Dual Panel1The Lord <03068> said <0559> to <0413> Jeremiah <03414>:
2“Hear <08085> the terms <01697> of the covenant <01285> I made with Israel and pass <01696> them on <01696> to <0413> the people <0376> of Judah <03063> and the citizens <03427> of Jerusalem <03389>.
3Tell <0559> them that <03541> the Lord <03068>, the God <0430> of Israel <03478>, says <0559>, ‘Anyone <0376> who <0834> does not <03808> keep <08085> the terms <01697> of the covenant <01285> will be under a curse <0779>.
4Those are the terms that <0834> I charged <06680> your ancestors <01> to keep when <03117> I brought <03318> them out <03318> of Egypt <04714>, that place which was like an iron-smelting <01270> furnace <03564>. I said <0559> at that time, “Obey <06963> <08085> me and carry out <06213> the terms of the agreement exactly as <0834> I commanded <06680> you. If you do <01961>, you will be my people <05971> and I <0595> will be <01961> your God <0430>.
5Then <04616> I will keep <06965> the promise <07621> I swore on oath <07650> to your ancestors <01> to give <05414> them <01992> a land <0776> flowing <02100> with milk <02461> and honey <01706>.” That <02088> is the very land that you still live in today <03117>.’” And I responded <06030>, “Amen <0543>! Let it be so, Lord <03069>!”
6The Lord <03068> said <0559> to <0413> me, “Announce <07121> all <03605> the following <0428> words <01697> in the towns <05892> of Judah <03063> and in the streets <02351> of Jerusalem <03389>: ‘Listen <08085> to the terms <01697> of my covenant <01285> with you and carry <06213> them out <06213>!
7For <03588> I solemnly <05749> warned <05749> your ancestors <01> to obey <08085> me <06963>. I warned <05749> them again and again, ever since I delivered <05927> them out <05927> of Egypt <04714> until <05704> this <02088> very day <03117>.
8But they did not <03808> listen <08085> to me or <03808> pay <05186> any attention <0241> to me! Each <0376> one of them followed <01980> the stubborn inclinations <08307> of his own wicked <07451> heart <03820>. So I brought <0935> on <05921> them all <03605> the punishments <01697> threatened in the covenant <01285> because they did not <03808> carry out <06213> its terms as I commanded <06680> them to do <06213>.’”
9The Lord <03068> said <0559> to <0413> me, “The people <0376> of Judah <03063> and the citizens <03427> of Jerusalem <03389> have plotted rebellion <07195> <04672> against me!
10They have gone back <07725> to <05921> the evil ways <05771> of their ancestors <01> of old <07223> who <0834> refused <03985> to obey <08085> what <01697> I told <01697> them. They <01992>, too, have paid allegiance <0310> <01980> to other <0312> gods <0430> and worshiped <05647> them. Both the nation <01004> of Israel <03478> and the nation <01004> of Judah <03063> have violated <06565> the covenant <01285> I made <03772> with <0854> their ancestors <01>.
11So <03541> <03651> I, the Lord <03068>, say <0559> this: ‘I will soon bring <0935> disaster <07451> on <0413> them which <0834> they will not <03808> be able <03201> to escape <03318>! When they cry out <02199> to <0413> me for help, I will not <03808> listen <08085> to <0413> them.
12Then <01980> those living <03427> in the towns <05892> of Judah <03063> and in Jerusalem <03389> will go and cry out <02199> for help to <0413> the gods <0430> to whom <0834> they <01992> have been sacrificing <06999>. However, those gods will by no <03808> means be able to save <03467> them when <06256> disaster <07451> strikes them.
13This is in spite of the fact that <03588> the people of Judah <03063> have as many <04557> gods <0430> as they have <01961> towns <05892> and the citizens of Jerusalem <03389> have set up <07760> as many <04557> altars <04196> to sacrifice <06999> to that disgusting <01322> god, Baal <01168>, as they have streets <02351> in the city!’
14So, Jeremiah, do not <0408> pray <06419> for <01157> these <02088> people <05971>. Do not <0408> cry out <07440> to me or petition <08605> me on their behalf. Do not plead <05375> with <01157> me to save them. For <03588> I will not <0369> listen <08085> to them when <06256> they call out <07121> to <0413> me for help when <01157> disaster <07451> strikes them.”
15The Lord says to the people of Judah, “What <04100> right do you have to be in my temple <01004>, my beloved <03039> people <01320>? Many <07227> of you have done <06213> wicked things <04209>. Can your acts of treachery be so easily canceled <05674> by <05921> sacred offerings <06944> that <03588> you take joy <05937> in doing evil <07451> even while you make them?
16I, the Lord <03068>, once called <07121> you a thriving <07488> olive tree <02132>, one that produced beautiful <08389> <03303> fruit <06529>. But I will set <03341> you on fire <0784>, fire that will blaze with a mighty roar <01999> <06963> <08034>. Then all your branches <01808> will be good for nothing <07489>.
17For though I, the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635>, planted <05193> you in the land, I now decree <01696> that disaster <07451> will come on you because <01558> the nations <01004> of Israel <03478> and Judah <03063> have done <06213> evil <07451> and have made me angry <03707> by offering sacrifices <06999> to the god Baal <01168>.”
18The Lord <03068> gave <03045> me knowledge <03045>, that I might have understanding <03045>. Then <0227> he showed <07200> me what the people were doing <04611>.
19Before this I <0589> had been like a docile <0441> lamb <03532> ready to be led <02986> to the slaughter <02873>. I did not <03808> know <03045> they were making plans <04284> to kill <02803> me. I did not know they were saying, “Let’s destroy <07843> the tree <06086> along with its fruit <03899>! Let’s remove <03772> Jeremiah from the world <0776> of the living <02416> so people will not <03808> even be reminded <02142> of him any more <05750>.”
20So I said to the Lord, “O Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635>, you are a just <06664> judge <08199>! You examine <0974> people’s hearts <03629> and minds <03820>. I want to see <07200> you pay <05360> them back <05360> for what they <01992> have done because <03588> I trust you to vindicate <01540> my cause <07379>.”
21Then the Lord <03068> told <0559> me about <05921> some men <0376> from Anathoth <06068> who were threatening to kill <01245> me <05315>. They had threatened <0559>, “Stop <03808> prophesying <05012> in the name <08034> of the Lord <03068> or <03808> we will kill <04191> you!”
22So <03651> the Lord <03068> who rules over all <06635> said <0559>, “I will surely punish <06485> them! Their young men <0970> will be killed <04191> in battle <02719>. Their sons <01121> and daughters <01323> will die <04191> of starvation <07458>.
23Not <03808> one of them will survive <07611>. I will bring <0935> disaster <07451> on <0413> those men <0376> from Anathoth <06068> who threatened you. A day <08141> of reckoning <06486> is coming for them.”