“How the city of praise has not been deserted, The town of My joy!
Parallel translations
- WEB How is the city of praise not forsaken, the city of my joy?
- KJV How is the city of praise not left, the city of my joy!
- BSB How is the city of praise not forsaken, the town that brings Me joy?
- NKJV Why is the city of praise not deserted, the city of My joy?
- NLT That famous city, a city of joy, will be forsaken!
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The lament asks how the celebrated, joyful city could be left abandoned. Even a renowned city is not spared when God judges.
Overview
The verse voices astonished sorrow that famous, beloved Damascus is now forsaken. The mournful tone shows that judgment touches even what people prize and admire. It reminds readers that earthly glory is fleeting and that lasting joy is found only in God, not in any city of man (Hebrews 13:14).
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Jer 33:9This city shall be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do to them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure to it.’”
- Jer 51:41“How Sheshach is taken! and the praise of the whole earth seized! How Babylon has become a desolation among the nations!
- Isa 1:26I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning. Afterward you shall be called ‘The city of righteousness, a faithful town.’
- Isa 14:4–6that you will take up this parable against the king of Babylon, and say, “How the oppressor has ceased! The golden city has ceased!”
- Dan 4:30The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
- Ps 37:35–36I have seen the wicked in great power, spreading himself like a green tree in its native soil.
- Rev 18:10standing far away for the fear of her torment, saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city! For your judgment has come in one hour.’
- Jer 48:39“How it is broken down! How they wail! How Moab has turned the back with shame! So shall Moab become a derision and a terror to all who are around him.”
- Rev 18:16–19saying, ‘Woe, woe, the great city, she who was dressed in fine linen, purple, and scarlet, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls!
- Jer 48:2The praise of Moab is no more; in Heshbon they have devised evil against her: ‘Come, and let us cut her off from being a nation.’ You also, Madmen, will be brought to silence. The sword will pursue you.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Against the failure of false shepherds Jeremiah promises the Righteous Branch, 'The LORD our righteousness,' and the new covenant written on the heart and sealed in the blood of Christ.
How Jeremiah 49:25 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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