Study Desk

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

"^(C1)Hear the words of this ^(C2)covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem;

and say to them, 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: "^(C1)Cursed is the one who does not obey the words of this covenant

which I commanded your forefathers on the ^(C1)day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the ^(C2)iron furnace, saying, '^(C3)Listen to My voice, and ^(F1)do according to all that I command you; so you shall be ^(C4)My people, and I will be your God,'

in order to confirm the ^(C1)oath which I swore to your forefathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day."'" Then I replied, "^(C2)Amen, LORD."

And the LORD said to me, "^(C1)Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, '^(C2)Hear the words of this covenant and ^(C3)do them.

'For I solemnly ^(C1)warned your fathers on the ^(C2)day I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even to this day, ^(C3)warning them persistently, saying, "^(C4)Listen to My voice."

'Yet they ^(C1)did not obey or incline their ear, but walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart, each one of them; therefore I brought on them all the ^(C2)words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did not.'"

Then the LORD said to me, "A ^(C1)conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

"They have ^(C1)turned back to the wrongdoings of their ^(F1)ancestors who ^(C2)refused to hear My words, and they ^(C3)have followed other gods to serve them. The house of Israel and the house of Judah have ^(C4)broken My covenant which I made with their fathers."

Therefore this is what the LORD says: "Behold, I am ^(C1)bringing disaster on them which they will ^(C2)not be able to escape; though they will ^(C3)cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.

"Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will ^(C1)go and cry out to the gods to whom they ^(F1)burn incense, but they certainly will not save them in the time of their disaster.

"For your gods are ^(F1)(C1)as many as your cities, Judah; and ^(F1)as many as the streets of Jerusalem are the altars you have set up to the ^(C2)shameful thing, altars for ^(F2)(C3)burning incense to Baal.

"So as for you, ^(C1)do not pray for this people, nor lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will ^(C2)not listen when they call to Me because of their disaster.

-"What right has My ^(C1)beloved in My house When ^(C2)she has carried out many evil schemes? Can the sacrificial flesh take away from you your disaster, ^(F1)So that you can rejoice?"

The LORD named you "A ^(C1)green olive tree, beautiful in fruit and form"; With the ^(C2)noise of a great ^(F1)tumult He has ^(C3)set fire to it, And its branches are worthless.

The LORD of armies, who ^(C1)planted you, has ^(C2)pronounced evil against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have ^(F1)done to provoke Me by ^(F2)(C3)offering sacrifices to Baal.