Jeremiah 11:1-23
The Covenant is Broken
1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Listen to the terms of this covenant and tell them to the people of Judah and to those who live in Jerusalem. 3 Tell them that this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Cursed is the one who does not obey the terms of this covenant— 4 the terms I commanded your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of the iron-smelting furnace.’ I said, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you, and you will be my people, and I will be your God. 5 Then I will fulfill the oath I swore to your ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey’—the land you possess today.”
I answered, “Amen, Lord.”
6 The Lord said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the terms of this covenant and follow them. 7 From the time I brought your ancestors up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, “Obey me.” 8 But they did not listen or pay attention; instead, they followed the stubbornness of their evil hearts. So I brought on them all the curses of the covenant I had commanded them to follow but that they did not keep.’”
9 Then the Lord said to me, “There is a conspiracy among the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem. 10 They have returned to the sins of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. Both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant I made with their ancestors. 11 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I will bring on them a disaster they cannot escape. Although they cry out to me, I will not listen to them. 12 The towns of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they burn incense, but they will not help them at all when disaster strikes. 13 You, Judah, have as many gods as you have towns; and the altars you have set up to burn incense to that shameful god Baal are as many as the streets of Jerusalem.’
14 “Do not pray for this people or offer any plea or petition for them, because I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their distress.
15 “What is my beloved doing in my temple
as she, with many others, works out her evil schemes?
Can consecrated meat avert your punishment?
When you engage in your wickedness,
then you rejoice.”
16 The Lord called you a thriving olive tree
with fruit beautiful in form.
But with the roar of a mighty storm
he will set it on fire,
and its branches will be broken.
17 The Lord Almighty, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you, because the people of both Israel and Judah have done evil and aroused my anger by burning incense to Baal.
18 Because the Lord revealed their plot to me, I knew it, for at that time he showed me what they were doing. 19 I had been like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter; I did not realize that they had plotted against me, saying,
“Let us destroy the tree and its fruit;
let us cut him off from the land of the living,
that his name be remembered no more.”
20 But you, Lord Almighty, who judge righteously
and test the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance on them,
for to you I have committed my cause.
21 Therefore this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth who are threatening to kill you, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the Lord or you will die by our hands”— 22 therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will punish them. Their young men will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine. 23 Not even a remnant will be left to them, because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment.”
This is the message from the Lord: “Jeremiah, listen to the words of this agreement and tell them to the people living in Jerusalem and the rest of Judah...Tell them that this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Bad things will happen to anyone who does not obey this agreement...I AM talking about the agreement I made with your ancestors when I brought them out of that furnace called Egypt.’ ...At that time I told them, ‘Listen to Me and obey all the commands I give you...Then you will be my people and I will be your God.’...“I did this to keep the promise that I had made to your ancestors...I promised to give them a very fertile land—a land flowing with milk and honey...And you are living in that country today.”...I answered, “Amen, LORD.”...The LORD said to me, “Jeremiah, tell this message in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the words of this agreement, and then obey these laws...I gave a warning to your ancestors at the time I brought them out of the land of Egypt...I have warned them again and again to this day...I told them to obey Me...But your ancestors did not listen to Me...They were stubborn and did what their own evil hearts wanted...The agreement says that bad things will happen to them if they don’t obey...So I made all the bad things happen to them...I commanded them to obey the agreement, but they did not.’”...
The LORD said to me, “Jeremiah, I know that the people of Judah and the people living in Jerusalem have made secret plans...They are committing the same sins that their ancestors did...Their ancestors refused to listen to My message...They followed and worshiped other gods...The family of Israel and the family of Judah have broken the agreement I made with their ancestors.”...So this is what the LORD says: “I will soon make something terrible happen to the people of Judah...They will not be able to escape...They will be sorry and cry to Me for help, but I will not listen to them...The people in the towns of Judah and in the city of Jerusalem will go and pray to their idols for help...They burn incense to those idols...But their idols will not be able to help the people of Judah when that terrible disaster comes...“People of Judah, you have many idols—there are as many idols as there are towns in Judah...You have built many altars for worshiping that disgusting god Baal—there are as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem...“As for you, Jeremiah, don’t pray for these people of Judah...Don’t beg for them...Don’t say prayers for them...I will not listen...They will suffer and then call to me for help, but I will not listen...“Judah is the one I LOVE, but why is she in My temple?...She has done too many evil things...Judah, do you think vows and sacrifices will keep you from being destroyed?...Will I then allow you to enjoy your evil ways?”...The LORD gave you a name...He called you, “A green olive tree, beautiful to look at.”...But with a powerful storm, he will set that tree on fire, and its branches will be burned up...The LORD All-Powerful planted you, and he said that disaster will come to you...That is because the family of Israel and the family of Judah have done evil things...They offered sacrifices to Baal, and that made Him angry!...
The LORD showed me that the men of Anathoth were making plans against me...He showed me what they were doing, so I knew they were against me...Before He showed me this, I was like a gentle lamb waiting to be butchered...I did not understand that they were against me...They were saying this about me: “Let us destroy the tree and its fruit!...Let us kill him!...Then people will forget him.”...So I prayed, “LORD All-Powerful, You are a fair Judge...You know how to test people’s hearts and minds...I will tell you my arguments, and I will let you give them the punishment they deserve.”...The Lord said to me, “Those people from Anathoth are planning to take your life...They are telling you not to prophesy in the name of the LORD or they will kill you...This is what I have to say about them: I, the LORD All-Powerful, promise that I will soon punish those people...Their young men will die in war...Their sons and daughters will die from hunger...No one from the city of Anathoth will be left...No one will survive...I will punish them and cause something bad to happen to them.”...