Jeremiah 12:16-17 - Compare All Versions
Jeremiah 12:16-17 NIV (New International Version)
And if they learn well the ways of my people and swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’—even as they once taught my people to swear by Baal—then they will be established among my people. But if any nation does not listen, I will completely uproot and destroy it,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:16-17 ESV (English Standard Version 2025)
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ even as they taught my people to swear by Baal, then they shall be built up in the midst of my people. But if any nation will not listen, then I will utterly pluck it up and destroy it, declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 12:16-17 NLT (New Living Translation)
And if these nations truly learn the ways of my people, and if they learn to swear by my name, saying, ‘As surely as the LORD lives’ (just as they taught my people to swear by the name of Baal), then they will be given a place among my people. But any nation who refuses to obey me will be uprooted and destroyed. I, the LORD, have spoken!”
Jeremiah 12:16-17 CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
If they will diligently learn the ways of my people — to swear by my name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ just as they taught my people to swear by Baal — they will be built up among my people. However, if they will not obey, then I will uproot and destroy that nation.” This is the LORD’s declaration.
Jeremiah 12:16-17 KJV (King James Version)
And it shall come to pass, if they will diligently learn the ways of my people, to swear by my name, The LORD liveth; as they taught my people to swear by Baal; then shall they be built in the midst of my people. But if they will not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation, saith the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:16-17 NKJV (New King James Version)
And it shall be, if they will learn carefully the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they shall be established in the midst of My people. But if they do not obey, I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation,” says the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:14-17 MSG (The Message)
GOD’s Message: “Regarding all the bad neighbors who abused the land I gave to Israel as their inheritance: I’m going to pluck them out of their lands, and then pluck Judah out from among them. Once I’ve pulled the bad neighbors out, I will relent and take them tenderly to my heart and put them back where they belong, put each of them back in their home country, on their family farms. Then if they will get serious about living my way and pray to me as well as they taught my people to pray to that god Baal, everything will go well for them. But if they won’t listen, then I’ll pull them out of their land by the roots and cart them off to the dump. Total destruction!” GOD’s Decree.
Jeremiah 12:16-17 NASB2020 (New American Standard Bible - NASB)
Then, if they will really learn the ways of My people, to swear by My name, ‘As the LORD lives,’ just as they taught My people to swear by Baal, they will be built up in the midst of My people. But if they do not listen, then I will drive out that nation, drive it out and destroy it,” declares the LORD.
Jeremiah 12:16-17 AMP (Amplified Bible)
And if these [neighboring nations] will diligently learn the ways of My people, to swear by My Name, saying, ‘As the LORD lives’—even as they taught My people to swear by Baal, then they will be built up among My people. But if [any nation] will not listen and obey, I will [completely] uproot and destroy that nation, says the LORD.”
Jeremiah 12:16-17 NET (New English Translation)
But they must make sure you learn to follow the religious practices of my people. Once they taught my people to swear their oaths using the name of the god Baal. But then, they must swear oaths using my name, saying, “As surely as the LORD lives, I swear.” If they do these things, then they will be included among the people I call my own. But I will completely uproot and destroy any of those nations that will not pay heed,’” says the LORD.