Jeremiah 11

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying:

2“Hear the words of this covenant, and speak them to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

3Say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed is the one who does not hear the words of this covenant,

4which I commanded your ancestors on the day I brought them out from the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying: “Hear my voice, and do them, according to all that I command you. Then you will be my people, and I will be your God,

5that I may establish the oath that I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’”

And I answered and said, “Amen, O LORD.”

6Then the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: ‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them.

7For I solemnly warned your ancestors from the day I brought them up from the land of Egypt until this day, rising early and warning them, saying, “Hear my voice.”

8But they did not hear or incline their ear. Each one walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart. So I brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not do.’”

9And the LORD said to me, “A conspiracy has been found among the people of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

10They have returned to the iniquities of their first ancestors, 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 that I made with their ancestors.

11Therefore, thus says the LORD: “Look, I am bringing disaster upon them, from which they will not be able to escape. They will cry out to me, but I will not hear them.

12Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not save them in the time of their disaster.

13For your gods have become as many as your cities, Judah; and as many as the streets of Jerusalem, you have set up altars to Shame—altars for burning incense to Baal.

14“But you, do not pray for this people. Do not lift up for them a cry or a prayer, for I will not hear when they call to me because of their disaster.

15What is my beloved doing in my house, when she has carried out many schemes? Can holy flesh pass away from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice.

16A flourishing olive tree, beautiful with fine fruit—
the LORD called your name.
At the sound of a great tumult,
he kindled fire upon it,
and its branches were ruined.

17The LORD of Hosts, who planted you, has spoken disaster against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger by burning incense to Baal.

18The LORD made it known to me, and I knew;
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 plans against me:
“Let us destroy the tree with its bread;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
so that his name will be remembered no more.”

20But, O LORD of Hosts, who judges righteously,
who tests the inward parts and the heart,
let me see your vengeance upon them,
for to you I have revealed my cause.

21Therefore, thus says the LORD concerning the people of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or you will die by our hand”:

22therefore, thus says the LORD of Hosts: “Look, I am about to punish them. Their young men will die by the sword; their sons and their daughters will die by famine.

23There will be no remnant for them, for I will bring disaster upon the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.”