Jeremiah

Warnings about Jerusalem's destruction due to unfaithfulness, with promises of a new covenant.

Chapter 11

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

2 Hear ye the words of this covenant, and speak unto the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

*Listen to the terms of this agreement, and talk to the people of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem.

3 And say thou unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant,

*And tell them, The LORD God of Israel says: Anyone who does not follow the rules of this agreement is cursed.

4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

*Which I told your ancestors when I took them out of Egypt's iron land. I said, "Listen to me and follow my commands. Do everything I tell you." If you do this, you will be my people, and I will be your God.

5 That I may perform the oath which I have sworn unto your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day. Then answered I, and said, So be it, O LORD.

*So that I can fulfill the promise I made to your ancestors - giving them a rich land full of sweet things and honey - just like today, I say yes, God, please make it happen.

6 Then the LORD said unto me, Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them.

*Then God told me, "Tell everyone in Judah's cities and Jerusalem's streets to listen to these words and follow them."

7 For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.

*For I strongly told your ancestors on the day I took them from Egypt until now, every morning insisting, "Listen to my voice."

8 Yet they obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart: therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do: but they did them not.

*However, they didn't listen or pay attention. They all followed their own wicked thoughts. So, I will make sure all the rules from our agreement happen to them, which I told them to do, but they didn't follow through.

9 And the LORD said unto me, A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

*And God told me, "A secret plan to do something bad has been discovered among the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem."

10 They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

*They return to their ancestors' wrong actions, ignoring my words; instead, they worship other gods. Both the House of Israel and the House of Judah broke the agreement I made with their ancestors.

11 Therefore thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to escape; and though they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

*So, God says, "I will cause trouble for them that they cannot escape. Even if they call out to me, I won't listen.

12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble.

*Then, the cities in Judah and people in Jerusalem will run to the gods they pray to, but these gods won't save them during their difficult times.

13 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 up altars to that shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

*Based on the number of your cities, you had gods, Judah. And depending on the number of streets in Jerusalem, you set up altars for a disgraceful object. These were altars for burning incense for Baal worship.

14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

*So don't pray for these people or plead with God for them, because I won't listen when they call out to me during their troubles.

15 What hath my beloved to do in mine house, seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many, and the holy flesh is passed from thee? when thou doest evil, then thou rejoicest.

*What does my loved one need to do in my home, when they have been unfaithful to many and lost their purity? You enjoy doing wrong things and rejoice in them.

16 The LORD called thy name, A green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

*The Lord gave you the name "Green Olive Tree," which is beautiful and has good fruit. He caused a big commotion and set fire to it, breaking its branches.

17 For the LORD of hosts, that planted thee, hath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

*The Lord, who created you, has decided to punish you because of the wrongs committed by the people of Israel and Judah. They did these things to make Him angry by burning incense for Baal, another god.

18 And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings.

*And the Lord has taught me about it, and I understand it. Then you showed me what they were doing.

19 But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

*But I was like a lamb or ox going to be killed; I didn't know they planned tricks against me. They said, "Let's get rid of the tree with its fruit and cut him off from the land of the living so that his name is forgotten.

20 But, O LORD of hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart, let me see thy vengeance on them: for unto thee have I revealed my cause.

*But Lord, the fair judge, who examines thoughts and feelings, please let me witness your punishment on them, because I've shared my situation with you.

21 Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that seek thy life, saying, Prophesy not in the name of the LORD, that thou die not by our hand:

*So, the Lord says to the people of Anathoth who want to kill you, "Stop telling others to not prophesy in my name or else I'll let them kill you."

22 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, I will punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:

*So, the Lord says this: I will punish them. The young men will be killed by swords, while their children will die from hunger.

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

*There won't be any left of them, because I will bring harm to the people of Anathoth during their time of judgment.

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