1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying , 2Hear ye the words of this covenant , and speak unto the men of Judah , and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem ; 3And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel ; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant , 4Which 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 : 5That 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 .
The Prophetic Warning
6Then 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. 7For 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 . 8Yet 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. 9And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah , and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem . 10They 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 . 11Therefore 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. 12Then 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 . 13For 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 .
The Conspiracy Against Jeremiah
14Therefore 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 . 15What 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 . 16The 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 . 17For 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 . 18And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it , and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings . 19But 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 . 20But, 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 . 21Therefore 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 : 22Therefore 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 : 23And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth , even the year of their visitation .