Jeremiah 9:8

⁶ Thine habitation is in the midst of deceit; through deceit they refuse to know me, saith the LORD.

⁷ Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will melt them, and try them; for how shall I do for the daughter of my people?

Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.

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

¹⁰ For the mountains will I take up a weeping and wailing, and for the habitations of the wilderness a lamentation, because they are burned up, so that none can pass through them; neither can men hear the voice of the cattle; both the fowl of the heavens and the beast are fled; they are gone.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: Their tongues are deadly arrows; they speak deception. With his mouth a man speaks peace to his neighbor, but in his heart he sets a trap for him.
KJV: Their tongue is as an arrow shot out; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in heart he layeth his wait.
WEB: Their tongue is a deadly arrow. It speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart, he waits to ambush him.
ASV: Their tongue is a deadly arrow; it speaketh deceit: one speaketh peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth wait for him.
DARBY: Their tongue is a murderous arrow; it speaketh deceit. [A man] speaketh peaceably to his neighbour with his mouth, but in his heart he layeth his ambush.
BLB: Their tongue [is] a slaughtering arrow, speaking deceit; with his mouth he speaks peace to his neighbor, and within himself he sets an ambush.

ÅB: Deres tunge er en drepende pil, den taler svik; med sin munn taler de vennlig med sin neste, og i sitt hjerte legger de snare for ham.
OTB: Deres tunge er en dødelig pil; den taler svikefullt. Med sine munner taler de fred til sine naboer, men i sine hjerter legger de feller for dem.
B1930: Deres tunge er en drepende pil, den taler svik; med sin munn taler de vennlig med sin næste, og i sitt hjerte legger de snare for ham.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Psalms 28:3
Draw me not away with the wicked, and with the workers of iniquity, which speak peace to their neighbours, but mischief is in their hearts.
Read in context
Proverbs 26:24–26
He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him;
Read in context
Psalms 64:3–4
Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words:
Read in context
Psalms 120:3
What shall be given unto thee? or what shall be done unto thee, thou false tongue?
Read in context
Jeremiah 9:3
And they bend their tongues like their bow for lies: but they are not valiant for the truth upon the earth; for they proceed from evil to evil, and they know not me, saith the LORD.
Read in context
Psalms 57:4
My soul is among lions: and I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword.
Read in context
Psalms 12:2
They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.
Read in context
2 Samuel 3:27
And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
Read in context