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16 Thus says Yahweh: “Stand at the roads and look,
    and ask for the ancient paths, where the way of the good is,
and walk in it, and find rest for your inner selves.[a]
    But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’[b]
17 And I raised up watchmen over you:
    ‘Listen attentively to the sound of a horn.’
    But they said, ‘We will not listen attentively.’
18 Therefore[c] hear, O nations, and know, O community,
    what will happen to them.[d]
19 Hear, O earth,
    look, I am about to bring disaster to this people,
    the fruit of their plans,
because they have not listened attentively to my words,
    and my teaching, they have rejected it also.
20 What is this to me?
    Frankincense comes from Sheba,
and the precious spice reed from a distant land.
    Your burnt offerings are not acceptable,[e]
    your sacrifices are not pleasing to me.”
21 Therefore[f] thus says Yahweh:
    “Look, I am about to put before this people stumbling blocks,
and they will stumble against them,
    fathers and children together,
    neighbor and his friend will perish.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 6:16 Hebrew “inner self”
  2. Jeremiah 6:16 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  3. Jeremiah 6:18 Literally “To thus”
  4. Jeremiah 6:18 Literally “what among them”
  5. Jeremiah 6:20 Literally “for acceptance”
  6. Jeremiah 6:21 Literally “To thus”

Disaster because of Disobedience

16 This is what the Lord says:

Stand by the roadways and look.
Ask about the ancient paths:(A)
Which is the way to what is good?
Then take it
and find rest for yourselves.(B)
But they protested, “We won’t!”
17 I appointed watchmen over you(C)
and said: Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.
But they protested, “We won’t listen!”

18 Therefore listen, you nations
and you witnesses,
learn what the charge is against them.
19 Listen, earth!
I am about to bring disaster on these people,
the fruit of their own plotting,(D)
for they have paid no attention to My word.
They have rejected My instruction.(E)
20 What use to Me is frankincense from Sheba(F)
or sweet cane(G) from a distant land?
Your burnt offerings are not acceptable;
your sacrifices do not please Me.(H)
21 Therefore, this is what the Lord says:
I am going to place stumbling blocks before these people;
fathers and sons together will stumble over them;(I)
friends and neighbors will also perish.

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