1 Thus the word from the LORD {YHWH, Sovereign Speaker} came to Jeremiah, introducing the oracle with leemor {leemor: direct speech marker}.
2 Hear the words of this covenant{ha-berit: binding agreement}, and you shall speak them to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem{yerushalayim: the city of peace}.
3 And you shall say to them, “Thus says the LORD God of Israel {YHWH Elohei Yisrael, Covenant Nation God}; Cursed is the man who does not listen to the words of this covenant {brit: binding agreement}.”
4 "Which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace {kur: place of severe trial}, saying, 'Listen to my voice and do all that I command you. Then you shall be my people, and I will be your God {Elohim, Covenant Partner}.'"
5 “In order that I may establish the oath {hashəvuʿah: solemn promise} which I swore to your fathers, to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it is this day.” Then I answered and said, “Amen, O LORD {YHWH, Oath Fulfiller}.”
6 And the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Messenger} said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Listen to the words of this covenant {ha-berit: binding agreement}, and do them.”
7 For I have persistently warned your fathers in the day I brought them up from the land of Egypt, even until this day—rising early{hashkem: early diligence} and warning—saying, “Obey My{YHWH, Persistent Covenant Witness} voice.”
8 Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but each one walked in the stubbornness of their evil heart {libbam hara: corrupt will}. Therefore I {YHWH, Covenant Judge} brought upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do; but they did not do them.
9 And the LORD {YHWH, Revealer of Secrets} said to me, “A conspiracy {qesher: hidden plot} is found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem.”
10 They have turned back to the iniquities {avonot: moral guilt and depravity} of their former fathers, who refused to listen to my {YHWH, Covenant Judge} words. And they have walked 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.
11 Therefore, thus says the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Judge}, “Behold, I am bringing evil {raʿah: calamity, destructive judgment} upon them, which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.”
12 Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods {elohim: false deities} to whom they are burning incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble {raatam: calamity}.
13 For the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah {Yehudah: southern kingdom}, and the number of the streets of Jerusalem you set up altars to the shameful thing {boshet: utter disgrace}, altars to burn incense to Baal {Baal: Canaanite fertility god}.
14 But you shall not pray for these people or lift up a cry or prayer on their behalf, for I {YHWH, Withholding Response} will not listen when they call to Me concerning their calamity {ra’atam: distress, adversity}.
15 What has my {YHWH, Sovereign Judge} beloved to do in my house, when she has carried out many vile deeds? Can the flesh of holiness {basar-qodesh: sacred meat} pass over this for you? For when you do evil, then you rejoice.
16 A flourishing olive tree {zayit: symbol of Israel} beautiful in form and fruit, the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Namer} called your name. At the sound of a great tumult, He set fire upon it, and its branches have been broken.
17 And the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Commander of Armies}, who planted {hanotea: established} you, has spoken disaster against you because of the evil of the house of Israel and the house of Judah, which they have done to themselves to provoke Me to anger by offering incense to Baal.
18 And the LORD {YHWH, Revealer of Secrets} made it known to me and I knew; then You caused me to see their deeds {ma‘alal: actions}.
19 But I was like a tame lamb {kekheves: sacrificial animal} being led to the slaughter, and I did not know that they had devised plans against me, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its bread {belachmo: source of sustenance}, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered.”
20 But the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Righteous Judge}, who judges in righteousness and examines the kidneys and the heart, let me see Your vengeance against them, for to You I have revealed my case {rivi: Dispute}.
21 Therefore, thus says the LORD {YHWH, Righteous Judge} concerning the men of Anathoth, who seek your life {nafesh: vital self}, saying, “Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, so that you will not die by our hand.”
22 Therefore thus says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot, Commander of Armies}: "Behold, I Myself am about to punish them; the young men shall die by the sword {cherev: weapon of war}, and their sons and their daughters shall die by famine."
23 And there will not be a remnant for them, for I {YHWH, Divine Judge} will bring disaster upon the men of Anathoth, the year of their visitation {pekudatam: appointed judgment}.