Clarke's Bible Commentary - Jeremiah 5:5
Verse 5. I will get me unto the great men] Those whose circumstances and rank in life gave them opportunities of information which the others could not have, for the reasons already given. These have altogether broken the yoke] These have cast aside all restraint, have acted above law, and have trampled all moral obligations under their feet, and into their vortex the lower classes of the people have been swept away. Solon said, "The laws are like cobwebs; they entangle the small fry, but the great ones go through them, and carry all away with them."
Matthew Henry Commentary
The Jews' profession of religion was hypocritical. (Jer. 5:1-9) The cruel proceedings of their enemies. (Jer. 5:10-18) Their apostacy an idolatry. (Jer. 5:19-31)
Jer. 5:1-9 None could be found who behaved as upright and godly men But the Lord saw the true character of the people through all their disguises. The poor were ignorant, and therefore they were wicked. What can be expected but works of darkness, from people that know nothing of God and religion? There are God's poor, who, notwithstanding poverty know the way of the Lord, walk in it, and do their duty; but these wer willingly ignorant, and their ignorance would not be their excuse. The rich were insolent and haughty, and the abuse of God's favours mad their sin worse.
Jer. 5:10-18 Multitudes are ruined by believing that God will not be s strict as his word says he will; by this artifice Satan undid mankind Sinners are not willing to own any thing to be God's word, that tend to part them from, or to disquiet them in, their sins. Mocking an misusing the Lord's messengers, filled the measure of their iniquity God can bring trouble upon us from places and causes very remote. He has mercy in store for his people, therefore will set bounds to thi desolating judgment. Let us not overlook the "nevertheless," Jer. 5:18 This is the Lord's covenant with Israel. He thereby proclaims his holiness, and his utter displeasure against sin while sparing the sinner, Ps. 89:30-35.
Jer. 5:19-31 Unhumbled hearts are ready to charge God with being unjus in their afflictions. But they may read their sin in their punishment If men will inquire wherefore the Lord doeth hard things unto them, le them think of their sins. The restless waves obeyed the Divine decree that they should not pass the sandy shores, which were as much restraint as lofty mountains; but they burst all restraints of God' law, and were wholly gone into wickedness. Neither did they conside their interest. While the Lord, year after year, reserves to us the appointed weeks of harvest, men live on his bounty; yet they transgres against him. Sin deprives us of God's blessings; it makes the heaven a brass, and the earth as iron. Certainly the things of this world ar not the best things; and we are not to think, that, because evil me prosper, God allows their practices. Though sentence against evil work is not executed speedily, it will be executed. Shall I not visit for these things? This speaks the certainty and the necessity of God' judgments. Let those who walk in bad ways consider that an end wil come, and there will be bitterness in the latter end __________________________________________________________________
Original Hebrew
אלכה 1980 לי אל 413 הגדלים 1419 ואדברה 1696 אותם 853 כי 3588 המה 1992 ידעו 3045 דרך 1870 יהוה 3068 משׁפט 4941 אלהיהם 430 אך 389 המה 1992 יחדו 3162 שׁברו 7665 על 5923 נתקו 5423 מוסרות׃ 4147
