Jeremiah 11
Legacy Standard Bible
The Broken Covenant
11 The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2 “(A)Hear the words of this (B)covenant, and you shall speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem 3 and say to them, ‘Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, “(C)Cursed is the man who does not hear the words of this covenant 4 which I commanded your fathers in 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 which I command you; so you shall be (G)My people, and I will be your God,’ 5 in order to establish the (H)oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.”’” Then I answered and said, “(I)Amen, O Yahweh.”
6 And Yahweh said to me, “(J)Call out all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘(K)Hear the words of this covenant so that you will (L)do them. 7 For I solemnly (M)warned your fathers in the (N)day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, (O)rising up early and warning, saying, “(P)Listen to My voice.” 8 Yet they (Q)did not listen or incline their ear, but walked, each one, in the stubbornness of his evil heart; therefore I brought on them all the (R)words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they did not.’”
9 Then Yahweh 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 iniquities of their [b]ancestors who (U)refused to hear My words, and they (V)have walked after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have (W)broken My covenant which I cut with their fathers.” 11 Therefore thus says Yahweh, “Behold, I am (X)bringing calamity on them which they will (Y)not be able to get out of; and they will (Z)cry to Me, yet I will not listen to them. 12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will (AA)go and cry to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they surely will not save them in the time of their calamity. 13 For your gods are (AB)the number of your cities, O Judah; and the number of the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the (AC)shameful thing, altars to (AD)burn incense to Baal.
14 “But as for you, (AE)do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry of lamentation or prayer for them; for I will (AF)not listen when they call to Me because of their calamity.
15 What possession has My (AG)beloved in My house
When (AH)she has done many schemes of wickedness?
Can the flesh, which is set apart as holy, take away from you your calamity,
[c]So that you can exult?”
16 Yahweh called your name,
“A (AI)green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form”;
With the (AJ)noise of a great tumult
He has (AK)kindled fire on it,
And its foliage has an evil demise.
17 Yahweh of hosts, who (AL)planted you, has (AM)spoken forth evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have [d]done to provoke Me to anger by (AN)burning incense to Baal.
Men Seek Jeremiah’s Life
18 Moreover, Yahweh (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 thoughts against me, saying,
“Let us make the tree with its [e]fruit a ruin,
And (AR)let us cut him off from the (AS)land of the living,
That his (AT)name be remembered no more.”
20 But, O Yahweh of hosts, who (AU)judges righteously,
Who (AV)tests the [f]insides and the heart,
Let me see Your vengeance on them,
For to You have I revealed my case.
21 Therefore thus says Yahweh concerning the men of (AW)Anathoth, who (AX)seek your life, saying, “(AY)Do not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, so that you will not (AZ)die at our hand”; 22 therefore thus says Yahweh of hosts, “Behold, I am about to (BA)punish them! The (BB)choice 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, for I will (BD)bring calamity on the men of Anathoth—(BE)the year of their punishment.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 11:4 Lit do them
- Jeremiah 11:10 Lit former fathers
- Jeremiah 11:15 Lit Then
- Jeremiah 11:17 Or done for themselves
- Jeremiah 11:19 Lit bread
- Jeremiah 11:20 Lit kidneys
Jeremiah 11
Common English Bible
Judah’s broken covenant with God
11 Jeremiah received the Lord’s word: 2 Listen to the terms of this covenant and proclaim them to the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem. 3 Say to them: This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Cursed are those who don’t heed the terms of this covenant 4 that I commanded your ancestors when I bought them out of the land of Egypt, that iron crucible, saying, Obey me and observe all that I instruct you. Then you will be my people and I, even I, will be your God. 5 I will fulfill my solemn pledge that I made to your ancestors to give them a land full of milk and honey, as is the case today.
And I replied, “As you say, Lord!”
6 The Lord said to me: Announce all these words in the towns of Judah and on the streets of Jerusalem: Obey the terms of this covenant and perform them. 7 I repeatedly and tirelessly warned your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt to this very day, saying, Obey me. 8 But they didn’t listen or pay attention; they followed their own willful ambitions. So I brought upon them all the punishments I prescribed for violating this covenant—for refusing to obey.
9 The Lord said to me: A conspiracy is taking place among the people of Judah and residents of Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors who refused to obey my words. They too are following other gods and serving them. The people of Israel and the people of Judah have broken my covenant that I made with their ancestors.
11 Therefore, the Lord proclaims: I will bring upon them a disaster from which they won’t be able to escape. They will cry out to me, but I won’t listen to them. 12 Then the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem will call upon the gods they worship,[a] but they won’t save them when disaster strikes. 13 You have as many gods as you have towns, Judah, and you have as many shameful altars for worshipping Baal as you have streets in Jerusalem.
14 As for you, don’t pray for these people, don’t cry out or plead for them, for I won’t listen when they cry out to me on account of their distress.
15 What are my loved ones doing in my temple
while working out their many evil schemes?
Can sacred offerings cancel your sin
so that you revel in your evil deeds?[b]
16 The Lord named you,
“A blossoming olive tree, fair and fruitful”;
but with the blast of a powerful storm
he will set it ablaze,
until its branches are completely consumed.[c]
17 The Lord of heavenly forces who planted you has announced disaster for you, because the people of Israel and Judah have done evil and made me angry by worshipping Baal.
Jeremiah’s lament
18 The Lord informed me and I knew.
Then he helped me see what they were up to.
19 I was like a young lamb led to the slaughter;
I didn’t realize that they were planning
their schemes against me:
“Let’s destroy the tree with its fruit;
let’s cut him off from the land of the living
so that even any knowledge of him will be wiped out.”
20 Lord of heavenly forces, righteous judge,
who tests the heart and mind,
let me see your revenge upon them,
because I have committed my case to you.
21 This is what the Lord says concerning the men from Anathoth who seek your life and say, “Don’t prophesy in the Lord’s name or else you will die at our hands.” 22 Therefore, the Lord of heavenly forces proclaims, I’m going to punish them. Their young men will die in war, and their sons and daughters will die by famine. 23 No one will be left because I will bring disaster upon the men of Anathoth when their time comes.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 11:12 Or to whom they burn incense
- Jeremiah 11:15 Heb uncertain
- Jeremiah 11:16 Vulg; MT broken
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