Chapter 11

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,²

Hear³ ye the words of this covenant, and speak¹⁴ unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants⁶ of Jerusalem;

And say¹ thou unto them, Thus saith¹ the LORD God of Israel; Cursed⁷ [be] the man that obeyeth⁴ not the words of this covenant,

Which I commanded¹⁴ your fathers in the day [that] I brought them forth⁵³ out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying,² Obey³ my voice, and do¹ them, according to all which I command¹⁷ you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

That I may perform⁵³ the oath which I have sworn⁸ unto your fathers, to give² them a land flowing⁶ with milk and honey, as [it is] this day. Then answered⁴ I, and said,⁴ So be it, O LORD.

Then the LORD said⁴ unto me, Proclaim³ all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying,² Hear³ ye the words of this covenant, and do¹ them.

For I earnestly⁵³ protested⁵² unto your fathers in the day [that] I brought them up⁵³ out of the land of Egypt, [even] unto this day, rising early⁵³ and protesting,⁵³ saying,² Obey³ my voice.

Yet they obeyed¹ not, nor inclined⁵² their ear, but walked⁴ every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring⁵⁵ upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded¹⁴ [them] to do;² but they did¹ [them] not.

And the LORD said⁴ unto me, A conspiracy is found⁸ among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants⁶ of Jerusalem.

They are turned back¹ to the iniquities of their forefathers, ¹ which refused¹⁴ to hear² my words; and they went¹ after other gods to serve² them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken⁵² my covenant which I made¹ with their fathers.

Therefore thus saith¹ the LORD, Behold, I will bring⁵⁶ evil upon them, which they shall not be able⁴ to escape;² and though they shall cry¹ unto me, I will not hearken⁴ unto them.

Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants⁶ of Jerusalem go,¹ and cry¹ unto the gods unto whom they offer incense:¹⁸ but they shall not save⁵⁵ them at all⁵³ in the time of their trouble.

For [according to] the number of thy cities were thy gods, O Judah; and [according to] the number of the streets of Jerusalem have ye set up¹ altars to [that] shameful thing, [even] altars to burn incense¹⁵ unto Baal.

Therefore pray¹⁰¹ not thou for this people, neither lift up⁴ a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear⁶ [them] in the time that they cry² unto me for their trouble.

What hath my beloved to do in mine house, [seeing] she hath wrought² lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed⁴ from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.⁴

The LORD called¹ thy name, A green olive tree, fair, [and] of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled⁵² fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.¹

For the LORD of hosts, that planted⁶ thee, hath pronounced¹⁴ evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done¹ against themselves to provoke me to anger⁵³ in offering incense¹⁵ unto Baal.

And the LORD hath given me knowledge⁵² [of it], and I know⁴ [it]: then thou shewedst⁵² me their doings.

But I [was] like a lamb [or] an ox [that] is brought⁹³ to the slaughter;² and I knew¹ not that they had devised¹ devices against me, [saying], Let us destroy⁵⁵ the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off⁴ from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.¹¹

But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest⁶ righteously, that triest⁶ the reins and the heart, let me see⁴ thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed¹⁴ my cause.

Therefore thus saith¹ the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek¹⁸ thy life, saying,² Prophesy¹¹ not in the name of the LORD, that thou die⁴ not by our hand:

Therefore thus saith¹ the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish⁶ them: the young men shall die⁴ by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die⁴ by famine:

And there shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring⁵⁵ evil upon the men of Anathoth, [even] the year of their visitation.