False Religion Worthless

7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “Stand^(A) 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^(B) and your actions, and I will let you live^(C) in this place. ⁴ Do not trust^(D) in deceptive^(E) 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^(F) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,^{(G) 6} if you do not oppress^(H) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood^(I) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods^(J) to your own harm, ⁷ then I will let you live in this place, in the land^(K) I gave your ancestors^(L) for ever and ever. ⁸ But look, you are trusting^(M) in deceptive^(N) words that are worthless.

²¹ “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices^(A) and eat^(B) the meat yourselves! ²² For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands^(C) about burnt offerings and sacrifices,^{(D) 23} but I gave them this command:^(E) Obey^(F) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.^(G) Walk in obedience to all^(H) I command you, that it may go well^(I) with you. ²⁴ But they did not listen^(J) or pay attention;^(K) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(L) They went backward^(M) and not forward. ²⁵ From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again^(N) I sent you my servants^(O) the prophets.^{(P) 26} But they did not listen to me or pay attention.^(Q) They were stiff-necked^(R) and did more evil than their ancestors.’^(S)