Jeremiah 48:10
New International Version
“A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD’s work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!

New Living Translation
Cursed are those who refuse to do the LORD’s work, who hold back their swords from shedding blood!

English Standard Version
“Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.

Berean Standard Bible
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.

King James Bible
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

New King James Version
Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.

New American Standard Bible
“Cursed is the one who does the LORD’S work negligently, And cursed is the one who restrains his sword from blood.

NASB 1995
“Cursed be the one who does the LORD’S work negligently, And cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood.

NASB 1977
“Cursed be the one who does the LORD’s work negligently, And cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood.

Legacy Standard Bible
Cursed be the one who does the work of Yahweh with a slack hand, And cursed be the one who restrains his sword from blood.

Amplified Bible
“Cursed is the one who does the work of the LORD negligently, And cursed is the one who restrains his sword from blood [in executing the judgment of the LORD].

Christian Standard Bible
The one who does the LORD’s business deceitfully is cursed, and the one who withholds his sword from bloodshed is cursed.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The one who does the LORD’s business deceitfully is cursed, and the one who withholds his sword from bloodshed is cursed.

American Standard Version
Cursed be he that doeth the work of Jehovah negligently; and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Contemporary English Version
I want you to kill the Moabites, and if you let them escape, I will put a curse on you."

English Revised Version
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD negligently, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Cursed are those who neglect doing the LORD's work. Cursed are those who keep their swords from killing.

Good News Translation
Curse those who do not do the LORD's work with all their heart! Curse those who do not slash and kill!)

International Standard Version
Cursed is the one who is slack in doing the LORD's work. Cursed is the one who holds back his sword from shedding blood.

Majority Standard Bible
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.

NET Bible
A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the LORD's work! A curse on anyone who keeps from carrying out his destruction!

New Heart English Bible
Cursed is he who does the work of the LORD negligently; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.

Webster's Bible Translation
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

World English Bible
“Cursed is he who does the work of Yahweh negligently; and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Cursed [is] he who is doing the work of YHWH slothfully, "" And cursed [is] he "" Who is withholding his sword from blood.

Young's Literal Translation
Cursed is he who is doing the work of Jehovah slothfully, And cursed is he Who is withholding his sword from blood.

Smith's Literal Translation
Cursed he doing the work of Jehovah slothfully, and cursed he withholding his sword from blood.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord deceitfully: and cursed be he that withholdeth his sword from blood.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully. And cursed is he who prohibits his sword from blood.

New American Bible
Cursed are they who do the LORD’s work carelessly, cursed those who keep their sword from shedding blood.

New Revised Standard Version
Accursed is the one who is slack in doing the work of the LORD; and accursed is the one who keeps back the sword from bloodshed.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Cursed is be who does the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Cursed is he whoever will do the work of LORD JEHOVAH by deceit, and cursed is he whoever cheats his sword of blood!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD with a slack hand, And cursed be he that keepeth back his sword from blood.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Cursed is the man that does the works of the Lord carelessly, keeping back his sword from blood.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Judgment on Moab
9Put salt on Moab, for she will be laid waste; her cities will become desolate, with no one to dwell in them. 10Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed. 11Moab has been at ease from youth, settled like wine on its dregs; he has not been poured from vessel to vessel or gone into exile. So his flavor has remained the same, and his aroma is unchanged.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 15:3
Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”

1 Samuel 15:9
Saul and his troops spared Agag, along with the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calves and lambs, and the best of everything else. They were unwilling to devote them to destruction, but they devoted to destruction all that was despised and worthless.

1 Samuel 15:18
and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

1 Kings 20:42
And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’”

Ezekiel 13:22
Because you have disheartened the righteous with your lies, even though I have caused them no grief, and because you have encouraged the wicked not to turn from their evil ways to save their lives,

Ezekiel 13:19
You have profaned Me among My people for handfuls of barley and scraps of bread. By lying to My people who would listen, you have killed those who should not have died and spared those who should not have lived.

Ezekiel 33:6
But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’

Ezekiel 33:8
If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood.

Malachi 1:14
“But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.

Matthew 25:26
‘You wicked, lazy servant!’ replied his master. ‘You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed.

Matthew 25:30
And throw that worthless servant into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Luke 12:47
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

Luke 12:48
But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

John 9:4
While it is daytime, we must do the works of Him who sent Me. Night is coming, when no one can work.


Treasury of Scripture

Cursed be he that does the work of the LORD deceitfully, and cursed be he that keeps back his sword from blood.

Cursed

Jeremiah 50:25
The LORD hath opened his armoury, and hath brought forth the weapons of his indignation: for this is the work of the Lord GOD of hosts in the land of the Chaldeans.

Numbers 31:14-18
And Moses was wroth with the officers of the host, with the captains over thousands, and captains over hundreds, which came from the battle…

Judges 5:23
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.

deceitfully.

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Blood Curse Cursed Deceitfully Hand Keepeth Keeps LORD'S Restrains Slack Slackness Sword Withholding Work
Jeremiah 48
1. The judgment of Moab
7. for their pride
11. for their security
14. for their carnal confidence
26. and for their contempt of God and his people
47. The restoration of Moab














Cursed is the one
The word "cursed" in Hebrew is "אָרוּר" (arur), which signifies being under a divine curse or ban. In the biblical context, a curse is a solemn utterance intended to invoke a supernatural power to inflict harm or punishment on someone or something. This phrase sets a serious tone, indicating the gravity of the offense being addressed. It reflects the covenantal relationship between God and His people, where blessings and curses are contingent upon obedience and disobedience, respectively (Deuteronomy 28).

who is negligent
The Hebrew root for "negligent" is "רָמָה" (ramah), which can mean to be slack, idle, or deceitful. This word implies a failure to fulfill one's duties with diligence and integrity. In the context of serving God, negligence is not merely a lack of action but a betrayal of trust and responsibility. The call to diligence in the work of the LORD is echoed throughout Scripture, emphasizing the importance of wholehearted service (Colossians 3:23).

in doing the work of the LORD
The "work of the LORD" refers to the tasks and missions God assigns to His people. In Jeremiah's context, this could involve prophetic duties, priestly functions, or even military actions as directed by God. The phrase underscores the sacred nature of these tasks, as they are not merely human endeavors but divine mandates. The work of the LORD requires faithfulness and commitment, as seen in the lives of biblical figures like Nehemiah and Paul, who labored tirelessly for God's purposes.

and cursed is the one
The repetition of "cursed is the one" reinforces the seriousness of the warning. It serves as a literary device to emphasize the consequences of disobedience. In Hebrew literature, repetition is often used to highlight key points and ensure the message is not overlooked. This dual curse underscores the dual nature of the offense: negligence in duty and failure to execute justice.

who withholds his sword from bloodshed
The phrase "withholds his sword from bloodshed" can be understood in the context of divine justice and warfare. In ancient Israel, God sometimes commanded His people to engage in warfare as an instrument of His judgment against nations that had reached the fullness of their iniquity (Genesis 15:16). The sword symbolizes the execution of justice and the fulfillment of God's righteous decrees. To withhold the sword is to fail in carrying out God's judgment, akin to sparing the guilty and allowing injustice to prevail. This phrase challenges believers to consider the balance between mercy and justice, recognizing that there are times when God calls for decisive action in accordance with His will.

(10) Cursed be he . . .--To the prophet the destruction of the tyrannous haughtiness was a righteous retribution in which he saw the work of Jehovah, and he could not wish that it should be done otherwise than effectually. The thought rests on the belief in the Divine government that works through war as well as through pestilence and famine (Jeremiah 25:31; Jeremiah 46:10). (Comp. like utterances in Judges 5:23; 1Samuel 15:3; 1Samuel 15:18; 1Kings 20:42.) Even Christian nations fighting against slave-traders or pirates might legitimately echo the same prayer. It has been used, with less justification, in the religious wars of our own and other countries. . . . Verse 10. - Deceitfully; rather, slackly, negligently.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Cursed [be the one]
אָר֗וּר (’ā·rūr)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

who is negligent
רְמִיָּ֑ה (rə·mî·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 7423: Remissness, treachery

in doing
עֹשֶׂ֛ה (‘ō·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

the work
מְלֶ֥אכֶת (mə·le·ḵeṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 4399: Deputyship, ministry, employment, work, property

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and cursed is
וְאָר֕וּר (wə·’ā·rūr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 779: To execrate

he who withholds
מֹנֵ֥עַ (mō·nê·a‘)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4513: To debar, from benefit, injury

his sword
חַרְבּ֖וֹ (ḥar·bōw)
Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

from bloodshed.
מִדָּֽם׃ (mid·dām)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1818: Blood, of man, an animal, the juice of the grape, bloodshed


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OT Prophets: Jeremiah 48:10 Cursed be he who does the work (Jer.)
Jeremiah 48:9
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