The Broken Covenant

1The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2“Hear the words of this covenant, and you shall speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem 3and say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Cursed is the man who does not hear the words of this covenant 4which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Listen to My voice, and [†]do according to all which I command you; so you shall be My people, and I will be your God,’ 5in order to establish the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I answered and said, “Amen, O Yahweh.”

6And Yahweh said to me, “Call out all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Hear the words of this covenant so that you will do them. 7For I solemnly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising up early and warning, saying, “Listen to My voice.” 8Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”

9Then Yahweh said to me, “A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10They have turned back to the iniquities of their [†]ancestors who refused to hear My words, and they have walked after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I cut with their fathers.” 11Therefore thus says Yahweh, “Behold, I am bringing calamity on them which they will not be able to get out of; and they will cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them. 12Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they surely will not save them in the time of their calamity. 13For your gods are the number of your cities, O Judah; and the number of the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal.

14“But as for you, do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry of lamentation or prayer for them; for I will not listen when they call to Me because of their calamity.

15What possession has My beloved in My house

When she has done many schemes of wickedness?

Can the flesh, which is set apart as holy, take away from you your calamity,

[†]So that you can exult?”

16Yahweh called your name,

“A green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”;

With the noise of a great tumult

He has kindled fire on it,

And its foliage has an evil demise.

17Yahweh of hosts, who planted you, has spoken forth evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have [†]done to provoke Me to anger by burning incense to Baal.

Men Seek Jeremiah’s Life

18Moreover, Yahweh made it known to me, and I knew it;

Then You showed me their deeds.

19But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter;

And I did not know that they had devised thoughts against me, saying,

“Let us make the tree with its [†]fruit a ruin,

And let us cut him off from the land of the living,

That his name be remembered no more.”

20But, O Yahweh of hosts, who judges righteously,

Who tests the [†]insides and the heart,

Let me see Your vengeance on them,

For to You have I revealed my case.

21Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, so that you will not die at our hand”; 22therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, “Behold, I am about to punish them! The choice men will die by the sword; their sons and daughters will die by famine; 23and a remnant will not be left to them, for I will bring calamity on the men of Anathoth—the year of their punishment.”