10 "A curse on anyone who is lax in doing the Lord's work! A curse on anyone who keeps their sword from bloodshed!
10 "Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord with slackness, and cursed is he who keeps back his sword from bloodshed.
10 Sloppy work in God's name is cursed, and cursed all halfhearted use of the sword.
10 Cursed is he who does the work of the Lord deceitfully, And cursed is he who keeps back his sword from blood.
10 Cursed are those who refuse to do the Lord 's work, who hold back their swords from shedding blood!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Jeremiah 48:10
Commentary on Jeremiah 48:1-13
(Read Jeremiah 48:1-13)
The Chaldeans are to destroy the Moabites. We should be thankful that we are required to seek the salvation of men's lives, and the salvation of their souls, not to shed their blood; but we shall be the more without excuse if we do this pleasant work deceitfully. The cities shall be laid in ruins, and the country shall be wasted. There will be great sorrow. There will be great hurry. If any could give wings to sinners, still they could not fly out of the reach of Divine indignation. There are many who persist in unrepented iniquity, yet long enjoy outward prosperity. They had been long corrupt and unreformed, secure and sensual in prosperity. They have no changes of their peace and prosperity, therefore their hearts and lives are unchanged, Psalm 55:19.