11 The Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: 2 ‘Listen to the rules of the covenant that I made with my people. Tell them to the people who live in Jerusalem and the other towns in Judah. 3 Tell them that the Lord , Israel's God, says, “I will curse anyone who does not obey the rules of this covenant. 4 I gave those rules to your ancestors when I brought them safely out of Egypt. That place was like a hot oven where they were in great pain. At that time, I said to them, ‘Obey me and do everything that I command you to do. If you obey my covenant with you, you will be my people and I will be your God. 5 I will do what I promised to your ancestors. I promised to give to them a land where there was plenty of food and drink, enough for everyone.’ That is the land that you still live in today.” ’
I answered, ‘Amen, Lord , I would like that to happen.’
6 The Lord said to me, ‘Speak all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: “Listen to the rules of my covenant with you. Obey them! 7 I clearly warned your ancestors that they must obey me. I warned them many times since I brought them safely out of Egypt. I have continued to do that, even until today. 8 But they did not listen to me. They did not agree to obey my covenant. Instead, they continued to do all the wicked things that they wanted to do. They would not change how they lived. So I punished them in the way that the covenant said they deserved. I had commanded them to obey the rules of the covenant, and they did not do that.” ’
9 The Lord said to me, ‘The people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem have decided to turn against me. 10 They are doing the same evil things that their ancestors did. Their ancestors refused to obey my commands. These people do that, and they also serve and worship other gods. I made a covenant with their ancestors. But the nations of Judah and Israel have refused to obey that covenant. 11 So now, I, the Lord , say this: “I will bring great trouble to these people. They will not be able to escape. When they call out to me for help, I will not listen to them. 12 The people who live in Jerusalem and in the other towns of Judah will ask their false gods to help them. Those are the gods that they offer sacrifices to. But when this terrible trouble comes, those gods will never be able to rescue them. 13 You people of Judah have as many gods as you have towns! You have built many altars to offer sacrifices to that disgusting god, Baal. You have built as many of those altars as there are streets in Jerusalem!”
14 So, Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not ask me to do anything to help them. Do not ask me to save them. When trouble comes and they ask me for help, I will not listen to them.
15 The people that I love are doing wicked things.
They should not be in my temple.
They think that they will be safe
if they offer animal sacrifices to me.
They enjoy the evil things that they do,
and their punishment will certainly happen.
16 I, the Lord , called you a beautiful olive tree.
It was a tree that gave lots of good fruit.
But now I will destroy you with fire.
The flames will make a loud noise.
All your branches will be useless.
17 I, the Lord Almighty, planted you in the land, like a tree.
But now you have caused me to be angry.
You nations of Israel and Judah have done evil things.
And you have offered sacrifices to Baal.
So now I have decided to punish you with great trouble.’
18 The Lord showed me what the people were doing. [ a ] He helped me to understood what was really happening. 19 Before that, I did not know about their plans to kill me. I was like a lamb that men were taking away to kill it. I did not know that they were saying, ‘We should cut down this tree and destroy its fruit! [ b ] Jeremiah must not continue to live in this world. Then people will forget all about him.’
20 So I said, ‘ Lord Almighty, you judge people in a fair way. You know what people are thinking. You understand how they feel. I trust you to show that I have not done anything that is wrong. So please punish these people. Pay them back for their sins.’
21 The Lord told me that some men in Anathoth wanted to kill me. They said to me, ‘Stop telling us messages from the Lord ! If you do not stop, we will kill you.’ 22 So the Lord Almighty said, ‘Yes, I will certainly punish them! Their young men will die as they fight in war. Their children will be so hungry that they die. 23 All those men in Anathoth who wanted to kill you will die. At the right time, I will punish them with great trouble.’
11 This is the message from the Lord : 2 “Jeremiah, listen to the words of this agreement and tell them to the people living in Jerusalem and the rest of Judah. 3 Tell them that this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘Bad things will happen to anyone who does not obey this agreement. 4 I am talking about the agreement I made with your ancestors when I brought them out of that furnace [ a ] called Egypt.’ At that time I told them, ‘Listen to me and obey all the commands I give you. Then you will be my people and I will be your God.’
5 “I did this to keep the promise that I had made to your ancestors. I promised to give them a very fertile land—a land flowing with milk and honey. And you are living in that country today.”
I answered, “Amen, Lord .”
6 The Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, tell this message in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the words of this agreement, and then obey these laws. 7 I gave a warning to your ancestors at the time I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I have warned them again and again to this day. I told them to obey me. 8 But your ancestors did not listen to me. They were stubborn and did what their own evil hearts wanted. The agreement says that bad things will happen to them if they don’t obey. So I made all the bad things happen to them. I commanded them to obey the agreement, but they did not.’”
9 The Lord said to me, “Jeremiah, I know that the people of Judah and the people living in Jerusalem have made secret plans. 10 They are committing the same sins that their ancestors did. Their ancestors refused to listen to my message. They followed and worshiped other gods. The family of Israel and the family of Judah have broken the agreement I made with their ancestors.”
11 So this is what the Lord says: “I will soon make something terrible happen to the people of Judah. They will not be able to escape. They will be sorry and cry to me for help, but I will not listen to them. 12 The people in the towns of Judah and in the city of Jerusalem will go and pray to their idols for help. They burn incense to those idols. But their idols will not be able to help the people of Judah when that terrible disaster comes.
13 “People of Judah, you have many idols—there are as many idols as there are towns in Judah. You have built many altars for worshiping that disgusting god Baal—there are as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem.
14 “As for you, Jeremiah, don’t pray for these people of Judah. Don’t beg for them. Don’t say prayers for them. I will not listen. They will suffer and then call to me for help, but I will not listen.
15 “Judah is the one I love, but why is she in my temple?
She has done too many evil things.
Judah, do you think vows and sacrifices will keep you from being destroyed?
Will I then allow you to enjoy your evil ways?”
16 The Lord gave you a name.
He called you, “A green olive tree, beautiful to look at.”
But with a powerful storm, he will set that tree on fire,
and its branches will be burned up. [ b ]
17 The Lord All-Powerful planted you, and he said that disaster will come to you. That is because the family of Israel and the family of Judah have done evil things. They offered sacrifices to Baal, and that made him angry!
18 The Lord showed me that the men of Anathoth [ c ] were making plans against me. He showed me what they were doing, so I knew they were against me. 19 Before he showed me this, I was like a gentle lamb waiting to be butchered. I did not understand that they were against me. They were saying this about me: “Let us destroy the tree and its fruit! Let us kill him! Then people will forget him.” 20 So I prayed, “ Lord All-Powerful, you are a fair judge. You know how to test people’s hearts and minds. I will tell you my arguments, and I will let you give them the punishment they deserve.”
21 The Lord said to me, “Those people from Anathoth are planning to take your life. They are telling you not to prophesy in the name of the Lord or they will kill you. This is what I have to say about them: 22 I, the Lord All-Powerful, promise that I will soon punish those people. Their young men will die in war. Their sons and daughters will die from hunger. 23 No one from the city of Anathoth will be left. No one will survive. I will punish them and cause something bad to happen to them.”
11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying,
2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;
3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,
4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:
5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O Lord .
6 Then the Lord said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.
7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.
8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not.
9 And the Lord said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went 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 thus saith the Lord , Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.
12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.
13 For according to the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.
14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.
15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.
16 The Lord called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.
17 For the Lord of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.
18 And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.
19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.
20 But, O Lord of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.
21 Therefore thus saith the Lord of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the Lord , that thou die not by our hand:
22 Therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:
23 And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.
11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord , saying, 2 “ ( A ) Hear the words of this ( B ) covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel says: “ ( C ) Cursed is the one who does not obey the words of this covenant 4 which I commanded your forefathers on the ( D ) day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the ( E ) iron furnace, saying, ‘ ( F ) Listen to My voice, and [ a ] do according to all that I command you; so you shall be ( G ) My people, and I will be your God,’ 5 in order to confirm the ( H ) oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I replied, “ ( I ) Amen, Lord .”
6 And the Lord said to me, “ ( J ) Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘ ( K ) Hear the words of this covenant and ( L ) do them. 7 For I solemnly ( M ) warned your fathers on the ( N ) day I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, ( O ) warning them persistently, saying, “ ( P ) Listen to My voice.” 8 Yet they ( Q ) did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart, each one of them ; therefore I brought on them all the ( R ) words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”
9 Then the Lord said to me, “A ( S ) conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have ( T ) turned back to the wrongdoings of their [ b ] ancestors who ( U ) refused to hear My words, and they ( V ) have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have ( W ) broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.” 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am ( X ) bringing disaster on them which they will ( Y ) not be able to escape; though they will ( Z ) cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will ( AA ) go and cry out to the gods to whom they [ c ] burn incense, but they certainly will not save them in the time of their disaster. 13 For your gods are [ d ] ( AB ) as many as your cities, Judah; and [ e ] as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the ( AC ) shameful thing, altars for [ f ] ( AD ) burning incense to Baal.
14 “So as for you, ( AE ) do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will ( AF ) not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.
15 What right has My ( AG ) beloved in My house
When ( AH ) she has carried out many evil schemes?
Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster,
[ g ] So that you can rejoice?”
16 The Lord named you
“A ( AI ) green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”;
With the ( AJ ) noise of a great [ h ] tumult
He has ( AK ) set fire to it,
And its branches are worthless.
17 The Lord of armies, who ( AL ) planted you, has ( AM ) pronounced evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have [ i ] done to provoke Me by [ j ] ( AN ) offering sacrifices to Baal.
18 Moreover, the Lord ( AO ) made it known to me and I knew it;
Then You showed me their deeds.
19 But I was like a gentle ( AP ) lamb led to the slaughter;
And I did not know that they had ( AQ ) devised plots against me, saying ,
“Let’s destroy the tree with its [ k ] fruit,
And ( AR ) let’s cut him off from the ( AS ) land of the living,
So that his ( AT ) name will no longer be remembered.”
20 But, Lord of armies, who ( AU ) judges righteously,
Who ( AV ) puts the [ l ] feelings and the heart to the test,
Let me see Your vengeance on them,
For to You I have [ m ] committed my cause.
21 Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the people of ( AW ) Anathoth, who are ( AX ) seeking your life, saying: “ ( AY ) Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord , so that you do not ( AZ ) die by our hand”; 22 therefore, this is what the Lord of armies says: “Behold, I am going to ( BA ) punish them! The ( BB ) young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine; 23 and a remnant ( BC ) will not be left to them, because I will ( BD ) bring disaster on the people of Anathoth— ( BE ) the year of their punishment.”
11 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord : 2 “Listen to the terms of this covenant ( A ) and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. 3 Tell them that this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed ( B ) is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant— 4 the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, ( C ) out of the iron-smelting furnace. ( D ) ’ I said, ‘Obey ( E ) me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, ( F ) and I will be your God. 5 Then I will fulfill the oath I swore ( G ) to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’ ( H ) —the land you possess today.”
I answered, “Amen, ( I ) Lord .”
6 The Lord said to me, “Proclaim ( J ) all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow ( K ) them. 7 From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, ( L ) saying, “Obey me.” 8 But they did not listen or pay attention; ( M ) instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. ( N ) So I brought on them all the curses ( O ) of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep. ( P ) ’”
9 Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy ( Q ) among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, ( R ) who refused to listen to my words. ( S ) They have followed other gods ( T ) to serve them. ( U ) Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant ( V ) I made with their ancestors. 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster ( W ) they cannot escape. ( X ) Although they cry ( Y ) out to me, I will not listen ( Z ) to them. 12 The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, ( AA ) but they will not help them at all when disaster ( AB ) strikes. 13 You, Judah, have as many gods ( AC ) as you have towns; ( AD ) and the altars you have set up to burn incense ( AE ) to that shameful ( AF ) god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
14 “Do not pray ( AG ) for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen ( AH ) when they call to me in the time of their distress.
15 “What is my beloved doing in my temple
as she, with many others, works out her evil schemes?
Can consecrated meat ( AI ) avert your punishment? ( AJ )
When you engage in your wickedness,
then you rejoice. [ a ] ”
16 The Lord called you a thriving olive tree ( AK )
with fruit beautiful in form.
But with the roar of a mighty storm
he will set it on fire, ( AL )
and its branches will be broken. ( AM )
17 The Lord Almighty, who planted ( AN ) you, has decreed disaster ( AO ) for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused ( AP ) my anger by burning incense to Baal. ( AQ )
18 Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; ( AR ) I did not realize that they had plotted ( AS ) against me, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit;
let us cut him off from the land of the living, ( AT )
that his name be remembered ( AU ) no more.”
20 But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously ( AV )
and test the heart ( AW ) and mind, ( AX )
let me see your vengeance ( AY ) on them,
for to you I have committed my cause.
21 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth ( AZ ) who are threatening to kill you, ( BA ) saying, “Do not prophesy ( BB ) in the name of the Lord or you will die ( BC ) by our hands”— 22 therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men ( BD ) will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23 Not even a remnant ( BE ) will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment. ( BF ) ”
