The Broken Covenant

11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, (A)Hear the words of this (B)covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “(C)Cursed is the one who does not obey the words of this covenant which I commanded your forefathers on the (D)day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the (E)iron furnace, saying, ‘(F)Listen to My voice, and [a]do according to all that I command you; so you shall be (G)My people, and I will be your God,’ in order to confirm the (H)oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I replied, “(I)Amen, Lord.”

And the Lord said to me, “(J)Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘(K)Hear the words of this covenant and (L)do them. For I solemnly (M)warned your fathers on the (N)day I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, (O)warning them persistently, saying, “(P)Listen to My voice.” Yet they (Q)did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart, each one of them; therefore I brought on them all the (R)words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”

Then the Lord said to me, “A (S)conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have (T)turned back to the wrongdoings of their [b]ancestors who (U)refused to hear My words, and they (V)have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have (W)broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.” 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am (X)bringing disaster on them which they will (Y)not be able to escape; though they will (Z)cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will (AA)go and cry out to the gods to whom they [c]burn incense, but they certainly will not save them in the time of their disaster. 13 For your gods are [d](AB)as many as your cities, Judah; and [e]as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the (AC)shameful thing, altars for [f](AD)burning incense to Baal.

14 “So as for you, (AE)do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will (AF)not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.

15 What right has My (AG)beloved in My house
When (AH)she has carried out many evil schemes?
Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster,
[g]So that you can rejoice?”
16 The Lord named you
“A (AI)green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”;
With the (AJ)noise of a great [h]tumult
He has (AK)set fire to it,
And its branches are worthless.

17 The Lord of armies, who (AL)planted you, has (AM)pronounced evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have [i]done to provoke Me by [j](AN)offering sacrifices to Baal.

Plots against Jeremiah

18 Moreover, the Lord (AO)made it known to me and I knew it;
Then You showed me their deeds.
19 But I was like a gentle (AP)lamb led to the slaughter;
And I did not know that they had (AQ)devised plots against me, saying,
“Let’s destroy the tree with its [k]fruit,
And (AR)let’s cut him off from the (AS)land of the living,
So that his (AT)name will no longer be remembered.”
20 But, Lord of armies, who (AU)judges righteously,
Who (AV)puts the [l]feelings and the heart to the test,
Let me see Your vengeance on them,
For to You I have [m]committed my cause.

21 Therefore this is what the Lord says concerning the people of (AW)Anathoth, who are (AX)seeking your life, saying: “(AY)Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord, so that you do not (AZ)die by our hand”; 22 therefore, this is what the Lord of armies says: “Behold, I am going to (BA)punish them! The (BB)young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters will die by famine; 23 and a remnant (BC)will not be left to them, because I will (BD)bring disaster on the people of Anathoth—(BE)the year of their punishment.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 11:4 Lit do them
  2. Jeremiah 11:10 Lit former fathers
  3. Jeremiah 11:12 Or offer sacrifices
  4. Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
  5. Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
  6. Jeremiah 11:13 Or offering sacrifices to
  7. Jeremiah 11:15 Lit Then
  8. Jeremiah 11:16 I.e., confused noise
  9. Jeremiah 11:17 Or done for themselves
  10. Jeremiah 11:17 Or burning incense
  11. Jeremiah 11:19 Lit bread
  12. Jeremiah 11:20 Lit kidneys
  13. Jeremiah 11:20 Lit rolled

The Broken Covenant

11 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,[a] “Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the people[b] of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: “The man is cursed who does not obey the words of this covenant, which I commanded your ancestors[c] in the day of my bringing them from the land of Egypt, from the furnace of iron, saying,[d] ‘Listen to my voice and do according to all that I command you, so will you be my people, and I will be your God.’[e] in order to keep the oath that I swore to your ancestors,[f] to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I answered and said, “Let it be so,[g] O Yahweh.”

And Yahweh said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying,[h] ‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them, for I solemnly admonished your ancestors[i] in the day of my leading them out from the land of Egypt and up to this day, admonishing persistently,[j] saying,[k] “Obey my voice.” But they did not obey and they did not incline their ear. Instead each one walked in the stubbornness of his[l] evil heart. Therefore, I brought on them all the words of this covenant which I commanded them[m] to do, and they did not do it.’”[n]

And Yahweh said to me, “A conspiracy is found among the people[o] of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10 They have turned back to the iniquities of their former ancestors,[p] who refused to obey my words, and 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[q] with their ancestors.”[r]

11 Therefore[s] thus says Yahweh, “I am about to bring on them disaster from which they will not be able to escape. Though they cry out to me, yet I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they are making smoke offerings, but they will certainly not save them in the time of their trouble. 13 For the number of your towns are your gods, O Judah, and the number of the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the shameful things, to make smoke offerings to Baal. 14 Therefore you must not pray for this people, and you must not lift up for them a cry of entreaty, or a prayer, for I will not listen in the time of their calling to me, in the time of their trouble.

15 What rights has my beloved in my house[t]
    when she has done many wicked things?[u]
Can the flesh of holiness pass over you?
    For you engage in your wickedness,[v] then you exult.
16 Yahweh called your name, ‘A leafy olive tree, beautiful with fine fruit.’[w]
With the sound of a great storm he will set fire to it,
    and its branches will be good for nothing.
17 And Yahweh of hosts, the one who planted you,
    has spoken evil against you,
because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah,
    that they have done to themselves,
to provoke me to anger by making smoke offerings to Baal.”

A Warning for the People of Anathoth

18 Moreover, Yahweh let it be made known to me, and I knew.
    Then you showed me their deeds.
19 And I was like a gentle ram-lamb that is brought to slaughter,
    and I did not know that they planned plans against me, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree with its fruit,
    and let us cut him off from the land of the living,
    so that his name will no longer be remembered.”
20 But O Yahweh of hosts, who judges in righteousness,
    who tests the inmost being,[x] and the mind,[y]
let me see your retribution upon them,
    for to you I have revealed my legal case.

21 Therefore[z] thus says Yahweh concerning the people[aa] of Anathoth who seek your life, saying,[ab] “You shall not prophesy in the name of Yahweh or[ac] you will die by our hand.” 22 Therefore[ad] thus says Yahweh of hosts: “Look, I am about to punish them. The young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by the famine. 23 And a remnant will not be left for them, for I will bring disaster to the people[ae] of Anathoth, the year of their punishment.”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 11:1 Literally “to say”
  2. Jeremiah 11:2 Literally “man”
  3. Jeremiah 11:4 Or “fathers”
  4. Jeremiah 11:4 Literally “to say”
  5. Jeremiah 11:4 Literally “and you shall be to me as people and I will be to you as God”
  6. Jeremiah 11:5 Or “fathers”
  7. Jeremiah 11:5 Literally “Amen”
  8. Jeremiah 11:6 Literally “to say”
  9. Jeremiah 11:7 Or “fathers”
  10. Jeremiah 11:7 Literally “do early and admonishing”
  11. Jeremiah 11:7 Literally “to say”
  12. Jeremiah 11:8 Hebrew “their”
  13. Jeremiah 11:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  14. Jeremiah 11:8 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  15. Jeremiah 11:9 Literally “man”
  16. Jeremiah 11:10 Or “fathers”
  17. Jeremiah 11:10 Literally “cut”
  18. Jeremiah 11:10 Or “fathers”
  19. Jeremiah 11:11 Literally “To thus”
  20. Jeremiah 11:15 Literally “What for my beloved in my house”
  21. Jeremiah 11:15 Hebrew “wicked thing”
  22. Jeremiah 11:15 Literally “your wickedness”
  23. Jeremiah 11:16 Literally “beautiful of fruit of appearance”
  24. Jeremiah 11:20 Literally “kidney”
  25. Jeremiah 11:20 Literally “heart”
  26. Jeremiah 11:21 Literally “To thus”
  27. Jeremiah 11:21 Or “men”
  28. Jeremiah 11:21 Literally “to say”
  29. Jeremiah 11:21 Literally “and not”
  30. Jeremiah 11:22 Literally “To thus”
  31. Jeremiah 11:23 Or “men”