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23 ¶ Madichon pou chèf sa yo ki tankou move gadò k'ap touye, k'ap gaye bann mouton m' mete sou kont yo a. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa.

Se poutèt sa, men sa Seyè a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, di sou chèf li mete reskonsab pèp li a: Nou gaye tout mouton m' yo. Nou lage yo nan bwa, nou pa okipe yo. Mwen pral regle nou pou tout mechanste nou yo. Se mwen menm, Seyè a, ki di sa.

M'ap sanble sa ki rete nan pèp mwen an, m' pral pran yo nan tout peyi kote mwen te gaye yo a, m'ap fè yo tounen lakay yo. Y'a fè anpil pitit, y'a peple.

M'a mete lòt chèf ki va okipe yo. Pèp mwen an p'ap pè anyen ankò, yo p'ap viv ak kè sote ankò. Yonn ladan yo p'ap pèdi. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa.

Seyè a di ankò: -Yon jou ap vini. Lè sa a, m'a chwazi yon moun ki dwat nan fanmi David la pou wa. L'a gouvènen yo ak bon konprann. L'a fè sa ki dwat, l'a mete jistis nan tout peyi a.

Sou rèy wa sa a, pèp Jida a va sove, pèp Izrayèl la va viv ak kè poze nan peyi l'. Y'a rele wa a: Seyè a, Delivrans nou.

Seyè a di ankò: Se poutèt sa yon jou va rive lè moun pèp Izrayèl yo p'ap di lè y'ap fè sèman: Se nan non Seyè ki vivan an, li menm ki te fè nou soti kite peyi Lejip.

Lè sa a y'a di: Se nan non Seyè ki vivan an, li menm ki te fè pitit pitit moun pèp Izrayèl yo soti kite peyi nan nò a ak nan tout lòt peyi kote li te gaye yo pou yo vin rete nan peyi ki rele yo pa yo a.

¶ Mesaj sou pwofèt yo: -Kè m' ap fann! M'ap tranble nan tout kò m'. Mwen tankou yon moun ki sou, yon moun ki bwè twòp. Se Seyè a ki lakòz sa avèk pawòl li yo ki pawòl Bondye tout bon.

10 Peyi a plen moun ki vire do bay Bondye. Madichon Bondye fè tout peyi a nan lapenn. Jaden zèb yo fin cheche. Tout moun deyò pou fè sa ki mal. Yo pran fòs kouraj yo pou fè sa ki pa dwat.

11 Seyè a di ankò: -Pwofèt yo ansanm ak prèt yo, se yon bann moun ki pa konn Bondye. Mwen bare yo ap fè sa ki mal nan Tanp lan menm.

12 Enben, chemen yo pran an pral tankou yon tè glise nan fènwa pou yo. Yo pral pèdi wout yo, yo pral tonbe. Mwen pral voye yon sèl malè sou yo lè lè a va rive pou m' pini yo. Se mwen menm, Seyè a, ki di sa.

13 Mwen wè pwofèt lavil Samari yo ap fè bagay ki pa fè m' plezi. Y'ap bay mesaj nan non Baal. Yo fè pèp mwen an, pèp Izrayèl la, pèdi chemen l'.

14 Men, sa m' wè pwofèt lavil Jerizalèm yo ap fè a ban m' degoutans. Y'ap sèvi lòt bondye sou mwen. Y'ap plede bay manti. Y'ap ede moun yo fè mechanste. Konsa, pesonn pa sispann fè sa ki mal. Pou mwen, yo tankou moun lavil Sodòm ak lavil Gomò yo.

15 Se poutèt sa, men sa Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a di sou pwofèt yo: -Mwen pral ba yo zèb anmè pou yo manje. Mwen pral ba yo dlo pwazonnen pou yo bwè, paske pwofèt Jerizalèm yo lakòz tout moun nan peyi a lage kò yo nan fè sa ki mal.

16 Men sa Seyè a di moun Jerizalèm yo: -Pa koute sa pwofèt sa yo ap di nou lè y'ap ban nou mesaj. Se manti y'ap ban nou pou yo ka pran tèt nou. Se sa ki vin nan tèt yo y'ap di pèl la. Sa yo di a pa soti nan mwen.

17 Yo pale ak moun ki derefize koute m' yo, y'ap di yo: Tout bagay ap mache byen pou nou. Yo pale ak tout moun ki soti pou kenbe tèt avè m', y'ap di yo: Anyen p'ap rive nou!

18 Mwen di: Pa gen yonn ladan yo ki te la lè Seyè a t'ap fè plan travay li. Yo yonn pa t' wè, yo yonn pa t' tande sa Seyè a te di. Yo yonn pa t' louvri zòrèy yo pou yo te koute sa li t'ap di.

19 Lè Bondye ankòlè se tankou yon van tanpèt, yon siklòn k'ap tonbe sou tèt mechan yo.

20 Li p'ap sispann toutotan li pa fin fè tou sa li soti pou li fè a. Nan jou k'ap vini yo, pèp la va konprann sa pi byen.

21 Seyè a di ankò: Se pa mwen ki voye pwofèt sa yo. Men, y'ap kouri ale toupatou. Mwen pa menm pale ak yo. Men, y'ap mache pale nan non mwen.

22 Si yo te la lè m' t'ap fè plan travay mwen an, yo ta fè pèp la konnen mesaj mwen voye ba yo a, yo ta fè pèp la kite vye chemen y'ap swiv la, yo ta fè l' sispann fè sa ki mal.

23 Seyè a di: Mwen se yon Bondye ki toupatou. Mwen pa rete yon sèl kote ase.

24 Pa gen kote yon moun ka al kache pou m' pa wè l'. Nou pa konnen mwen toupatou nan syèl la ak sou latè a? Se Seyè a menm ki di sa.

25 Mwen tande tou sa pwofèt yo di lè yo pran non m' pou bay manti, lè yo pretann yo te fè vizyon nan rèv.

26 Kilè y'a sispann, pwofèt sa yo k'ap bay manti, k'ap bay mesaj ki pa vre, k'ap twonpe pèp la ak pawòl manti ki nan bouch yo?

27 Yo konprann yo ka fè pèp la bliye m' ak bann rèv y'ap plede rakonte yo, menm jan zansèt yo te bliye m' pou y' al dèyè Baal?

28 Lè yon pwofèt fè yon rèv, se pou l' di se yon rèv li fè. Men, pwofèt ki resevwa mesaj mwen, li fèt pou l' bay mesaj la jan l' ye a. Piga nou pran pay la pou grenn lan. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa.

29 Mesaj mwen tankou dife, tankou mato k'ap kraze wòch an miyèt moso. Se mwen menm menm, Seyè a, ki di sa.

30 Se poutèt sa mwen pral regle ak pwofèt yo k'ap pran pawòl yonn nan bouch lòt, pou fè l' pase pou mesaj mwen.

31 Mwen pral regle ak pwofèt sa yo k'ap bay pawòl pa yo pou mesaj y'ap bay nan non mwen.

32 Tande byen sa m'ap di: Mwen pral regle ak pwofèt sa yo k'ap rakonte rèv ki plen manti. Lè konsa, yo fè pèp mwen an pèdi tèt li ak manti y'ap ba li, ak bèl pawòl y'ap di pou tèt pa yo. Se pa mwen ki te voye yo. Se pa mwen ki te ba yo lòd ale. Yo pa ka fè anyen menm pou pèp la. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki pale.

33 ¶ Seyè a di m': -Jeremi, lè yon moun nan pèp la, osinon yon pwofèt, ou ankò yon prèt mande ou ki chay Seyè a ban nou pote, w'a reponn yo: Se nou menm ki yon chay pou Seyè a. Li pral lage nou atè. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa.

34 Lè yon moun nan pèp la, osinon yon pwofèt, ou ankò yon prèt va pale mal sou chay Seyè a bay pote a, m'ap pini l' ansanm ak tout fanmi li.

35 Okontrè, chak moun gen pou mande zanmi yo ak fanmi yo kisa Seyè a reponn, kisa li di ki pral rive.

36 Konsa, piga nou pale sou chay Seyè a bay ankò paske m'ap fè mesaj mwen an tounen yon chay tout bon pou nou. Nou pran pawòl Bondye vivan an, pawòl Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, pawòl Bondye nou an, nou vire l' lanvè.

37 Jeremi, mande pwofèt yo ki repons Seyè a bay? Kisa Seyè a di ki pral rive?

38 Si yo reponn: Men chay Seyè a bay, lè sa a w'a di yo, men sa Seyè a di: Paske nou di: Men chay Seyè a bay, atout mwen te ban nou lòd pa di sa,

39 m'ap pran nou leve anlè, m'ap voye nou jete byen lwen mwen, ni nou, ni lavil mwen te bay pou nou ansanm ak pou zansèt nou yo.

40 M'ap fè nou wont yon wont ki p'ap janm fini, yon wont moun p'ap janm bliye.

24 ¶ Seyè a fè m' wè de panyen plen fig frans kòtakòt devan gwo kay Seyè a. Lè sa a, Nèbikadneza, wa peyi Babilòn lan, te gen tan depòte Jekonya, pitit Jojakim, wa peyi Jida a, ansanm ak tout gwo chèf peyi Jida yo, bòs atizan yo ak tout moun ki gen metye yo. Li te mennen yo tout ale lavil Babilòn.

Premye panyen an te plen bèl fig frans tankou premye fig ki mi nan sezon an. Lòt panyen an te plen vye fig frans moun pa ka manje tank yo pa bon.

Lèfini, Seyè a di m' konsa: -Jeremi, kisa ou wè la a? Mwen reponn, mwen di l': -Fig frans. Bon fig yo bon anpil. Vye fig yo pa bon menm. Moun pa ka manje yo tank yo pa bon.

Lè sa a, Seyè a pale avè m' ankò, li di m' konsa:

-Se mwen menm, Seyè a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la k'ap pale. Mwen konsidere moun peyi Jida yo depòte yo, moun mwen voye nan peyi Babilòn yo, tankou yon panyen bèl fig frans. Mwen pral aji byen ak yo.

M'ap toujou voye je sou yo, m'ap mennen yo tounen nan peyi sa a. M'ap fè yo grandi, mwen p'ap kraze yo. M'ap plante yo, mwen p'ap derasinen yo ankò.

M'ap ba yo konprann pou yo sa konnen se mwen menm ki Seyè a. Lè sa a, y'a yon pèp pou mwen, mwen menm m'a Bondye yo, paske y'ap tounen vin jwenn mwen ak tout kè yo.

Menm sa yo fè ak vye fig ki pa bon yo, fig moun pa ka manje tèlman yo pa bon yo, se sa mwen pral fè ak Sedesyas, wa peyi Jida a, ansanm ak tout gwo chèf li yo, ak tout rès pèp lavil Jerizalèm yo ki te rete nan peyi a osinon ki te desann peyi Lejip.

Mwen pral mennen yon sèl malè sou yo. Tout lòt nasyon ki sou latè a pral tranble lè y'a wè sa. Moun pral pase yo nan betiz, yo pral rakonte istwa sou yo. Yo pral mete yo nan chante. Y'ap pran non yo pou sèvi jouman, pou bay madichon nan tout peyi kote mwen pral gaye yo.

10 Mwen pral voye lagè, grangou ak move maladi sou yo jouk p'ap gen yonn k'ap rete nan peyi mwen te ba yo a, peyi mwen te bay zansèt yo a.

25 ¶ Seyè a te bay Jeremi yon mesaj sou pèp peyi Jida a, nan katriyèm lanne rèy wa Jojakim, pitit Jozyas, nan peyi Jida. Lè sa a, Nèbikadneza te nan premye lanne li depi li te wa peyi Babilòn.

Men mesaj pwofèt Jeremi te bay tout pèp peyi Jida a ak tout moun lavil Jerizalèm yo:

-Depi trèzyèm lanne rèy wa Jozyas, pitit Amon, nan peyi Jida rive jòdi a, sa fè venntwazan depi Seyè a ap pale avè m', venntwazan depi m'ap pale ak nou san rete, nou pa vle koute m'.

Seyè a pa janm sispann voye pwofèt li yo, sèvitè l' yo, ban nou. Men nou pa vle koute yo, nou derefize louvri zòrèy nou pou nou tande yo.

Yo te di nou pou nou manyè kite vye chemen nou t'ap swiv yo, pou nou manyè sispann fè sa ki mal. Konsa, nou ta ka viv toujou nan peyi Seyè a te ban nou an, peyi li te bay zansèt nou yo pou tout tan tout tan an.

Pwofèt yo di nou: Pa kouri dèyè lòt bondye, pa fè sèvis pou yo, pa mete ajenou devan yo. Pa sèvi zidòl nou fè ak men nou pou Seyè a pa fache. Konsa, si nou obeyi Seyè a li p'ap pini nou.

Men, se Seyè a menm ki di sa, nou derefize koute l'. Nou fè l' fache ak zidòl nou fè ak men nou. Se konsa nou rale malè sou tèt nou.

¶ Se poutèt sa, men sa Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a di: Paske nou pa koute m' lè m' pale nou,

mwen pral voye chache tout moun ki bò nò yo ansanm ak sèvitè m' lan, Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn lan. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa. Mwen pral fè yo vin kraze peyi Jida a ak tout moun ki rete ladan l' yo ansanm ak tout peyi nan vwazinaj yo. Mwen pral detwi yo tout. M'ap fè yo tounen yon dezè ki va fè moun sezi, yon pil mazi pou tout tan.

10 M'ap fè yo p'ap tande moun ap pran plezi yo la. Yo p'ap tande vwa moun ki gen kè kontan. Yo p'ap tande yo fè fèt pou moun k'ap marye. M'ap fè p'ap gen grenn pou moulen, p'ap gen lwil pou mete nan lanp.

11 Tout peyi a pral kraze tounen mazi, yon dezè. Nasyon ki nan vwazinaj yo pral sèvi wa Babilòn lan pandan swasanndizan.

12 Apre swasanndizan sa yo, m'a pini wa Babilòn lan ansanm ak pèp li a pou peche yo fè. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa. M'ap detwi peyi moun Kalde yo, m'ap fè l' tounen mazi pou tout tan.

13 M'ap voye sou peyi Babilòn lan tout malè mwen te di m'ap voye yo, tou sa pwofèt Jeremi te fè konnen nan non mwen sou nasyon yo, jan sa ekri nan liv sa a.

14 Yo menm tou moun Babilòn yo, anpil lòt nasyon ak gran wa va fè yo tounen esklav. M'ap fè yo peye pou tou sa yo fè.

15 ¶ Men sa Seyè a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, di m': -Men yon gode plen diven kòlè Bondye nan men m'. Pran li, pote l' bay tout moun nan peyi kote m'ap voye ou yo pou yo bwè.

16 Y'a bwè, pye yo ap trese, y'a pèdi tèt yo lè y'a wè lagè m'ap voye nan mitan yo.

17 Se konsa, mwen pran gode a nan men Seyè a, mwen pote l' bay tout moun nan tout peyi kote Seyè a te voye m' lan, mwen fè yo bwè ladan l'.

18 Mwen fè moun lavil Jerizalèm ak moun lavil Jida yo bwè ladan l' ansanm ak wa yo, chèf yo, pou lavil yo ka tounen mazi, yon dezè pou moun mete men nan tèt lè yo wè sa, pou moun sèvi ak non yo pou bay madichon, jan y'ap fè l' jouk koulye a.

19 Men moun mwen fè bwè nan gode a tou: Farawon an, wa peyi Lejip la, ansanm ak sòlda li yo, chèf li yo ak tout pèp li a,

20 tout ras moun ki rete bò solèy kouche yo ansanm ak tout wa peyi Ouz yo, tout wa nan peyi Filisti yo: wa lavil Askalon, wa lavil Gaza, wa lavil Ekwon, wa ki rete nan lavil Asdòd,

21 moun peyi Edon, moun peyi Moab ak moun Amon yo,

22 tout wa peyi Tir yo, wa peyi Sidon ak wa tout peyi ki lòt bò lanmè Mediterane a,

23 moun lavil Dedan, moun lavil Teman ak moun lavil Bouz, ansanm ak tout moun ki koupe cheve nan tèt yo kout,

24 tout wa peyi Arabi yo, tout wa ki rete nan dezè bò solèy kouche a,

25 tout wa Zimri yo, tout wa Elam yo ak tout wa Medi yo,

26 tout wa ki sou bò nò yo, sa ki lwen yo ak sa ki pre yo, yonn apre lòt. Tout nasyon ki sou latè gen pou bwè ladan l'. Apre yo tout, se va tou pa wa lavil Babilòn lan pou l' bwè ladan l' tou.

27 Apre sa, Seyè a di m' konsa: W'a di yo men lòd Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la bay. Se pou yo bwè pou yo sou, jouk yo vonmi. Y'a tonbe, yo p'ap ka leve lè y'a wè lagè m'ap voye sou yo a.

28 Si yo ta rive refize pran gode a nan men ou pou yo pa bwè ladan l', w'a di yo: Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a di wè pa wè se pou yo bwè l'.

29 Premye kote m'ap konmanse fè malè, se va lavil yo mete apa pou mwen an. Atò, se nou menm ki pou pa ta resevwa pinisyon nou? Non, nou p'ap chape, paske mwen pral voye lagè sou tout moun sou latè. Se mwen menm, Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, ki di sa.

30 ¶ Ou menm, Jeremi, se pou ou fè yo konnen tou sa mwen di ou. W'a di yo: -Seyè a rete anwo nan syèl la, l'ap gwonde. Li rete nan kay ki apa pou li a, l'ap pale byen fò. L'ap gwonde anwo pèp li a. L'ap rele tankou moun k'ap kraze rezen. Li move sou tout moun ki rete sou latè.

31 Bri a rive nan zòrèy moun toupatou sou latè. Seyè a gen yon kont pou l' regle ak nasyon yo. Li rele yo tout nan tribinal. L'ap fè touye tout moun ki antò. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa.

32 Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a di: -Malè a pral tonbe sou nasyon yo yonn apre lòt, yon gwo van tanpèt ap moute soti nan bout latè.

33 Jou sa a, depi yon bout latè rive lòt bout la, se va kadav moun Seyè a pral touye. P'ap gen pesonn pou kriye pou yo, pesonn pou ranmase yo atè a, pesonn pou antere yo. Kadav yo va tounen fimye atè a.

34 Nou menm chèf ki reskonsab pèp la, rele anmwe, woule kò nou atè. Lè a rive pou yo koupe tèt nou. Yo pral gaye nou. Nou pral tonbe atè. Nou pral kraze tankou bèl potich ki koute chè.

35 P'ap gen kote pou chèf yo al kache. P'ap gen kote pou moun ki reskonsab pran swen pèp la ka ale pou yo jwenn pwoteksyon.

36 Y'ap tande chèf yo ap rele, y'ap tande yo ap rele anmwe, paske Seyè a pral ravaje peyi yo.

37 Tout bèl peyi yo pral tounen mazi, paske Seyè a move anpil.

38 Tankou yon lyon ki kouri kite twou li, tout moun ap mete deyò. Peyi a pral tounen yon dezè apre lagè san manman sa a, apre gwo kòlè Seyè a.

The Righteous Branch

23 “Woe to the shepherds(A) who are destroying and scattering(B) the sheep of my pasture!”(C) declares the Lord. Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds(D) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock(E) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil(F) you have done,” declares the Lord. “I myself will gather the remnant(G) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,(H) where they will be fruitful and increase in number. I will place shepherds(I) over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid(J) or terrified, nor will any be missing,(K)” declares the Lord.

“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David[a] a righteous Branch,(L)
a King(M) who will reign(N) wisely
    and do what is just and right(O) in the land.
In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.(P)
This is the name(Q) by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.(R)

“So then, the days are coming,”(S) declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’(T) but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”(U)

Lying Prophets

Concerning the prophets:

My heart(V) is broken within me;
    all my bones tremble.(W)
I am like a drunken man,
    like a strong man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord
    and his holy words.(X)
10 The land is full of adulterers;(Y)
    because of the curse[b](Z) the land lies parched
    and the pastures(AA) in the wilderness are withered.(AB)
The prophets follow an evil course
    and use their power unjustly.

11 “Both prophet and priest are godless;(AC)
    even in my temple(AD) I find their wickedness,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery;(AE)
    they will be banished to darkness
    and there they will fall.
I will bring disaster on them
    in the year they are punished,(AF)
declares the Lord.

13 “Among the prophets of Samaria
    I saw this repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal(AG)
    and led my people Israel astray.(AH)
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
    I have seen something horrible:(AI)
    They commit adultery and live a lie.(AJ)
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,(AK)
    so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.(AL)
They are all like Sodom(AM) to me;
    the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”(AN)

15 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets:

“I will make them eat bitter food
    and drink poisoned water,(AO)
because from the prophets of Jerusalem
    ungodliness(AP) has spread throughout the land.”

16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Do not listen(AQ) to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
    they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions(AR) from their own minds,
    not from the mouth(AS) of the Lord.
17 They keep saying(AT) to those who despise me,
    ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’(AU)
And to all who follow the stubbornness(AV) of their hearts
    they say, ‘No harm(AW) will come to you.’
18 But which of them has stood in the council(AX) of the Lord
    to see or to hear his word?
    Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm(AY) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind(AZ) swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger(BA) of the Lord will not turn back(BB)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send(BC) these prophets,
    yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
    yet they have prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council,(BD)
    they would have proclaimed(BE) my words to my people
and would have turned(BF) them from their evil ways
    and from their evil deeds.(BG)

23 “Am I only a God nearby,(BH)
declares the Lord,
    “and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide(BI) in secret places
    so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
    “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”(BJ)
declares the Lord.

25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies(BK) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!(BL) I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions(BM) of their own minds?(BN) 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget(BO) my name, just as their ancestors forgot(BP) my name through Baal worship.(BQ) 28 Let the prophet who has a dream(BR) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word(BS) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,”(BT) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer(BU) that breaks a rock in pieces?

30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against(BV) the prophets(BW) who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’(BX) 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,(BY)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray(BZ) with their reckless lies,(CA) yet I did not send(CB) or appoint them. They do not benefit(CC) these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

False Prophecy

33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message(CD) from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake(CE) you, declares the Lord.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message(CF) from the Lord,’ I will punish(CG) them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’(CH) or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort(CI) the words of the living God,(CJ) the Lord Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast(CK) you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace(CL)—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”

Two Baskets of Figs

24 After Jehoiachin[c](CM) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs(CN) placed in front of the temple of the Lord. One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early;(CO) the other basket had very bad(CP) figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see,(CQ) Jeremiah?”

“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent(CR) away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.[d] My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back(CS) to this land. I will build(CT) them up and not tear them down; I will plant(CU) them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know(CV) me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people,(CW) and I will be their God, for they will return(CX) to me with all their heart.(CY)

“‘But like the bad(CZ) figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah(DA) king of Judah, his officials(DB) and the survivors(DC) from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.(DD) I will make them abhorrent(DE) and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword,(DF) a curse[e](DG) and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish(DH) them. 10 I will send the sword,(DI) famine(DJ) and plague(DK) against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.(DL)’”

Seventy Years of Captivity

25 The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim(DM) son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar(DN) king of Babylon. So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah(DO) and to all those living in Jerusalem: For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah(DP) son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again,(DQ) but you have not listened.(DR)

And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets(DS) to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.(DT) They said, “Turn(DU) now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land(DV) the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods(DW) to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”

“But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused(DX) my anger with what your hands have made,(DY) and you have brought harm(DZ) to yourselves.”

Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon(EA) all the peoples of the north(EB) and my servant(EC) Nebuchadnezzar(ED) king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy[f](EE) them and make them an object of horror and scorn,(EF) and an everlasting ruin.(EG) 10 I will banish from them the sounds(EH) of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom,(EI) the sound of millstones(EJ) and the light of the lamp.(EK) 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland,(EL) and these nations will serve(EM) the king of Babylon seventy years.(EN)

12 “But when the seventy years(EO) are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon(EP) and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,[g] for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate(EQ) forever. 13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written(ER) in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. 14 They themselves will be enslaved(ES) by many nations(ET) and great kings; I will repay(EU) them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”

The Cup of God’s Wrath

15 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup(EV) filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send(EW) you drink it. 16 When they drink(EX) it, they will stagger(EY) and go mad(EZ) because of the sword(FA) I will send among them.”

17 So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent(FB) me drink it: 18 Jerusalem(FC) and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin(FD) and an object of horror and scorn,(FE) a curse[h](FF)—as they are today;(FG) 19 Pharaoh king(FH) of Egypt,(FI) his attendants, his officials and all his people, 20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz;(FJ) all the kings of the Philistines(FK) (those of Ashkelon,(FL) Gaza,(FM) Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); 21 Edom,(FN) Moab(FO) and Ammon;(FP) 22 all the kings of Tyre(FQ) and Sidon;(FR) the kings of the coastlands(FS) across the sea; 23 Dedan,(FT) Tema,(FU) Buz(FV) and all who are in distant places[i];(FW) 24 all the kings of Arabia(FX) and all the kings of the foreign people(FY) who live in the wilderness; 25 all the kings of Zimri,(FZ) Elam(GA) and Media;(GB) 26 and all the kings of the north,(GC) near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms(GD) on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak[j](GE) will drink it too.

27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk(GF) and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword(GG) I will send among you.’ 28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink(GH), tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster(GI) on the city that bears my Name,(GJ) and will you indeed go unpunished?(GK) You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword(GL) on all(GM) who live on the earth,(GN) declares the Lord Almighty.’

30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:

“‘The Lord will roar(GO) from on high;
    he will thunder(GP) from his holy dwelling(GQ)
    and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread(GR) the grapes,
    shout against all who live on the earth.
31 The tumult(GS) will resound to the ends of the earth,
    for the Lord will bring charges(GT) against the nations;
he will bring judgment(GU) on all(GV) mankind
    and put the wicked to the sword,(GW)’”
declares the Lord.

32 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Look! Disaster(GX) is spreading
    from nation to nation;(GY)
a mighty storm(GZ) is rising
    from the ends of the earth.”(HA)

33 At that time those slain(HB) by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered(HC) up or buried,(HD) but will be like dung lying on the ground.

34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;(HE)
    roll(HF) in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered(HG) has come;
    you will fall like the best of the rams.[k](HH)
35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
    the leaders of the flock no place to escape.(HI)
36 Hear the cry(HJ) of the shepherds,(HK)
    the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
    for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
    because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
38 Like a lion(HL) he will leave his lair,
    and their land will become desolate(HM)
because of the sword[l] of the oppressor(HN)
    and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.(HO)

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 23:5 Or up from David’s line
  2. Jeremiah 23:10 Or because of these things
  3. Jeremiah 24:1 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  4. Jeremiah 24:5 Or Chaldeans
  5. Jeremiah 24:9 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that they are cursed.
  6. Jeremiah 25:9 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  7. Jeremiah 25:12 Or Chaldeans
  8. Jeremiah 25:18 That is, their names to be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, to be seen by others as cursed
  9. Jeremiah 25:23 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads
  10. Jeremiah 25:26 Sheshak is a cryptogram for Babylon.
  11. Jeremiah 25:34 Septuagint; Hebrew fall and be shattered like fine pottery
  12. Jeremiah 25:38 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 46:16 and 50:16); most Hebrew manuscripts anger