Jeremiah 5:7

Forgiveness Faithfulness and loyalty

⁵ I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds.

⁶ Wherefore a lion out of the forest shall slay them, and a wolf of the evenings shall spoil them, a leopard shall watch over their cities: every one that goeth out thence shall be torn in pieces: because their transgressions are many, and their backslidings are increased.

How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.

⁸ They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife.

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

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: “Why should I forgive you? Your children have forsaken Me and sworn by gods that are not gods. I satisfied their needs, yet they committed adultery and assembled at the houses of prostitutes.
KJV: How shall I pardon thee for this? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they then committed adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots’ houses.
WEB: “How can I pardon you? Your children have forsaken me, and sworn by what are no gods. When I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the prostitutes’ houses.
ASV: How can I pardon thee? thy children have forsaken me, and sworn by them that are no gods: when I had fed them to the full, they committed adultery, and assembled themselves in troops at the harlots` houses.
DARBY: Wherefore should I pardon thee? Thy children have forsaken me, and swear by them that are not God. I have satiated them, and they have committed adultery, and they troop to the harlots' house.
BLB: “How can I grant forgiveness to you for this? Your sons have forsaken Me and have sworn by those not gods. And I satisfied them, and they committed adultery, and [in] the houses of a harlot they gather themselves together.

ÅB: Hvorfor skulle jeg tilgi deg? Dine barn har forlatt meg og svoret ved guder som ikke er guder; og jeg mettet dem, men de drev hor og flokket seg i skjøgens hus.
OTB: “Hvorfor skulle jeg tilgi deg? Dine barn har forlatt Meg og sverget ved dem som ikke er guder. Jeg sørget for dem, men de begikk ekteskapsbrudd og flokket seg til skjøgenes hus.
B1930: Hvorfor skulde jeg tilgi dig? Dine barn har forlatt mig og svoret ved guder som ikke er guder; og jeg mettet dem, men de drev hor og flokket sig i skjøgens hus.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Galatians 4:8
Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Read in context
Joshua 23:7
That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:21
They have moved me to jealousy with that which is not God; they have provoked me to anger with their vanities: and I will move them to jealousy with those which are not a people; I will provoke them to anger with a foolish nation.
Read in context
Jeremiah 2:11
Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
Read in context
Zephaniah 1:5
And them that worship the host of heaven upon the housetops; and them that worship and that swear by the LORD, and that swear by Malcham;
Read in context
1 Corinthians 8:4
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
Read in context
Jeremiah 23:10
For the land is full of adulterers; for because of swearing the land mourneth; the pleasant places of the wilderness are dried up, and their course is evil, and their force is not right.
Read in context
Deuteronomy 32:15
But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.
Read in context