The Broken Covenant

11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, (A)Hear the words of this (B)covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 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 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,’ 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.”

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. 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.” 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.’”

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.

Plots against Jeremiah

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.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 11:4 Lit do them
  2. Jeremiah 11:10 Lit former fathers
  3. Jeremiah 11:12 Or offer sacrifices
  4. Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
  5. Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
  6. Jeremiah 11:13 Or offering sacrifices to
  7. Jeremiah 11:15 Lit Then
  8. Jeremiah 11:16 I.e., confused noise
  9. Jeremiah 11:17 Or done for themselves
  10. Jeremiah 11:17 Or burning incense
  11. Jeremiah 11:19 Lit bread
  12. Jeremiah 11:20 Lit kidneys
  13. Jeremiah 11:20 Lit rolled

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