Jeremiah 4:26

24 I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved lightly.

25 I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the birds of the heavens were fled.

I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.

27 For thus hath the LORD said, The whole land shall be desolate; yet will I not make a full end.

28 For this shall the earth mourn, and the heavens above be black: because I have spoken it, I have purposed it, and will not repent, neither will I turn back from it.

This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
I looked, and the fruitful land was a desert. All its cities were torn down before the LORD, before His fierce anger.
KJV
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful place was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of the LORD, and by his fierce anger.
WEB
I saw, and behold, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all its cities were broken down at the presence of the LORD, before his fierce anger.
ASV
I beheld, and, lo, the fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down at the presence of Jehovah, [and] before his fierce anger.
DARBY
I beheld, and lo, the fruitful land was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof were broken down, before Jehovah, before his fierce anger.
BLB
I looked, and behold—the fertile land [was] a desert, and all its cities were torn down, before YHWH, before the face of the fury of his nose!
ÅB
Jeg så, og se, den fruktbare mark var en ørken, og alle dens byer var brutt ned av Herren, av hans brennende vrede.
OTB
Jeg så, og det fruktbare landet var en ørken; alle byene lå i ruiner foran Herren, i møte med Hans voldsomme vrede.
B1930
Jeg så, og se, den fruktbare mark var en ørken, og alle dens byer var brutt ned av Herren, av hans brennende vrede.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • Psalms 107:34

    A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.

    Read in context
  • Micah 3:12

    Therefore 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.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 14:2–6

    Judah mourneth, and the gates thereof languish; they are black unto the ground; and the cry of Jerusalem is gone up.

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 7:20–25

    In the same day shall the Lord shave with a razor that is hired, namely, by them beyond the river, by the king of Assyria, the head, and the hair of the feet: and it shall also consume the beard.

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 12:4

    How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 29:23–28

    And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 5:9–10

    In mine ears said the LORD of hosts, Of a truth many houses shall be desolate, even great and fair, without inhabitant.

    Read in context
  • Psalms 76:7

    Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?

    Read in context