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Jeremiah Proclaims God’s Judgment on the Nation

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: Stand in the gate of the Lord’s house, and proclaim there this word, and say, Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah, you who enter these gates to worship the Lord. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Amend your ways and your doings, and let me dwell with you[a] in this place. Do not trust in these deceptive words: “This is[b] the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”

For if you truly amend your ways and your doings, if you truly act justly one with another,(A) if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow or shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not go after other gods to your own hurt,(B) then I will dwell with you[c] in this place, in the land that I gave to your ancestors forever and ever.

Here you are, trusting in deceptive words to no avail.(C) Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, make offerings to Baal, and go after other gods that you have not known(D) 10 and then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, “We are safe!”—only to go on doing all these abominations?(E) 11 Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? I, too, am watching, says the Lord.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 7.3 Or and I will let you dwell
  2. 7.4 Heb They are
  3. 7.7 Or and I will let you dwell

Your False Religion Is Useless

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord.

Stand in the gate of the House of the Lord and proclaim this message there.

Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who are coming through this gate to worship the Lord. This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says.

Reform your ways and your actions, and I will establish you in this place. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.”

Sincerely reform your ways and your actions. Carry out justice between a man and his neighbor. Do not oppress the alien who lives in your land, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place. Do not follow after other gods to your own harm. If you avoid these things, I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your fathers forever and ever.

Take warning. You are trusting in deceptive words that cannot help you.

Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and swear falsely? Will you offer sacrifices to Baal and follow other gods you do not know? 10 Will you come and stand before me in this temple that bears my Name, and say, “We are safe,” the whole time you do all these detestable things? 11 This house bears my Name! Have you made it a den of robbers? Watch out! I myself have been watching, declares the Lord.

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