Yeremia 9:23

9:23 ¹ The Lord says,

“Wise people should not boast that they are wise.

Powerful people should not boast that they are powerful. ² 

Rich people should not boast that they are rich. ³ 

Yeremia 50:41

50:41 “Look! An army is about to come from the north.

A mighty nation and many kings ⁴  are stirring into action

in faraway parts of the earth.

[9:23]  ¹ sn It is not always clear why verses were placed in their present position in the editorial process of collecting Jeremiah’s sermons and the words the Lord spoke to him (see Jer 36:4, 32 for reference to two of these collections). Here it is probable that vv. 23-26 were added as a further answer to the question raised in v. 12.

[9:23]  ² tn Or “Strong people should not brag that they are strong.”

[9:23]  ³ tn Heb “…in their wisdom…in their power…in their riches.”

[50:41]  ⁴ sn A mighty nation and many kings is an allusion to the Medo-Persian empire and the vassal kings who provided forces for the Medo-Persian armies.