²⁴ But they did not listen^(A) or pay attention;^(B) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.^(C) They went backward^(D) and not forward. ²⁵ From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again^(E) I sent you my servants^(F) the prophets.^{(G) 26} But they did not listen to me or pay attention.^(H) They were stiff-necked^(I) and did more evil than their ancestors.’^(J)

²⁷ “When you tell^(K) them all this, they will not listen^(L) to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.^{(M) 28} Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction.^(N) Truth^(O) has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

²⁹ “‘Cut off^(P) your hair and throw it away; take up a lament^(Q) on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned^(R) this generation that is under his wrath.

The Valley of Slaughter

³⁰ “‘The people of Judah have done evil^(S) in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols^(T) in the house that bears my Name and have defiled^(U) it. ³¹ They have built the high places of Topheth^(V) in the Valley of Ben Hinnom^(W) to burn their sons and daughters^(X) in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.^{(Y) 32} So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter,^(Z) for they will bury^(AA) the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. ³³ Then the carcasses^(AB) of this people will become food^(AC) for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.^{(AD) 34} I will bring an end to the sounds^(AE) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom^(AF) in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,^(AG) for the land will become desolate.^(AH)

8 “‘At that time, declares the Lord, the bones of the kings and officials of Judah, the bones of the priests and prophets, and the bones^(AI) of the people of Jerusalem will be removed^(AJ) from their graves. ² They will be exposed to the sun and the moon and all the stars of the heavens, which they have loved and served^(AK) and which they have followed and consulted and worshiped.^(AL) They will not be gathered up or buried,^(AM) but will be like dung lying on the ground.^{(AN) 3} Wherever I banish them,^(AO) all the survivors of this evil nation will prefer death to life,^(AP) declares the Lord Almighty.’

²⁰ Then Jeremiah said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him, ²¹ “Did not the Lord remember^(A) and call to mind the incense^(B) burned in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem^(C) by you and your ancestors,^(D) your kings and your officials and the people of the land?^{(E) 22} When the Lord could no longer endure^(F) your wicked actions and the detestable things you did, your land became a curse^(G) and a desolate waste^(H) without inhabitants, as it is today.^{(I) 23} Because you have burned incense and have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed him or followed^(J) his law or his decrees^(K) or his stipulations, this disaster^(L) has come upon you, as you now see.”^(M)