[1] The original text of this chapter, as with the rest of the Book of Jeremiah, was written in Hebrew language.

[2] Some fragments containing parts of this chapter were found among the Dead Sea Scrolls, i.e., 4QJerc (4Q72; 1st century BC),[3] with extant verses 4:5(‑6), 13‑16 (similar to Masoretic Text).

Extant ancient manuscripts of the Septuagint version include Codex Vaticanus (B;

Beatty) are the fragments of Jeremiah (Rahlfs 966; Chester Beatty Library (CBL) BP VIII), dated from the late second century or early third century AD, containing Jeremiah 4:30–5:1; 5:9–13; 5:13–14; 5:23–24.

The Jerusalem Bible reads: Four metaphors relating to repentance and reformation: Leviticus 25:1–13 prescribed that the people of Israel could work the fields for six years, but in the seventh year, the land was to remain fallow.