The Covenant What Was Broken
Jeremiah 11The word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying, “Y’all are to listen to the words of this covenant, and speak to the people of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and say to them, YHWH, the God of Israel says: ‘Cursed is the man who doesn’t obey the words of this covenant, which I commanded y’all’s ancestors in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace,’ saying, ‘Y’all must listen to my voice and do all that I command y’all, so that y’all will be my people, and I will be y’all’s God. Then I may establish the oath which I swore to y’all’s ancestors, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is today.”
Then I answered, and said, “Amen, YHWH.”
YHWH said to me, “You are to proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, ‘Y’all must listen the words of this covenant, and y’all must do them. For I earnestly protested to y’all’s ancestors in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt until today day, rising early and warning, “Y’all must listen my voice.” Yet they did not obey, nor turn their ear, but everyone walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart. Therefore I brought on them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but they didn’t do them.’”
YHWH said to me, “A conspiracy is found among the people of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. They have turned back to the iniquities of their ancestors, who refused to listen to my words. They have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their ancestors. Therefore YHWH says, ‘Look, I will bring evil on them which they will not be able to escape, and they will cry to me, but I will not listen to them. Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry to the gods to which they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. Your gods, Judah, are as numerous as your cities, and y’all citizens of Jerusalem have set up as many shameful incense altars to Baal as streets in the city.’
“Therefore, you must not pray for this people. Don’t lift up a cry or a prayer for them, because I will not listen to them when they cry to me because of their evil.
What has my beloved to do in my house, since she has behaved lewdly with many, and the holy flesh has passed from you? When you do evil, then you rejoice.”YHWH called your name, “A green olive tree, beautiful with goodly fruit.” With the noise of a great roar he has kindled fire on it, and its branches are broken.
For YHWH Almighty, who planted you, has pronounced evil against you, because of the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done to themselves in provoking me to anger by offering incense to Baal.
YHWH Warns Jeremiah of Treachery
YHWH gave me knowledge of it, and I knew it. Then you showed me their doings. But I was like a gentle lamb that is led to the slaughter. I didn’t know that they had devised plans against me, saying,
“Let’s destroy the tree with its fruit, and let’s cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.” But, YHWH Almighty, who judges righteously, who tests the heart and the mind, I will see your vengeance on them; for to you I have revealed my cause.“Therefore YHWH says concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life, saying, ‘You must not prophesy in the name of YHWH, that you not die by our hand’— therefore YHWH Almighty says, ‘See! I will punish them. The young men will die by the sword. Their sons and their daughters will die by famine. There will be no remnant to them, for I will bring evil on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their visitation.’”