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Jeremiah, 11

1. The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

1. The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh,

2. Speak to the men of Judah and to the citizens of Jerusalem,

2. 'Hear the terms of this covenant; tell them to the people of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

3. saying to them: Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Cursed be the man who does not observe the terms of this covenant,

3. Tell them, "Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: Cursed be anyone who will not listen to the terms of this covenant

4. which I enjoined upon your fathers the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, that iron foundry, saying: Listen to my voice and do all that I command you. Then you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

4. which I ordained for your ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt, out of that iron-foundry. Listen to my voice, I told them, carry out all my orders, then you will be my people and I shall be your God,

5. Thus I will fulfill the oath which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey: the one you have today. "Amen, LORD," I answered.

5. so that I may fulfil the oath I swore to your ancestors, that I may give them a country flowing with milk and honey, as is the case today." ' I replied, 'So be it, Yahweh!'

6. Then the LORD said to me: Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: Hear the words of this covenant and obey them.

6. Then Yahweh said to me, 'Proclaim all these terms in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, "Listen to the terms of this covenant and obey them.

7. Urgently and constantly I warned your fathers to obey my voice, from the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt even to this day.

7. For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, I solemnly warned them, and have persistently warned them until today, saying: Listen to my voice.

8. But they did not listen or give ear. Each one followed the hardness of his evil heart, till I brought upon them all the threats of this covenant which they had failed to observe as I commanded them.

8. But they did not listen, did not pay attention; instead, each followed his own stubborn and wicked inclinations. And against them, in consequence, I put into action the words of this covenant which I had ordered them to obey and which they had not obeyed."'

9. A conspiracy has been found, the LORD said to me, among the men of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem.

9. Yahweh said to me, 'Plainly there is conspiracy among the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem.

10. They have returned to the crimes of their forefathers who refused to obey my words. They also have followed and served strange gods; the covenant which I had made with their fathers, the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken.

10. They have reverted to the sins of their ancestors who refused to listen to my words: they too are following other gods and serving them. The House of Israel and the House of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their ancestors.

11. Therefore, thus says the LORD: See, I bring upon them misfortune which they cannot escape. Though they cry out to me, I will not listen to them.

11. And so, Yahweh says this, "I shall now bring a disaster on them which they cannot escape; they will call to me for help, but I shall not listen to them.

12. Then the cities of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to which they have been offering incense. But these gods will give them no help whatever when misfortune strikes.

12. The towns of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem will then go and call for help to the gods to whom they burn incense, but these will be no help at all to them in their time of distress!

13. For as numerous as your cities are your gods, O Judah! And as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars for offering sacrifice to Baal.

13. "For you have as many gods as you have towns, Judah! You have built as many altars to Shame, as many incense altars to Baal, as Jerusalem has streets!

14. Do not intercede on behalf of this people, nor utter a plea for them. I will not listen when they call to me at the time of their misfortune.

14. "You, for your part, must not intercede for this people, nor raise either plea or prayer on their behalf, for I will not listen when their distress forces them to call to me for help."

15. What right has my beloved in my house, while she prepares her plots? Can vows and sacred meat turn away your misfortune from you? Will you still be jubilant

15. 'What is my beloved doing in my house? She has achieved her wicked plans. Can vows and consecrated meat turn disaster from you for you to be so happy?

16. when you hear the great invasion? A spreading olive tree, goodly to behold, the LORD has named you; Now he sets fire to it, its branches burn.

16. "Green olive-tree covered in fine fruit", was Yahweh's name for you. With a shattering noise he has set fire to it, its branches are broken.'

17. The LORD of hosts who planted you has decreed misfortune for you because of the evil done by the house of Israel and by the house of Judah, who provoked me by sacrificing to Baal.

17. And Yahweh Sabaoth, who planted you, has decreed disaster for you because of the evil the House of Israel and the House of Judah have done, provoking me by burning incense to Baal.

18. I knew it because the LORD informed me; at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings.

18. Yahweh informed me and I knew it; you then revealed their scheming to me.

19.

19. I for my part was like a trustful lamb being led to the slaughterhouse, not knowing the schemes they were plotting against me, 'Let us destroy the tree in its strength, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name may no longer be remebered!'

20.

20. Yahweh Sabaoth, whose judgement is upright, tester of motives and thoughts, I shall see your vengeance on them, for I have revealed my cause to you.

21.

21. Against the people of Anathoth who are determined to kill me and say to me, 'Do not prophesy in the name of Yahweh or you will die at our hands!'

22.

22. Yahweh says this, 'I am about to punish them. Their young people will die by the sword, their sons and daughters by famine.

23.

23. Not one will be left when I bring disaster on the people of Anathoth, when the year for punishing them comes.'



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Footnotes:

11:1-5 - God instructs Jeremiah to proclaim the covenant with the people of Israel. Obedience to God is highlighted as the basis for divine blessing and protection. The covenant made with the patriarchs is reaffirmed, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His promises (see also Exodus 19:5-6 and Deuteronomy 7:9).

11:6-8 - The people of Israel disobey God's covenant, leading to divine wrath. Disobedience is treated as an act of unfaithfulness with consequences. The importance of obedience to God is emphasized to avoid judgment (see also Deuteronomy 28:15-20 and 1 Samuel 12:14-15).

11:9-13 - God reveals that the leaders and people are engaged in idolatrous practices. Idolatry is described as a serious violation of the covenant with God, resulting in imminent judgment on Israel (see also Isaiah 44:9-20 and Hosea 4:12).

11:14-17 - Jeremiah is instructed not to pray for the people because they have turned away from God. Idolatry and unfaithfulness are seen as reasons why God refuses to hear prayers on Israel's behalf (see also Isaiah 1:15 and Proverbs 1:28).

11:18-23 - The people's plot against Jeremiah is revealed. Even in the face of opposition, Jeremiah remains faithful to his prophetic mission. This highlights divine resistance against those who seek to destroy God's messengers (see also Matthew 23:37 and Acts 7:52).

Verses related to Jeremiah, 11:

Jeremiah chapter 11 recalls the broken covenant. How does God respond to the unfaithfulness of His people? This solemn text recalls the terms of the Mosaic covenant and denounces Judah's persistent disobedience. The chapter addresses topics such as the consequences of breaking the covenant, prophetic intercession and the conspiracy against Jeremiah. Jeremiah 11 also reveals God's broken heart at the rejection of His people. Consider with us five biblical passages that illuminate the enduring principles of this covenant message.

Galatians 3:10: "All who depend on the practice of the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do all things written in the Book of the Law.'" - Paul, like Jeremiah in 11:3-5, emphasizes the consequences of breaking the covenant.

Hebrews 8:9: "It will not be like the covenant I made with your ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt; because they did not remain faithful to my covenant, I turned away from them, says the Lord." - The author of Hebrews quotes Jeremiah (31:32) to contrast the old and new covenants, a theme also present in Jeremiah 11.

Hosea 6:7: "Like Adam, they broke the covenant; There they were unfaithful to me." - Hosea, like Jeremiah in 11:10, speaks of the people's breaking of the covenant.

Ezekiel 20:8: "But they rebelled against me and would not listen to me. None of them got rid of the vile idols that fascinated their eyes, nor did they abandon the idols of Egypt. So I thought of pouring out my wrath on them and venting my indignation against them in Egypt." - Ezekiel, like Jeremiah in 11:9-11, describes the rebellion of the people and the consequent judgment of God.

Psalms 78:36-37: "But then they deceived him with their mouth; with their tongue they lied to him. Their hearts were not loyal to him, and they were not faithful to his covenant." - This psalm, like Jeremiah in 11:9-10, describes the people's unfaithfulness to the covenant.

FAQ:

What is the broken covenant mentioned in Jeremiah 11?

God reminds Israel and Judah of the covenant they made with their ancestors, but they broke it by following other gods. As a result, God announces judgment upon the people. (Jeremiah 11:3-10)

Why does God reject the prayers for the people in Jeremiah 11?

God rejects prayers because the people persisted in idolatry and did not repent. Even if they cried out, He would not hear. (Jeremiah 11:11-14)

Who tried to kill Jeremiah and why?

The men of Anathoth, his own homeland, conspired to kill him because he prophesied against Judah and denounced their sins. (Jeremiah 11:18-21)

What does God say about the punishment of the men of Anathoth?

God declares that he will bring judgment upon them, and they will die by the sword and by famine, because they tried to kill Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 11:22-23)

How does Jeremiah react to the persecution he suffers?

Jeremiah entrusts his cause to God, asking for justice against those who plot against him. He compares his situation to a lamb led to the slaughter. (Jeremiah 11:18-20)


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