:1–31; Jeremiah 50:1–46
- 27 Jeremiah 25:16; Habakkuk 2:16; Isaiah 51:21; Lamentations 4:21; Ezekiel 21:4–5
- 28 Job 34:33; Isaiah 14:24–27; Jeremiah 49:12; Daniel 4:35; Acts 4:28
- 29 1 Peter 4:17; Ezekiel 38:21; Proverbs 11:31; 1 Kings 8:43; Obadiah 16
- 30 Amos 1:2; Isaiah 42:13; Joel 3:16; Isaiah 16:9; Psalm 78:65
- 31 Hosea 4:1; Joel 3:2; Isaiah 66:16; Micah 6:2; Ezekiel 20:35–36
- 32 Isaiah 34:2; Jeremiah 23:19; 2 Chronicles 15:6; Jeremiah 30:23; Isaiah 30:30
- 33 Isaiah 66:16; Jeremiah 8:2; Psalm 79:3; Isaiah 5:25; Jeremiah 16:4–7
- 34 Jeremiah 6:26; Jeremiah 27:7; Lamentations 4:21; Jeremiah 25:23; Ezekiel 34:16–17
- 35 Job 11:20; Amos 2:14; Jeremiah 38:18; Jeremiah 52:24–27; Jeremiah 38:23
- 36 Jeremiah 4:8; Jeremiah 25:34
- 37 Isaiah 27:10–11; Isaiah 32:14
- 38 Jeremiah 4:7; Hosea 13:7–8; Jeremiah 5:6; Hosea 5:14; Zechariah 2:3
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- Jeremiah: a shorter book in a different order
The Greek Septuagint of Jeremiah is markedly shorter than the Hebrew text and arranges the book differently: the oracles against the nations come in the middle, after 25:13, not at the end. Hebrew fragments from Qumran show that a shorter Hebrew form of Jeremiah really existed. Many scholars think Jeremiah circulated in two editions.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
… mouth." And their force is exactly the same, either when multiplied by ten, as seventy and seven hundred (whence the seventy years mentioned in Jeremiah may be taken in a spiritual sense for the whole time during which the Church is a sojourner among aliens); or when multiplied into themselves, as ten into ten gives one hundred, and twelve into …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 2 (1887)
The shadow of that Sion, which was granted to the Jews, in an image, in a figure, was in captivity in Babylonia, and after seventy years that people turned back to its own city....But when all time is past, then we return to our country, as after seventy years that people returned from the Babylonish captivity, for Babylon is …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 8 (1888)