Jeremiah 4:18
New International Version
“Your own conduct and actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. How bitter it is! How it pierces to the heart!”

New Living Translation
“Your own actions have brought this upon you. This punishment is bitter, piercing you to the heart!”

English Standard Version
Your ways and your deeds have brought this upon you. This is your doom, and it is bitter; it has reached your very heart.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Your ways and deeds have brought this upon you. This is your punishment; how bitter it is, because it pierces to the heart!”

King James Bible
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth unto thine heart.

New King James Version
“Your ways and your doings Have procured these things for you. This is your wickedness, Because it is bitter, Because it reaches to your heart.”

New American Standard Bible
“Your ways and your deeds Have brought these things upon you. This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!”

NASB 1995
“Your ways and your deeds Have brought these things to you. This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!”

NASB 1977
“Your ways and your deeds Have brought these things to you. This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!”

Legacy Standard Bible
Your ways and your deeds Have done these things to you. This is your evil. How bitter! How it has touched your heart!”

Amplified Bible
“Your ways and your deeds Have brought these things on you. This is your tragedy and doom; how bitter, How it has touched your heart!”

Christian Standard Bible
Your way and your actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. It is very bitter, because it has reached your heart!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Your way of life and your actions have brought this on you. This is your punishment. It is very bitter, because it has reached your heart!

American Standard Version
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reacheth unto thy heart.

Contemporary English Version
"People of Judah, your hearts will be in pain, but it's your own fault that you will be punished."

English Revised Version
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things unto thee; this is thy wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reacheth unto thine heart.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"You brought this on yourself. This is your punishment. It is bitter. It breaks your heart."

Good News Translation
Judah, you have brought this on yourself by the way you have lived and by the things you have done. Your sin has caused this suffering; it has stabbed you through the heart.

International Standard Version
"Your lifestyles and your actions have brought these things on you. This is your calamity—it is indeed bitter, for it has reached your heart!"

Majority Standard Bible
“Your ways and deeds have brought this upon you. This is your punishment; how bitter it is, because it pierces to the heart!”

NET Bible
"The way you have lived and the things you have done will bring this on you. This is the punishment you deserve, and it will be painful indeed. The pain will be so bad it will pierce your heart."

New Heart English Bible
"Your way and your doings have brought these things to you. This is your wickedness; for it is bitter, for it reaches to your heart."

Webster's Bible Translation
Thy way and thy doings have procured these things to thee; this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reacheth to thy heart.

World English Bible
“Your way and your doings have brought these things to you. This is your wickedness, for it is bitter, for it reaches to your heart.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“Your way and your doings have done these to you, "" This [is] your distress, for [it is] bitter, "" For it has struck to your heart.”

Young's Literal Translation
Thy way and thy doings have done these to thee, This is thy vexation, for it is bitter, For it hath struck unto thy heart.

Smith's Literal Translation
Thy way and thy doings did these things to thee; this thine evil, for it was bitter because it reached even to thy heart.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Thy ways, and thy devices have brought these things upon thee: this is thy wickedness, because it is bitter, because it hath touched thy heart.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Your ways and your thoughts have brought these things upon you. This is your own wickedness. And it is bitter, because it has touched your heart.

New American Bible
Your conduct, your deeds, have done this to you; how bitter is this evil of yours, how it reaches to your very heart!

New Revised Standard Version
Your ways and your doings have brought this upon you. This is your doom; how bitter it is! It has reached your very heart.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Your ways and your doings have brought these things upon you; this is your wickedness; it is bitter, it has reached to your heart.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Your ways and your works have produced these things for you. This is your evil which has been bitter and it has come unto your heart”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Thy way and thy doings have procured These things unto thee; This is thy wickedness; yea, it is bitter, Yea, it reacheth unto thy heart.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Thy ways and thy devices have brought these things upon thee; this is thy wickedness, for it is bitter, for it has reached to thy heart.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Disaster from the North
17They surround her like men guarding a field, because she has rebelled against Me,” declares the LORD. 18“Your ways and deeds have brought this upon you. This is your punishment; how bitter it is, because it pierces to the heart!”

Cross References
Deuteronomy 28:15-68
If, however, you do not obey the LORD your God by carefully following all His commandments and statutes I am giving you today, all these curses will come upon you and overtake you: / You will be cursed in the city and cursed in the country. / Your basket and kneading bowl will be cursed. ...

Lamentations 1:8-9
Jerusalem has sinned greatly; therefore she has become an object of scorn. All who honored her now despise her, for they have seen her nakedness; she herself groans and turns away. / Her uncleanness stains her skirts; she did not consider her end. Her downfall was astounding; there was no one to comfort her. Look, O LORD, on my affliction, for the enemy has triumphed!

Isaiah 3:11
Woe to the wicked; disaster is upon them! For they will be repaid with what their hands have done.

Hosea 13:9
You are destroyed, O Israel, because you are against Me—against your helper.

Ezekiel 7:3-4
The end is now upon you, and I will unleash My anger against you. I will judge you according to your ways and repay you for all your abominations. / I will not look on you with pity, nor will I spare you, but I will punish you for your ways and for the abominations among you. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’

Proverbs 1:31
So they will eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

Isaiah 59:12
For our transgressions are multiplied before You, and our sins testify against us. Our transgressions are indeed with us, and we know our iniquities:

Galatians 6:7-8
Do not be deceived: God is not to be mocked. Whatever a man sows, he will reap in return. / The one who sows to please his flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; but the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.

Romans 2:5-6
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. / God “will repay each one according to his deeds.”

Isaiah 50:1
This is what the LORD says: “Where is your mother’s certificate of divorce with which I sent her away? Or to which of My creditors did I sell you? Look, you were sold for your iniquities, and for your transgressions your mother was sent away.

Ezekiel 18:30
Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each according to his ways, declares the Lord GOD. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, so that your iniquity will not become your downfall.

Hosea 4:9
And it shall be like people, like priest. I will punish both of them for their ways and repay them for their deeds.

2 Kings 17:7-23
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel. / The Israelites secretly did things against the LORD their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city, they built high places in all their cities. ...

Isaiah 1:4
Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.

Matthew 23:37-38
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! / Look, your house is left to you desolate.


Treasury of Scripture

Your way and your doings have procured these things to you; this is your wickedness, because it is bitter, because it reaches to your heart.

Thy way.

Jeremiah 2:17,19
Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way? …

Jeremiah 5:19
And it shall come to pass, when ye shall say, Wherefore doeth the LORD our God all these things unto us? then shalt thou answer them, Like as ye have forsaken me, and served strange gods in your land, so shall ye serve strangers in a land that is not yours.

Jeremiah 6:19
Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

it reacheth.

Jeremiah 4:10
Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! surely thou hast greatly deceived this people and Jerusalem, saying, Ye shall have peace; whereas the sword reacheth unto the soul.

Jump to Previous
Actions Bitter Conduct Deeds Deep Doings Doom Evil Heart Procured Punishment Reached Reaches Reacheth Sin Struck Touched Vexation Way Ways Wickedness
Jump to Next
Actions Bitter Conduct Deeds Deep Doings Doom Evil Heart Procured Punishment Reached Reaches Reacheth Sin Struck Touched Vexation Way Ways Wickedness
Jeremiah 4
1. God calls Israel by his promise
3. He exhorts Judah to repentance by fearful judgments
19. A grievous lamentation for Judah














Your ways
The phrase "your ways" refers to the conduct and lifestyle of the people of Judah. In Hebrew, the word for "ways" is "derek," which can mean a road, path, or journey. It implies a habitual course of action or behavior. In the context of Jeremiah, it highlights the persistent sinful actions of the people, which have led them away from God. Historically, the people of Judah had adopted idolatrous practices and forsaken the covenant with Yahweh, which is a central theme in the prophetic literature.

and your deeds
"Deeds" in Hebrew is "ma'aseh," referring to actions or works. This emphasizes not just the path they have chosen but the specific actions they have taken. The deeds of the people were not in alignment with God's commandments, and this disobedience is a recurring issue in the prophetic books. The historical context shows that these deeds included idolatry, social injustice, and neglect of the law, which were prevalent in Judah before the Babylonian exile.

have brought this upon you
This phrase indicates the cause-and-effect relationship between the people's actions and the consequences they face. The Hebrew root "bo" means to come or bring, suggesting that the calamity they experience is a direct result of their own choices. This reflects the biblical principle of sowing and reaping, where disobedience to God leads to judgment. The historical context of Jeremiah's ministry was a time of impending judgment from Babylon, which was seen as a direct consequence of Judah's unfaithfulness.

This is your punishment
The word "punishment" in Hebrew is "ra'ah," which can also mean evil or calamity. It underscores the severity of the consequences that have come upon the people. In the biblical narrative, punishment is often portrayed as a means of correction and a call to repentance. The historical backdrop of Jeremiah's prophecy is the Babylonian threat, which serves as a divine instrument of judgment against Judah's persistent rebellion.

How bitter it is!
The bitterness described here is both literal and metaphorical, capturing the intense suffering and regret that accompany the consequences of sin. The Hebrew word "mar" conveys a sense of bitterness or sorrow. This reflects the emotional and spiritual anguish that results from separation from God. In the broader scriptural context, bitterness is often associated with the consequences of turning away from God's ways, as seen in the lamentations and cries of the prophets.

It pierces to the heart
The imagery of piercing to the heart suggests deep emotional and spiritual pain. The Hebrew word "naga" means to touch or strike, indicating a profound impact. This phrase highlights the internal realization and conviction of sin that the people experience. In the biblical context, the heart is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. The piercing to the heart signifies a moment of truth and the potential for repentance and return to God. Historically, this reflects the deep sorrow and realization of the people as they face the consequences of their actions, urging them to turn back to God with genuine repentance.

(18) This is thy wickedness.--Better, this is thy evil. She was reaping the fruit of her own doing, and this gave her sorrows a fresh bitterness. The Hebrew word, like the English "evil," includes both guilt and its punishment.

Verse 18. - This is thy wickedness; i.e. the effect of thy wickedness. (For the following words, comp. Jeremiah 2:19; Jeremiah 4:10.) Because; rather, truly.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Your ways
דַּרְכֵּךְ֙ (dar·kêḵ)
Noun - common singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and your deeds
וּמַ֣עֲלָלַ֔יִךְ (ū·ma·‘ă·lā·la·yiḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 4611: A deed, practice

have brought
עָשׂ֥וֹ (‘ā·śōw)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6213: To do, make

this upon you.
אֵ֖לֶּה (’êl·leh)
Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

This
זֹ֤את (zōṯ)
Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

is your punishment.
רָעָתֵךְ֙ (rā·‘ā·ṯêḵ)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

How bitter it is,
מָ֔ר (mār)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 4751: Bitter, bitterness, bitterly

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

it pierces
נָגַ֖ע (nā·ḡa‘)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5060: To touch, lay the hand upon, to reach, violently, to strike

to the
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

heart!”
לִבֵּֽךְ׃ (lib·bêḵ)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person feminine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre


Links
Jeremiah 4:18 NIV
Jeremiah 4:18 NLT
Jeremiah 4:18 ESV
Jeremiah 4:18 NASB
Jeremiah 4:18 KJV

Jeremiah 4:18 BibleApps.com
Jeremiah 4:18 Biblia Paralela
Jeremiah 4:18 Chinese Bible
Jeremiah 4:18 French Bible
Jeremiah 4:18 Catholic Bible

OT Prophets: Jeremiah 4:18 Your way and your doings have procured (Jer.)
Jeremiah 4:17
Top of Page
Top of Page