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15 Then all the men which knew that their wives had burned incense unto other gods, and all the women that stood by, a great multitude, even all the people that dwelt in the land of Egypt, in Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying, 16 As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the Lord, we will not hearken unto thee. 17 But we will certainly do whatsoever thing goeth forth out of our own mouth, to burn incense unto the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our princes, in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: for then had we plenty of victuals, and were well, and saw no evil. 18 But since we left off to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her, we have wanted all things, and have been consumed by the sword and by the famine. 19 And when we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings unto her, did we make her cakes to worship her, and pour out drink offerings unto her, without our men?

20 Then Jeremiah said unto all the people, to the men, and to the women, and to all the people which had given him that answer, saying, 21 The incense that ye burned in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord remember them, and came it not into his mind? 22 So that the Lord could no longer bear, because of the evil of your doings, and because of the abominations which ye have committed; therefore is your land a desolation, and an astonishment, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as at this day. 23 Because ye have burned incense, and because ye have sinned against the Lord, and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord, nor walked in his law, nor in his statutes, nor in his testimonies; therefore this evil is happened unto you, as at this day.

24 Moreover Jeremiah said unto all the people, and to all the women, Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah that are in the land of Egypt: 25 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying; Ye and your wives have both spoken with your mouths, and fulfilled with your hand, saying, We will surely perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings unto her: ye will surely accomplish your vows, and surely perform your vows. 26 Therefore hear ye the word of the Lord, all Judah that dwell in the land of Egypt; Behold, I have sworn by my great name, saith the Lord, that my name shall no more be named in the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, The Lord God liveth. 27 Behold, I will watch over them for evil, and not for good: and all the men of Judah that are in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by the famine, until there be an end of them. 28 Yet a small number that escape the sword shall return out of the land of Egypt into the land of Judah, and all the remnant of Judah, that are gone into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, shall know whose words shall stand, mine, or theirs.

29 And this shall be a sign unto you, saith the Lord, that I will punish you in this place, that ye may know that my words shall surely stand against you for evil: 30 Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will give Pharaoh-hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of them that seek his life; as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and that sought his life.

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15 Then all the men who knew that their wives(A) were burning incense(B) to other gods, along with all the women(C) who were present—a large assembly—and all the people living in Lower and Upper Egypt,(D) said to Jeremiah, 16 “We will not listen(E) to the message you have spoken to us in the name of the Lord!(F) 17 We will certainly do everything we said we would:(G) We will burn incense(H) to the Queen of Heaven(I) and will pour out drink offerings to her just as we and our ancestors, our kings and our officials(J) did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem.(K) At that time we had plenty of food(L) and were well off and suffered no harm.(M) 18 But ever since we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings(N) to her, we have had nothing and have been perishing by sword and famine.(O)

19 The women added, “When we burned incense(P) to the Queen of Heaven(Q) and poured out drink offerings to her, did not our husbands(R) know that we were making cakes(S) impressed with her image(T) and pouring out drink offerings to her?”

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, 21 “Did not the Lord remember(U) and call to mind the incense(V) burned in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem(W) by you and your ancestors,(X) your kings and your officials and the people of the land?(Y) 22 When the Lord could no longer endure(Z) your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse(AA) and a desolate waste(AB) without inhabitants, as it is today.(AC) 23 Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed him or followed(AD) his law or his decrees(AE) or his stipulations, this disaster(AF) has come upon you, as you now see.”(AG)

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including the women,(AH) “Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah in Egypt.(AI) 25 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives(AJ) have done what you said you would do when you promised, ‘We will certainly carry out the vows we made to burn incense and pour out drink offerings to the Queen of Heaven.’(AK)

“Go ahead then, do what you promised! Keep your vows!(AL) 26 But hear the word of the Lord, all you Jews living in Egypt:(AM) ‘I swear(AN) by my great name,’ says the Lord, ‘that no one from Judah living anywhere in Egypt will ever again invoke my name or swear, “As surely as the Sovereign(AO) Lord lives.”(AP) 27 For I am watching(AQ) over them for harm,(AR) not for good; the Jews in Egypt will perish(AS) by sword and famine(AT) until they are all destroyed.(AU) 28 Those who escape the sword(AV) and return to the land of Judah from Egypt will be very few.(AW) Then the whole remnant(AX) of Judah who came to live in Egypt will know whose word will stand(AY)—mine or theirs.(AZ)

29 “‘This will be the sign(BA) to you that I will punish(BB) you in this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘so that you will know that my threats of harm against you will surely stand.’(BC) 30 This is what the Lord says: ‘I am going to deliver Pharaoh(BD) Hophra king of Egypt into the hands of his enemies who want to kill him, just as I gave Zedekiah(BE) king of Judah into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the enemy who wanted to kill him.’”(BF)

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