Jeremiah, 11

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

1. This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh:

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

2. Say to the men 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,

3. Cursed be the man who does not heed the terms of this covenant

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:

4. which I ordained for your fathers the day I freed them from that cleansing furnace that Egypt is. I said to them: 'If you obey my voice and do all that I command you, 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.

5. Then I will fulfill the promise I swore to your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey,' (as it is today)." I replied, "Amen, Yahweh."

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.

6. Yahweh said to me, "Publish what I say in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, 'Hear the terms of this covenant and keep 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.

7. When I brought your forefathers out of Egypt, I solemnly warned them and have continued to tell them: 'Obey me.'

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.

8. But they did not listen to me or heed what I said; each one followed his own stubborn heart. So I fulfilled against them all the words of this covenant that I had commanded them, but which they did not follow."

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

9. Yahweh said to me, "There is a conspiracy among the men of Judah and the inhabitants of 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.

10. They have returned to the sins of their forefathers who refused to obey me; they have followed and served foreign gods. The nation of Israel and the nation of Judah have broken the covenant I made with their fathers."

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.

11. That is why Yahweh says to you, "I will bring upon them a disaster from which there will be no escape. When they cry to me I will not 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.

12. Then the cities of Judah and the people of Jerusalem will go crying to the gods they worship, but these will not help them in the time of misfortune.

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.

13. For you, Judah, have as many gods as there are cities; as numerous as the streets in Jerusalem are the altars you have raised to Baal."

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.

14. For your part, do not intercede for this people, nor offer a plea or petition because I will not listen when they cry to me in the time of their distress.

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.

15. What is my beloved doing in my House? She is plotting evil deeds. Will your vows and the meat of your victims cleanse you from your wickedness and allow you to rejoice? Yahweh had called you

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.

16. 'Beautiful Green Olive Tree - fair and fruitful!' But with the roar of a storm, its foliage took fire and its branches were broken.

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.

17. And Yahweh, God of host, who planted you, has condemned to shame. Indeed the nation of the Israel and the nation of Jacob harmed themselves when they worshiped Baal and aroused my anger.

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

18. Yahweh made it known to me and so I know! And you let me see their scheming: (126) "Take care, even your own brothers and family are false with you and behind your back they freely criticize you. Do not trust them when they approach you in a friendly way."

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.

19. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. I did not know it was against me that they were plotting, "Let us feed him with trials and remove him from the land of the living and let his name never be mentioned again."

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.

20. Yahweh, God of hosts, you who judge with justice and know everyone in his heart and in his intentions, let me see your vengeance on them, for to you I have entrusted my cause.

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:

21. This is what Yahweh has to say against the people of Anathoth who threatened me with death and said, "Do not prophesy any more in the name of Yahweh and we will spare your life."

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:

22. Yahweh says to them, "This is how I will punish you: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and daughters shall die of 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.

23. No one will survive when I bring disaster on the people of Anathoth in the year of their punishment."