Self-interpreting Bible

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Jeremiah 11

1The prophet proclaimeth God's covenant, and rebuketh the Jews for disobeying it: 11he denounceth evil against them for their idolatries, 18and against the men of Anathoth, who devised his death.


1 THE word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

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

    3 And say thou unto them, bThus saith the LORD God of Israel; cCursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this dcovenant,

    4 Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, from the eiron furnace, saying, fObey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you: so shall ye be my people, and I will be your God:

    5 That I may perform the goath 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, 1So be it, O LORD.

    6 Then the LORD said unto me, hProclaim all these words in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying, Hear ye the words of this covenant, and ido them.

    7 For I jearnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even unto this day, krising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.

    8 Yet lthey obeyed not, nor inclined their ear, but walked every one in the 2imagination of their evil heart: therefore mI will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did them not.

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

    10 They are turned back to othe iniquities of their forefathers, which refused to hear my words; and they went after other gods to serve them: pthe house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I made with their fathers.

    11 ¶Therefore thus saith the LORD, qBehold, I will bring evil upon them, which they shall not be able to 3escape; and rthough they shall cry unto me, I will not hearken unto them.

    12 Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go, and cry sunto the gods unto whom they offer incense: but they shall not save them at all in the time of their 4trouble.

    13 For according to tthe 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 5shameful thing, even altars to burn incense unto Baal.

    14 Therefore upray 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 6trouble.

    15 7What hath vmy beloved wto do in mine house, seeing she hath xwrought lewdness with many, and the yholy flesh is passed from thee? 8when thou doest evil, zthen thou rejoicest.

    16 The LORD called thy name, aA green olive tree, fair, and of goodly fruit: bwith the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it, and the branches of it are broken.

    17 For the LORD of hosts, cthat planted thee, dhath pronounced evil against thee, for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves eto provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal.

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

    19 But I was glike a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that hthey had devised devices against me, saying, iLet us destroy 9the 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.

    20 But, O LORD of hosts, jthat judgest righteously, that ktriest the *reins and the heart, llet me see thy vengeance on them: mfor unto thee have I revealed my cause.

    21 Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth, that nseek thy life, saying, oProphesy not in the name of the LORD, that pthou die not by our hand:

    22 Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, Behold, qI will 10punish them: the young men shall die by the sword; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine:

    23 And rthere shall be no remnant of them: for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth, even sthe year of their visitation.