Jeremiah 5:4 — Compare Translations

28 translations compared side by side

Then I said, Surely these are only the poor; they are [sinfully] foolish and have no understanding, for they know not the way of the Lord, the judgment (the just and righteous law) of their God.

English Amplified Classic Bible 1987

Then I said, Surely these are only the poor; they are [sinfully] foolish and have no understanding, for they know not the way of the Lord, the judgment (the just and righteous law) of their God.

English Berean Standard Bible (BSB) 2025

Then I said, “They are only the poor; they have played the fool, for they do not know the way of the Lord, the justice of their God.

English CSB 2017 - Christian Standard Bible

Then I thought: They are just the poor; they have been foolish. For they don’t understand the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

English Darby 1890 : Public Domain

And I said, Surely these are the wretched ones, they are foolish; for they know not the way of Jehovah, the judgment of their God.

English EASY 2024

I thought, ‘These are poor, foolish people. They do not understand what the Lord wants them to do. They do not know his commands.

English ERV 2006 - Only For Website

But I said to myself, "It must be only the poor who are so foolish. They have not learned the way of the Lord. They don't know the teachings of their God.

Then I said, "These are only the poor; they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

English GNT (Good News Translation)

Then I thought, “These are only the poor and ignorant. They behave foolishly; they don't know what their God requires, what the Lord wants them to do.

English God's Word - GW 1995

I thought, "These are poor, foolish people. They don't know the way of the Lord and the justice that God demands.

English HCSB 2004 - Copyrighted Only For Website

Then I thought: They are just the poor; they have played the fool. For they don't understand the way of the LORD, the justice of their God.

English KJV 1611

Therefore I said, Surely these are poor; they are foolish: for they know not the way of the LORD, nor the judgment of their God.

English LSB

Then I said, “They are only the poor; They are foolish; For they do not know the way of Yahweh Or the legal judgment of their God.

English MEV 2014 (Modern English Version)

Therefore I said, “Surely these are the poor. They are foolish; for they know not the way of the Lord or the judgment of their God.

English NASB (New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995)

Then I said, "They are only the poor, They are foolish; For they do not know the way of the LORD Or the ordinance of their God.

English NASU 1989 - New American Standard Update - Only for Website

It is only the lowly, I thought, who are foolish; For they know not the way of the LORD, their duty to their God.

English NET Bible - 2005 (New English Translation)

I thought, “Surely it is only the ignorant poor who act this way. They act like fools because they do not know what the LORD demands. They do not know what their God requires of them.

English NIRV 1996 - Copyrighted only for Website

I thought, "The people of Jerusalem are foolish. They don't know how the Lord wants them to live. They don't know what their God requires of them.

English NIV

I thought, "These are only the poor; they are foolish, for they do not know the way of the LORD, the requirements of their God.

English NKJ 1982

Therefore I said, “Surely these are poor. They are foolish; For they do not know the way of the Lord, The judgment of their God.

English NLT

Then I said, "But what can we expect from the poor and ignorant? They don't know the ways of the LORD. They don't understand what God expects of them.

English NRSV 1989 - Only for website

Then I said, "These are only the poor, they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the LORD, the law of their God.

English Passion Translation Bible 2020

I thought, “These poor people are senseless, for they know neither God’s ways nor the justice of Yahweh.

English RSV (Revised Standard Version)

Then I said, “These are only the poor, they have no sense; for they do not know the way of the Lord, the law of their God.

English TL (The Living Bible) (1971)

Then I said, “But what can we expect from the poor and ignorant? They don't know the ways of God. How can they obey him?“

English Tyndale 1537

Therefore thought I in myself: peradventure they are so simple and foolish, that they understand nothing of the LORD's way, and judgments of our God.