Eternal One: Go now, and say this loud enough for all Jerusalem to hear. Tell them that the Eternal speaks these words: “I still remember the way you clung to Me in your youth, in the early days of our union. Like a young bride, you loved the vows you made. As I led you from slavery in Egypt to your freedom in Canaan, you drew close to Me. Even in the barren wilderness along the way, I filled your every need.

I warn you again: stop running after these rituals till your feet are bare and your throat is dried out. You said, “I can’t help myself, for I love these strange gods I am chasing after.”

Eternal One: If a husband divorces his wife and she leaves him and marries another man, should he ever go back to her again? Such behavior would violate what is right, and the land itself would be tainted with sin. Now you, Judah, have acted like a whore and taken on many lovers. Why are you trying to return to Me now?

Look up to the hilltops. Take a good look. Is there anywhere you have not committed perverse acts in the company of other gods? You sat on the side of the road, offering yourself to lovers; like a desert nomad you waited, patiently. Even the land itself is tainted by your prostitution and wickedness.

Eternal One (to Jeremiah): Cry out to those in Jerusalem. Proclaim to all of Judah. Let the trumpets blare throughout the land! Say to the people, “Gather everyone from the outlying villages, and run toward the fortified cities.”

So what are you doing, my ravaged one? Why are you dressing up in scarlet, putting on your gold jewelry, And painting your eyes to make them larger, more beautiful? You’re wasting your time. Your lovers want nothing to do with you. In fact, they despise you, and are looking to kill you.

We heard the news, and our strength vanished—anguish and fear grip us. We twist in pain like a woman giving birth.

Their bones will be spread out over the ground, exposing them to the sun, moon, and the stars of heaven, the heavenly hosts, which our enemies loved, served, chased after, sought out, and worshiped. These bones will not be gathered or buried again, but they will be scattered like dung on the ground.

Pack up what you have; take what you can from the land. You’ll soon be under siege!

The people planted wheat, but they will reap only thorns. In the end, there will be nothing to show for all their hard work. Shame will be their harvest because of the Eternal’s burning anger against them. The Eternal has this to say:

Eternal One: (about His people) All this is true, but they love to wander from Me; they cannot control their restless feet—which are constantly running after other gods. That is why I won’t accept them and take them back. I will remember their guilt and hold them accountable for their sins.

This is what I declare to you, My prophet: Do not go inside a house that is mourning. Do not grieve with these friends and families. Do not comfort them because I, the Eternal One, have taken My peace, even My loyal love and mercy, from them.

And these are the words the Eternal has spoken of you: “Certainly I am going to make you a symbol of terror—to yourself and to all your loved ones. You will see those close to you die in battle against the enemy. I will give all of Judah over to the king of Babylon, who will make them either casualties of war or prisoners of war.

It was during this ironic turn of events that the word of the Eternal came again to the prophet, Jeremiah. King Zedekiah sent Pashhur (not the son of Immer mentioned previously, but the son of Malchijah) and the priest Zephaniah (son of Maaseiah) to speak with Jeremiah.

So this is what the Eternal says regarding Jehoiakim (son of Josiah), king of Judah: Eternal One: Upon his death, no one in his family will weep and say, “Oh my brother, oh my sister—our loved one is gone.” Nor will any of his subjects weep and say, “Our leader is gone; our great king is gone.”

(to Jerusalem) Go to the mountains of Lebanon and cry out. Run to Bashan and the peaks of Abarim, and cry out loudly Because all of your lovers have been destroyed.

All your shepherds will be driven away by the wind, and your lovers will be led into captivity. In that moment, you will be covered with shame, humiliated because of your evil ways.

All of those allies you loved have forgotten about you; they care nothing about you. For I have struck you as an enemy would and punished you like the cruelest of foes. Why? Because your sins abound and your evil actions are abundant and brazen.

This is what the Eternal has to say: Eternal One: There will come a time when I will be the God of all the clans and families of Israel, and they will be My people. This is what I, the Eternal One, declare to you: My people who survived the sword found grace as they wandered in the wilderness; When Israel went in search of rest, I appeared to them from far away and said: “I have loved you with an everlasting love— out of faithfulness I have drawn you close.

It will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors long ago when I took them by the hand and led them out of slavery in Egypt. They did not remain faithful to that covenant—even though I loved and cared for them as a husband.

You show loyal love and endless mercy to thousands. But You also allow the damaging effects of the parents’ sins to fall into the laps of their children. You are the great and powerful God; the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, is Your solemn name.

the sounds of laughter and joy, the sweet words of the bride and bridegroom at a wedding, and voices of those who bring thank offerings to the temple singing, Give thanks to the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies, for He is good. His faithful love endures forever. All of this will happen because I will restore the riches of this land to what they once were.