1 T he word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,

2 “ Hear the words of this agreement, and speak to the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem.

Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

3 S ay to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Cursed is the man who does not listen to the words of this agreement

and say to them, Yahweh, the God of Israel says: Cursed is the man who doesn’t hear the words of this covenant,

4 w hich I told to your fathers before you when I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I brought them from the land that was like an iron stove. I said to them, ‘Listen to My voice, and do all that I tell you. Then you will be My people and I will be your God.’

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 A nd so I will keep the promise I made to your fathers before you, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I answered and said, “Let it be so, O Lord.”

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 answered I, and said, Amen, Yahweh.

6 T he Lord said to me, “Make these words known in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear the words of this agreement and do them.

Yahweh 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 F or by My strong words I told your fathers of the danger when I brought them up from the land of Egypt. I kept telling them even to this day, saying, “Listen to My voice.”

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 Y et they did not obey or listen. Every one walked in his own strong-will because of his sinful heart. So I brought upon them all the words of this agreement, which I told them to do, but they did not.’”

Yet they didn’t obey, nor turn their ear, but walked everyone 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 T hen the Lord said to me, “Sinful plans have been made by the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem.

Yahweh said to me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

10 T hey have returned to the sins of their fathers before them who would not listen to My words. And they have gone to serve other gods. The people of Israel and Judah have broken the agreement I made with their fathers.”

They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, who refused to hear my words; and they are 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 S o the Lord says, “See, I am bringing much trouble on them. They will not be able to get away from it. Even when they cry to Me, I will not listen to them.

Therefore Yahweh says, Behold, I will bring evil on them, which they shall not be able to escape; and they shall cry to me, but I will not listen to them.

12 T hen the cities of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they burn special perfume. But they cannot save them in the time of their trouble.

Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 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 F or your gods are as many as your cities, O Judah. And your altars you have set up to burn special perfume to the false god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.

For according to the number of your cities are your gods, Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have you set up altars to the shameful thing, even altars to burn incense to Baal.

14 “ So do not pray for these people. Do not lift up a cry or prayer for them. For I will not listen when they call to Me because of their trouble.

Therefore don’t pray for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry to me because of their trouble.

15 W hat right has My loved one to be in My house when she has done many sinful acts? Can animals killed on My altar take your trouble away from you? Can you then find joy?”

What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has worked lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from you? when you do evil, then you rejoice.

16 T he Lord called you, “A green olive tree, beautiful and with good fruit.” But with a noise like thunder He set fire to it, and its branches were destroyed.

Yahweh called your name, A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.

17 T he Lord of All, Who planted you, has said that bad will come to you because of the sin of the people of Israel and of the people of Judah. They have done wrong to make Me angry by burning special perfume to the false god Baal. Men of Anathoth Want to Kill Jeremiah

For Yahweh 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 worked for themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.

18 T he Lord made it known to me and I knew it. You showed me the sinful things they did.

Yahweh gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it: then you showed me their doings.

19 B ut I was like a gentle lamb led to be killed. I did not know that they had made plans against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit. Let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name be remembered no more.”

But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter; and I didn’t know that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

20 B ut, O Lord of All, Who is right as He judges, Who tests the heart and the mind, let me see You punish them. For I have put my cause before You.

But, Yahweh of Armies, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I shall see your vengeance on them; for to you have I revealed my cause.

21 S o the Lord speaks about the men of Anathoth who want to kill you. These men say, “Do not speak in the name of the Lord, or you will die by our hand.”

Therefore Yahweh says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, You shall not prophesy in Yahweh’s name, that you not die by our hand;

22 S o the Lord of All says, “See, I am about to punish them! The young men will die by the sword. And their sons and daughters will die from hunger.

therefore Yahweh of Armies says, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine;

23 N one of them will be left. For I will bring much trouble to the men of Anathoth, in the year of their punishment.”

and there shall be no remnant to them: for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.