Jeremiah:11-12

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* The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD , saying , * Hear ye the words of this covenant , and speak unto the men of Judah , and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem ; * And say thou unto them , Thus saith the LORD God of Israel ; Cursed be the man that obeyeth not the words of this covenant , * Which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt , from the iron furnace , saying , Obey my voice , and do them , according to all which I command you : so shall ye be my people , and I will be your God : * That I may perform the oath 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 , So be it , O LORD . * Then the LORD said unto me , Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah , and in the streets of Jerusalem , saying , Hear ye the words of this covenant , and do them . * For I earnestly protested unto your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt , even unto this day , rising early and protesting , saying , Obey my voice . * Yet they obeyed not , nor inclined their ear , but walked every one in the imagination of their evil heart : therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant , which I commanded them to do ; but they did them not . * And the LORD said unto me , A conspiracy is found among the men of Judah , and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem . * They are turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers , which refused to hear my words ; and they went 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 . * Therefore thus saith the LORD , Behold , I will bring evil upon them , which they shall not be able to escape ; and though they shall cry unto me , I will not hearken unto them . * Then shall the cities of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem go , and cry unto the gods unto whom they offer incense : but they shall not save them at all in the time of their trouble . * For according to the 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 shameful thing , even altars to burn incense unto Baal . * Therefore pray 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 trouble . * What hath my beloved to do in mine house , seeing she hath wrought lewdness with many , and the holy flesh is passed from thee ? when thou doest evil , then thou rejoicest . * The LORD called thy name , A green olive tree , fair , and of goodly fruit : with the noise of a great tumult he hath kindled fire upon it , and the branches of it are broken . * For the LORD of hosts , that planted thee , hath pronounced evil against thee , for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah , which they have done against themselves to provoke me to anger in offering incense unto Baal . * And the LORD hath given me knowledge of it , and I know it : then thou shewedst me their doings . * But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter ; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me , saying , Let us destroy the 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 . * But , O LORD of hosts , that judgest righteously , that triest the reins and the heart , let me see thy vengeance on them : for unto thee have I revealed my cause . * Therefore thus saith the LORD of the men of Anathoth , that seek thy life , saying , Prophesy not in the name of the LORD , that thou die not by our hand : * Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts , Behold , I will punish them : the young men shall die by the sword ; their sons and their daughters shall die by famine : * And there shall be no remnant of them : for I will bring evil upon the men of Anathoth , even the year of their visitation . * Righteous art thou , O LORD , when I plead with thee : yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments : Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper ? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously ? * Thou hast planted them , yea , they have taken root : they grow , yea , they bring forth fruit : thou art near in their mouth , and far from their reins . * But thou , O LORD , knowest me : thou hast seen me , and tried mine heart toward thee : pull them out like sheep for the slaughter , and prepare them for the day of slaughter . * How long shall the land mourn , and the herbs of every field wither , for the wickedness of them that dwell therein ? the beasts are consumed , and the birds ; because they said , He shall not see our last end . * If thou hast run with the footmen , and they have wearied thee , then how canst thou contend with horses ? and if in the land of peace , wherein thou trustedst , they wearied thee , then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan ? * For even thy brethren , and the house of thy father , even they have dealt treacherously with thee ; yea , they have called a multitude after thee : believe them not , though they speak fair words unto thee . * I have forsaken mine house , I have left mine heritage ; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies . * Mine heritage is unto me as a lion in the forest ; it crieth out against me : therefore have I hated it . * Mine heritage is unto me as a speckled bird , the birds round about are against her ; come ye , assemble all the beasts of the field , come to devour . * Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard , they have trodden my portion under foot , they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness . * They have made it desolate , and being desolate it mourneth unto me ; the whole land is made desolate , because no man layeth it to heart . * The spoilers are come upon all high places through the wilderness : for the sword of the LORD shall devour from the one end of the land even to the other end of the land : no flesh shall have peace . * They have sown wheat , but shall reap thorns : they have put themselves to pain , but shall not profit : and they shall be ashamed of your revenues because of the fierce anger of the LORD . * Thus saith the LORD against all mine evil neighbours , that touch the inheritance which I have caused my people Israel to inherit ; Behold , I will pluck them out of their land , and pluck out the house of Judah from among them . * And it shall come to pass , after that I have plucked them out I will return , and have compassion on them , and will bring them again , every man to his heritage , and every man to his land . * And it shall come to pass , if they will diligently learn the ways of my people , to swear by my name , The LORD liveth ; as they taught my people to swear by Baal ; then shall they be built in the midst of my people . * But if they will not obey , I will utterly pluck up and destroy that nation , saith the LORD . * Thus saith the LORD unto me , Go and get thee a linen girdle , and put it upon thy loins , and put it not in water .

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