11
1 The
word that came
to Jeremiah from
the LORD, saying,
2 “Hear
the words of
this covenant, and
speak to the men
of Judah, and
to the inhabitants
of Jerusalem;
3 and
say to them,
the LORD, the
God of Israel
says: ‘Cursed is
the man who doesn’t
hear the words
of this covenant,
4 which
I commanded
your fathers in
the day that
I brought them
out of the land
of Egypt, out
of the iron
furnace,’ saying, ‘Obey
my voice and
do them, according
to all which
I command you;
so you shall
be my people,
and I will
be your God;
5 that
I may establish
the oath which
I swore to
your fathers, to
give them a land
flowing with milk
and honey,’ as
it is today.”
Then I answered,
and said, “Amen,
LORD.”
6 The
LORD said to
me, “Proclaim all
these words in
the cities of
Judah, and in
the streets of
Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear
the words of
this covenant, and
do them.
7 For
I earnestly
protested to
your fathers in
the day that
I brought them
up out of
the land of Egypt,
even to this
day, rising early
and protesting,
saying, “Obey my
voice.”
8 Yet
they didn’t obey,
nor turn their
ear, but everyone
walked in the
stubbornness of
their evil heart.
Therefore I
brought on them
all the words
of this covenant,
which I commanded
them to do,
but they didn’t do
them.’ ”
9 The
LORD said to me,
“A conspiracy is
found among the men
of Judah, and
among the
inhabitants of
Jerusalem.
10 They
have turned back
to the iniquities
of their
forefathers, who
refused to hear
my words. They
have gone
after other gods
to serve them.
The house of
Israel and the
house of Judah
have broken my
covenant which I
made with
their fathers.
11 Therefore
the LORD says, ‘Behold, I will bring
evil on them
which they will
not be able
to escape; and
they will cry
to me, but
I will not
listen to them.
12 Then
the cities of
Judah and the
inhabitants of
Jerusalem will go
and cry to
the gods to
which they offer
incense, but they
will not save
them at all
in the time
of their trouble.
13 For according to
the number of
your cities are
your gods, Judah;
and according to
the number of
the streets of
Jerusalem you have
set up altars
to the shameful
thing, even altars
to burn incense
to Baal.’
14 “Therefore
don’t pray for
this people. Don’t
lift up cry
or prayer for
them; for I
will not hear
them in the
time that they
cry to me
because of their
trouble.
15 What
has my beloved
to do in
my house,
since she has
behaved lewdly with
many,
and the holy
flesh has passed
from you?
When you do
evil,
then you rejoice.”
16 The
LORD called your
name, “A green
olive tree,
beautiful with
goodly fruit.”
With the noise
of a great roar
he has kindled
fire on it,
and its branches
are broken.
17 For
the LORD of
Armies, who
planted you, has
pronounced evil
against you,
because of the
evil of the
house of Israel
and of the
house of Judah,
which they have
done to themselves
in provoking me
to anger by
offering incense
to Baal.
18 The
LORD gave me
knowledge of it,
and I knew
it. Then you
showed me their
doings.
19 But
I was like
a gentle lamb that
is led to
the slaughter.
I didn’t know that
they had devised
plans against me,
saying,
“Let’s destroy
the tree with
its fruit,
and let’s cut
him off from
the land of the
living,
that his name
may be no
more remembered.”
20 But,
LORD of Armies,
who judges
righteously,
who tests the
heart and the
mind,
I will see
your vengeance on
them;
for to you
I have revealed
my cause.
21 “Therefore
the LORD says
concerning the men
of Anathoth, who
seek your life,
saying, ‘You shall
not prophesy in
the LORD’s name,
that you not
die by our
hand’—
22 therefore
the LORD of
Armies says, ‘Behold, I will punish
them. The young
men will die
by the sword.
Their sons and
their daughters
will die by
famine.
23 There
will be no
remnant to them,
for I will
bring evil on
the men of
Anathoth, even the
year of their
visitation.’ ”