Jeremiah 11
New American Standard Bible
The Broken Covenant
11 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 “(A)Hear the words of this (B)covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3 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 4 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,’ 5 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.”
6 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. 7 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.” 8 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.’”
9 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
- Jeremiah 11:4 Lit do them
- Jeremiah 11:10 Lit former fathers
- Jeremiah 11:12 Or offer sacrifices
- Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
- Jeremiah 11:13 Lit the number of
- Jeremiah 11:13 Or offering sacrifices to
- Jeremiah 11:15 Lit Then
- Jeremiah 11:16 I.e., confused noise
- Jeremiah 11:17 Or done for themselves
- Jeremiah 11:17 Or burning incense
- Jeremiah 11:19 Lit bread
- Jeremiah 11:20 Lit kidneys
- Jeremiah 11:20 Lit rolled
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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