1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD: 2“Hear the terms of this covenant, and tell them to the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 3Tell them, ‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says: “Cursed is the one who disobeys the terms of this covenant - 4The terms which I told your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, from the iron furnace, when I said, ‘Obey Me, and do all that I command; and then you shall be My people, and I will be your God, 5And then I will fulfill My oath which I swore to your fathers: to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.’”’” Then I replied, “Amen. So be it, O LORD.” 6Then the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Hear and abide by all the terms of this covenant, 7For I earnestly and repeatedly warned your fathers when I brought them up out of Egypt, as I do even today, rising early and saying, “Obey My voice”’. 8Yet they neither listened nor obeyed, but everyone followed the imagination of their evil heart; so now, I will bring upon them all the consequences (curses) defined in this covenant, which I commanded them to abide by; but they did not.”

9Then the LORD said to me, “A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10They have returned to the sins of their forefathers, who refused to obey My words; and looked for other gods to serve; both Israel and Judah have broken the covenant which I made with their fathers. 11Therefore, thus says the LORD, ‘Behold, I will bring a disaster upon them, which they shall not be able to avoid; and I will not listen to them if they shall cry to Me. 12Then the inhabitants of the cities of Judah and Jerusalem shall go, and cry to those gods they offer incense to; but they shall not save them in their time of trouble. 13For you have as many gods as you have cities and towns, O Judah; and have as many altars as there are streets of Jerusalem, where you shamefully burn incense to Baal. 14Therefore, Jeremiah, do not pray for this people; for I will not hear them when they cry to Me in their distress.’

15“What right do My beloved people have to enter My house (Temple), since they indulge in lewdness with so many false gods? Can vows and sacrifices avert their punishment? They engage in evil acts, then you rejoice in it!” 16The LORD once called you a green, thriving olive tree, well formed, and fruitful; but with the noise of a great tumult, God has kindled fire upon it, and its branches are broken. 17For the LORD of hosts, Who planted you, has pronounced punishment upon you, because of the harm that both Israel and Judah have brought upon themselves in arousing His anger by offering incense to Baal.

18Then the LORD informed me (Jeremiah) of the people’s plot against me, and of all their doings. 19But I was like a gentle lamb or an ox brought to the slaughter; and I did not realize they had planned to kill me, as they said, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit (this man and all his words), and cut him off from the land of the living, that his name is no more remembered.” 20But You, O LORD of hosts, Who judge righteously, Who test the heart and the mind, let me see Your vengeance upon them, for unto You have I appealed my cause.

21Therefore, thus says the LORD of those people of Anathoth (a town in the territory of Benjamin assigned to the Levites), who threaten to kill you by saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, or we will kill you.” 22“This is what the LORD of hosts says, “I will punish them; their young men shall die by the sword; their sons and daughters shall die by famine, 23None of these plotters from Anathoth shall be left; for I will bring punishment upon them, in their time of judgment.”