1Â The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2Â âHear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3Â and say to them, Yahweh, the God of Israel says: âCursed is the man who doesnât hear the words of this covenant, 4Â which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace,â saying, âObey my voice and do them, according to all which I command you; so you shall be my people, and I will be your God; 5Â that I may establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,â as it is today.â
Then I answered, and said, âAmen, Yahweh.â
6 Yahweh said to me, âProclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, âHear 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, âObey my voice.â 8 Yet they didnât 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 didnât do them.â â
9Â Yahweh said to me, âA conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10Â 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. 11Â Therefore Yahweh says, âBehold, 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. 12Â 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. 13Â 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.â
14Â âTherefore donât pray for this people. Donât 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.
15Â 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.â
16Â Yahweh called your name, âA green olive tree,
beautiful with goodly fruit.â
With the noise of a great roar he has kindled fire on it,
and its branches are broken.
18Â Yahweh gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it. Then you showed me their doings. 19Â But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter. I didnât know that they had devised plans against me, saying,
âLetâs destroy the tree with its fruit,
and letâs cut him off from the land of the living,
that his name may be no more remembered.â
20Â But, Yahweh 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 âTherefore Yahweh says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, âYou shall not prophesy in Yahwehâs name, that you not die by our handââ 22 therefore Yahweh of Armies says, âBehold, 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.â â