Jeremiah 5:1

“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.

² Although they say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives,’ they are swearing falsely.”

³ O LORD, do not Your eyes look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain. You finished them off, but they refused to accept discipline. They have made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent.

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: “Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem. Look now and take note; search her squares. If you can find a single person, anyone who acts justly, anyone who seeks the truth, then I will forgive the city.
KJV: Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that executeth judgment, that seeketh the truth; and I will pardon it.
WEB: “Run back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in its wide places, if you can find a man, if there is anyone who does justly, who seeks truth, then I will pardon her.
ASV: Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth justly, that seeketh truth; and I will pardon her.
DARBY: Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broadways thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be [any] that doeth justice, that seeketh fidelity; and I will pardon it.
BLB: “Roam about in the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and take note! And seek in her open squares [to see] if you⁺ can find a man, if there be any doing justice [and] seeking the truth, and I will grant forgiveness to her.

ÅB: Gå omkring i gatene i Jerusalem og se etter og gi akt, søk på torvene om dere finner noen, om det er noen som gjør rett, som streber etter redelighet! Så vil jeg tilgi byen.
OTB: “Vandre gjennom gatene i Jerusalem, observer og merk deg. Søk på hennes offentlige torg; hvis du finner en eneste person som handler rettferdig og søker sannhet, vil jeg tilgi henne.
B1930: Gå omkring i gatene i Jerusalem og se efter og gi akt, søk på torvene om I finner nogen, om det er nogen som gjør rett, som streber efter redelighet! Så vil jeg tilgi byen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Genesis 18:23–32
Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked?
Read in context
2 Chronicles 16:9
For the eyes of the LORD roam to and fro over all the earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are fully devoted to Him. You have acted foolishly in this matter. From now on, therefore, you will be at war.”
Read in context
Ezekiel 22:30
I searched for a man among them to repair the wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, so that I should not destroy it. But I found no one.
Read in context
Psalms 14:3
All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.
Read in context
Psalms 53:2–4
God looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.
Read in context
Isaiah 59:4
No one calls for justice; no one pleads his case honestly. They rely on empty pleas; they tell lies; they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity.
Read in context
Isaiah 59:14–15
So justice is turned away, and righteousness stands at a distance. For truth has stumbled in the public square, and honesty cannot enter.
Read in context
Micah 7:1–2
Woe is me! For I am like one gathering summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster to eat, no early fig that I crave.
Read in context