Study Desk

"But we will certainly ^(C1)carry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, ^(F1)by burning ^(F2)sacrifices to the ^(C2)queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as ^(C3)we ourselves, our forefathers, our kings, and our leaders did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had ^(C4)plenty of ^(F3)food and were well off and saw no ^(F4)misfortune.

"But since we stopped burning ^(F1)sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have ^(C1)lacked everything, and have met our end by the sword and by famine."

"And," said the women, "when we were ^(C1)burning ^(F1)sacrifices to the queen of heaven and ^(F2)pouring out drink offerings to her, was it ^(C2)without our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes ^(F3)in her image, and poured out drink offerings to her?"

Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women—even to all the people who were giving him such an answer—saying,

"As for the ^(F1)(C1)smoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the ^(C2)streets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your leaders, and the people of the land, did the LORD not ^(C3)remember them, and did all of this not come into His ^(F2)mind?

"So the LORD was ^(C1)no longer able to endure it, ^(C2)because of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; so your land has become a ^(C3)place of ruins, an object of horror, and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day.

"Since you have burned ^(F1)sacrifices and have sinned against the LORD and ^(C1)not obeyed the voice of the LORD nor ^(C2)walked in His Law, His statutes, or His testimonies, therefore this ^(C3)disaster has happened to you, as it has this day."

Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, "^(C1)Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah who are ^(C2)in the land of Egypt!

"This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel ^(F1)says: 'As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, "We will ^(C1)certainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn ^(F2)sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her." ^(C2)By all means fulfill your vows, and be sure to perform your vows!'