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Jeremiah 6:16-8:7
New Living Translation
Jeremiah 6:16-8:7
New Living Translation
Judah Rejects the Lord’s Way
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stop at the crossroads and look around.
Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it.
Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.
But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
17 I posted watchmen over you who said,
‘Listen for the sound of the alarm.’
But you replied,
‘No! We won’t pay attention!’
18 “Therefore, listen to this, all you nations.
Take note of my people’s situation.
19 Listen, all the earth!
I will bring disaster on my people.
It is the fruit of their own schemes,
because they refuse to listen to me.
They have rejected my word.
20 There’s no use offering me sweet frankincense from Sheba.
Keep your fragrant calamus imported from distant lands!
I will not accept your burnt offerings.
Your sacrifices have no pleasing aroma for me.”
21 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
“I will put obstacles in my people’s path.
Fathers and sons will both fall over them.
Neighbors and friends will die together.”
An Invasion from the North
22 This is what the Lord says:
“Look! A great army coming from the north!
A great nation is rising against you from far-off lands.
23 They are armed with bows and spears.
They are cruel and show no mercy.
They sound like a roaring sea
as they ride forward on horses.
They are coming in battle formation,
planning to destroy you, beautiful Jerusalem.[a]”
24 We have heard reports about the enemy,
and we wring our hands in fright.
Pangs of anguish have gripped us,
like those of a woman in labor.
25 Don’t go out to the fields!
Don’t travel on the roads!
The enemy’s sword is everywhere
and terrorizes us at every turn!
26 Oh, my people, dress yourselves in burlap
and sit among the ashes.
Mourn and weep bitterly, as for the loss of an only son.
For suddenly the destroying armies will be upon you!
27 “Jeremiah, I have made you a tester of metals,[b]
that you may determine the quality of my people.
28 They are the worst kind of rebel,
full of slander.
They are as hard as bronze and iron,
and they lead others into corruption.
29 The bellows fiercely fan the flames
to burn out the corruption.
But it does not purify them,
for the wickedness remains.
30 I will label them ‘Rejected Silver,’
for I, the Lord, am discarding them.”
Jeremiah Speaks at the Temple
7 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “Go to the entrance of the Lord’s Temple, and give this message to the people: ‘O Judah, listen to this message from the Lord! Listen to it, all of you who worship here! 3 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:
“‘Even now, if you quit your evil ways, I will let you stay in your own land. 4 But don’t be fooled by those who promise you safety simply because the Lord’s Temple is here. They chant, “The Lord’s Temple is here! The Lord’s Temple is here!” 5 But I will be merciful only if you stop your evil thoughts and deeds and start treating each other with justice; 6 only if you stop exploiting foreigners, orphans, and widows; only if you stop your murdering; and only if you stop harming yourselves by worshiping idols. 7 Then I will let you stay in this land that I gave to your ancestors to keep forever.
8 “‘Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will never suffer because the Temple is here. It’s a lie! 9 Do you really think you can steal, murder, commit adultery, lie, and burn incense to Baal and all those other new gods of yours, 10 and then come here and stand before me in my Temple and chant, “We are safe!”—only to go right back to all those evils again? 11 Don’t you yourselves admit that this Temple, which bears my name, has become a den of thieves? Surely I see all the evil going on there. I, the Lord, have spoken!
12 “‘Go now to the place at Shiloh where I once put the Tabernacle that bore my name. See what I did there because of all the wickedness of my people, the Israelites. 13 While you were doing these wicked things, says the Lord, I spoke to you about it repeatedly, but you would not listen. I called out to you, but you refused to answer. 14 So just as I destroyed Shiloh, I will now destroy this Temple that bears my name, this Temple that you trust in for help, this place that I gave to you and your ancestors. 15 And I will send you out of my sight into exile, just as I did your relatives, the people of Israel.[c]’
Judah’s Persistent Idolatry
16 “Pray no more for these people, Jeremiah. Do not weep or pray for them, and don’t beg me to help them, for I will not listen to you. 17 Don’t you see what they are doing throughout the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 No wonder I am so angry! Watch how the children gather wood and the fathers build sacrificial fires. See how the women knead dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven. And they pour out liquid offerings to their other idol gods! 19 Am I the one they are hurting?” asks the Lord. “Most of all, they hurt themselves, to their own shame.”
20 So this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “I will pour out my terrible fury on this place. Its people, animals, trees, and crops will be consumed by the unquenchable fire of my anger.”
21 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Take your burnt offerings and your other sacrifices and eat them yourselves! 22 When I led your ancestors out of Egypt, it was not burnt offerings and sacrifices I wanted from them. 23 This is what I told them: ‘Obey me, and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!’
24 “But my people would not listen to me. They kept doing whatever they wanted, following the stubborn desires of their evil hearts. They went backward instead of forward. 25 From the day your ancestors left Egypt until now, I have continued to send my servants, the prophets—day in and day out. 26 But my people have not listened to me or even tried to hear. They have been stubborn and sinful—even worse than their ancestors.
27 “Tell them all this, but do not expect them to listen. Shout out your warnings, but do not expect them to respond. 28 Say to them, ‘This is the nation whose people will not obey the Lord their God and who refuse to be taught. Truth has vanished from among them; it is no longer heard on their lips. 29 Shave your head in mourning, and weep alone on the mountains. For the Lord has rejected and forsaken this generation that has provoked his fury.’
The Valley of Slaughter
30 “The people of Judah have sinned before my very eyes,” says the Lord. “They have set up their abominable idols right in the Temple that bears my name, defiling it. 31 They have built pagan shrines at Topheth, the garbage dump in the valley of Ben-Hinnom, and there they burn their sons and daughters in the fire. I have never commanded such a horrible deed; it never even crossed my mind to command such a thing! 32 So beware, for the time is coming,” says the Lord, “when that garbage dump will no longer be called Topheth or the valley of Ben-Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. They will bury the bodies in Topheth until there is no more room for them. 33 The bodies of my people will be food for the vultures and wild animals, and no one will be left to scare them away. 34 I will put an end to the happy singing and laughter in the streets of Jerusalem. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will no longer be heard in the towns of Judah. The land will lie in complete desolation.
8 “In that day,” says the Lord, “the enemy will break open the graves of the kings and officials of Judah, and the graves of the priests, prophets, and common people of Jerusalem. 2 They will spread out their bones on the ground before the sun, moon, and stars—the gods my people have loved, served, and worshiped. Their bones will not be gathered up again or buried but will be scattered on the ground like manure. 3 And the people of this evil nation who survive will wish to die rather than live where I will send them. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!
Deception by False Prophets
4 “Jeremiah, say to the people, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘When people fall down, don’t they get up again?
When they discover they’re on the wrong road, don’t they turn back?
5 Then why do these people stay on their self-destructive path?
Why do the people of Jerusalem refuse to turn back?
They cling tightly to their lies
and will not turn around.
6 I listen to their conversations
and don’t hear a word of truth.
Is anyone sorry for doing wrong?
Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done”?
No! All are running down the path of sin
as swiftly as a horse galloping into battle!
7 Even the stork that flies across the sky
knows the time of her migration,
as do the turtledove, the swallow, and the crane.[d]
They all return at the proper time each year.
But not my people!
They do not know the Lord’s laws.
Jeremiah 6:16-8:7
New International Version
Jeremiah 6:16-8:7
New International Version
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,(A)
ask where the good way(B) is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest(C) for your souls.
But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I appointed watchmen(D) over you and said,
‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’(E)
But you said, ‘We will not listen.’(F)
18 Therefore hear, you nations;
you who are witnesses,
observe what will happen to them.
19 Hear, you earth:(G)
I am bringing disaster(H) on this people,
the fruit of their schemes,(I)
because they have not listened to my words(J)
and have rejected my law.(K)
20 What do I care about incense from Sheba(L)
or sweet calamus(M) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;(N)
your sacrifices(O) do not please me.”(P)
21 Therefore this is what the Lord says:
“I will put obstacles before this people.
Parents and children alike will stumble(Q) over them;
neighbors and friends will perish.”
22 This is what the Lord says:
“Look, an army is coming
from the land of the north;(R)
a great nation is being stirred up
from the ends of the earth.(S)
23 They are armed with bow and spear;
they are cruel and show no mercy.(T)
They sound like the roaring sea(U)
as they ride on their horses;(V)
they come like men in battle formation
to attack you, Daughter Zion.(W)”
24 We have heard reports about them,
and our hands hang limp.(X)
Anguish(Y) has gripped us,
pain like that of a woman in labor.(Z)
25 Do not go out to the fields
or walk on the roads,
for the enemy has a sword,
and there is terror on every side.(AA)
26 Put on sackcloth,(AB) my people,
and roll in ashes;(AC)
mourn with bitter wailing(AD)
as for an only son,(AE)
for suddenly the destroyer(AF)
will come upon us.
27 “I have made you a tester(AG) of metals
and my people the ore,
that you may observe
and test their ways.
28 They are all hardened rebels,(AH)
going about to slander.(AI)
They are bronze and iron;(AJ)
they all act corruptly.
29 The bellows blow fiercely
to burn away the lead with fire,
but the refining(AK) goes on in vain;
the wicked are not purged out.
30 They are called rejected silver,(AL)
because the Lord has rejected them.”(AM)
False Religion Worthless
7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Stand(AN) at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:
“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways(AO) and your actions, and I will let you live(AP) in this place. 4 Do not trust(AQ) in deceptive(AR) words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change(AS) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,(AT) 6 if you do not oppress(AU) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood(AV) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods(AW) to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land(AX) I gave your ancestors(AY) for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting(AZ) in deceptive(BA) words that are worthless.
9 “‘Will you steal(BB) and murder,(BC) commit adultery(BD) and perjury,[a](BE) burn incense to Baal(BF) and follow other gods(BG) you have not known, 10 and then come and stand(BH) before me in this house,(BI) which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?(BJ) 11 Has this house,(BK) which bears my Name, become a den of robbers(BL) to you? But I have been watching!(BM) declares the Lord.
12 “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh(BN) where I first made a dwelling(BO) for my Name,(BP) and see what I did(BQ) to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke(BR) to you again and again,(BS) but you did not listen;(BT) I called(BU) you, but you did not answer.(BV) 14 Therefore, what I did to Shiloh(BW) I will now do to the house that bears my Name,(BX) the temple(BY) you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. 15 I will thrust you from my presence,(BZ) just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’(CA)
16 “So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea(CB) or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen(CC) to you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.(CD) They pour out drink offerings(CE) to other gods to arouse(CF) my anger. 19 But am I the one they are provoking?(CG) declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?(CH)
20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign(CI) Lord says: My anger(CJ) and my wrath will be poured(CK) out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.(CL)
21 “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices(CM) and eat(CN) the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands(CO) about burnt offerings and sacrifices,(CP) 23 but I gave them this command:(CQ) Obey(CR) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.(CS) Walk in obedience to all(CT) I command you, that it may go well(CU) with you. 24 But they did not listen(CV) or pay attention;(CW) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.(CX) They went backward(CY) and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again(CZ) I sent you my servants(DA) the prophets.(DB) 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention.(DC) They were stiff-necked(DD) and did more evil than their ancestors.’(DE)
27 “When you tell(DF) them all this, they will not listen(DG) to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.(DH) 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction.(DI) Truth(DJ) has perished; it has vanished from their lips.
29 “‘Cut off(DK) your hair and throw it away; take up a lament(DL) on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned(DM) this generation that is under his wrath.
The Valley of Slaughter
30 “‘The people of Judah have done evil(DN) in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols(DO) in the house that bears my Name and have defiled(DP) it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth(DQ) in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(DR) to burn their sons and daughters(DS) in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.(DT) 32 So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter,(DU) for they will bury(DV) the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. 33 Then the carcasses(DW) of this people will become food(DX) for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.(DY) 34 I will bring an end to the sounds(DZ) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom(EA) in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,(EB) for the land will become desolate.(EC)
8 “‘At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones(ED) of the people of Jerusalem will be removed(EE) from their graves. 2 They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served(EF) and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped.(EG) They will not be gathered up or buried,(EH) but will be like dung lying on the ground.(EI) 3 Wherever I banish them,(EJ) all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life,(EK) declares the Lord Almighty.’
Sin and Punishment
4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says:
“‘When people fall down, do they not get up?(EL)
When someone turns away,(EM) do they not return?
5 Why then have these people turned away?
Why does Jerusalem always turn away?
They cling to deceit;(EN)
they refuse to return.(EO)
6 I have listened(EP) attentively,
but they do not say what is right.
None of them repent(EQ) of their wickedness,
saying, “What have I done?”
Each pursues their own course(ER)
like a horse charging into battle.
7 Even the stork in the sky
knows her appointed seasons,
and the dove, the swift and the thrush
observe the time of their migration.
But my people do not know(ES)
the requirements of the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 7:9 Or and swear by false gods
New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.