Jeremiah 11

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The Agreement Is Broken

11 <1> This is the message from the Lord: <2> "Jeremiah, listen to the words of this agreement and tell them to the people living in Jerusalem and the rest of Judah. <3> Tell them, The Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Bad things will happen to anyone who does not obey this agreement.' <4> I am talking about the agreement I made with your ancestors[85] when I brought them out of that furnace[86] 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.'

<5> "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 Jeremiah answered, "Amen,[87] Lord."

<6> The Lord said to me, "Jeremiah, tell this message in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. This is the message: 'Listen to the words of this agreement, and then obey these laws. <7> I gave a warning to your ancestors at the time I brought them out of the land of Egypt. I warned them again and again to this very day. I told them to obey me. <8> 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.'"

<9> The Lord said to me, "Jeremiah, I know that the people of Judah and the people living in Jerusalem have made secret plans. <10> 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."

<11> So 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. <12> 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[88] to those idols. But their idols will not be able to help the people of Judah when that terrible disaster comes.

<13> "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[89]-there are as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem.

<14> "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.

<15>[90] "Why is my lover Judah in my temple?

She has no right to be there.

She has done many evil things.

Judah, do you think that special promises

and animal sacrifices will stop you from being destroyed?

Do you think you can escape punishment by offering sacrifices to me?"

<16> The Lord gave you a name.

He called you, "A green olive tree,

beautiful to look at."

But with a strong storm,

the Lord will set that tree on fire,

and its branches will be burned up.

<17> 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 me angry!

Evil Plans Against Jeremiah

<18> The Lord showed me that the men of Anathoth[91] were making plots against me. The Lord showed me what they were doing, so I knew they were against me. <19> Before the Lord showed me that the people were against me, 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." <20> But Lord, 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.

<21> The men from Anathoth were planning to kill Jeremiah. They said to him, "Don't prophesy[92] in the name of the Lord, or we will kill you." The Lord made a decision about the men from Anathoth. <22> The Lord All-Powerful said, "I will soon punish these men from Anathoth. Their young men will die in war. Their sons and daughters will die from hunger. <23> 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."