1The message that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2“Listen to the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the people of Jerusalem;
3and tell them, Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the person who does not obey the words of this covenant,
4which I commanded your ancestors on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace,’ saying, ‘Obey my voice and do everything I command you: then you will be my people, and I will be your God;
5so that I may fulfill the promise I made to your ancestors to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is today.” Then I answered and said, “Amen, Yahweh.”
6Yahweh said to me, “Announce all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Listen to the words of this covenant and obey them.’
7For I strongly warned your ancestors on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, even until today, repeatedly warning them, saying, ‘Obey my voice.’
8Yet they did not obey or listen, but everyone followed the stubbornness of their evil heart. Therefore, I brought upon them all the curses of this covenant, which I commanded them to obey, but they did not.”
9Yahweh said to me, “A conspiracy has been discovered among the men of Judah and among the people of Jerusalem.”
10They have gone back to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have started worshiping other gods. The people of Israel and Judah have broken the agreement I made with their ancestors.
11So Yahweh says, ‘Look, I will bring disaster upon them that they will not be able to escape. When they cry to me, I will not listen to them.’
12Then the cities of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods they offer incense to, but these gods will not save them at all when they are in trouble.
13Judah, you have as many gods as you have cities. You have set up altars to the shameful god Baal on every street in Jerusalem, altars to burn incense to Baal.
14“Therefore, do not pray for these people or offer any cries or prayers for them, because I will not listen to them when they cry to me in their trouble.
15What is my beloved doing in my house when she has committed many acts of immorality, and the holy sacrifices are no longer offered by you? When you do evil, you rejoice.”
16Yahweh called you a green olive tree, beautiful and full of good fruit. But with the sound of a great uproar, he has set fire to it, and its branches are broken.
17For Yahweh of Armies, who planted you, has announced disaster against you because of the evil committed by the people of Israel and Judah. They made me angry by offering incense to Baal.
18Yahweh informed me about it, and I knew what was happening. Then you showed me what they were doing.
19But I was like a gentle lamb being led to the slaughter. I didn't know they had planned against me, saying, “Let’s destroy the tree and its fruit. Let’s cut him off from the land of the living so his name will no longer be remembered.”
20But Yahweh of Armies, who judges fairly and tests hearts and minds, I will see your revenge on them, for I have presented my case to you.
21“Therefore, Yahweh says this about the men of Anathoth, who are trying to kill you and say, ‘You must not prophesy in Yahweh’s name, or you will die by our hand’:
22Therefore, Yahweh of Armies says, ‘Look, I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, and their sons and daughters will die of starvation.
23None of them will survive, for I will bring disaster upon the men of Anathoth in the year I punish them.’”