For they do not try to make peace with others, ¹  but plan ways to deceive those who are unsuspecting. ² 

All day long they cause me trouble; ¹  they make a habit of plotting my demise. ² 

for there our captors ask us to compose songs; ¹  those who mock us demand that we be happy, saying: ²  “Sing for us a song about Zion!” ³ 

If only ¹  you will respond ²  to my rebuke, ³  then ⁴  I will pour ⁵  out my thoughts ⁶  to you and ⁷  I will make ⁸  my words known to you.

he taught me, and he said to me: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that ¹  you will live.

The words of a person’s mouth are like ¹  deep waters, ²  and ³  the fountain of wisdom ⁴  is like ⁵  a flowing brook. ⁶ 

The words of Agur, the son of Jakeh; an oracle: ²  This ³  man says ⁴  to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ukal: ⁵ 

The words of the sages are like prods, ¹  and the collected sayings are like firmly fixed nails; they are given by one shepherd.

At that time ¹  the deaf will be able to hear words read from a scroll, and the eyes of the blind will be able to see through deep darkness. ² 

The following is a record of what Jeremiah son of Hilkiah prophesied. ¹  He was one of the priests who lived at Anathoth in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin.

Then the Lord said, “You have observed correctly. This means ¹  I am watching to make sure my threats are carried out.” ² 

“‘But just look at you! ¹  You are putting your confidence in a false belief ²  that will not deliver you. ³ 

“Hear ¹  the terms of the covenant ²  I made with Israel ³  and pass them on ⁴  to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem. ⁵ 

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah ²  about the drought. ³ 

But if they had stood in my inner circle, ¹  they would have proclaimed my message to my people. They would have caused my people to turn from their wicked ways and stop doing the evil things they are doing.

My message is like a fire that purges dross! ¹  It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces! ²  I, the Lord, so affirm it! ³ 

So I, the Lord, affirm ¹  that I am opposed to those prophets who steal messages from one another that they claim are from me. ² 

“Therefore, the Lord who rules over all ¹  says, ‘You have not listened to what I said. ² 

Micaiah, who was the son of Gemariah and the grandson of Shaphan, heard Baruch read from the scroll everything the Lord had said. ¹ 

You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious.