Lord, hear my prayer. Listen to my cry for mercy. Come to help me because you are loyal and good. Don’t judge me, your servant, because no one alive is right before you. My enemies are chasing me. They have crushed me to the ground. They have made me live in darkness like those who are long dead. I am afraid. My courage is gone.
I remember what happened long ago. I recall everything you have done. I think about all you have made. I lift my hands to you in prayer. As a dry land needs rain, I thirst for you. Selah
Lord, answer me quickly. I am getting weak. Don’t turn away from me, or I will be like those who are dead. Tell me in the morning about your love. I trust you. Show me what I should do because my prayers go up to you. Lord, save me from my enemies. I come to you for safety. Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God. Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Lord, let me live so people will praise you. In your goodness save me from my troubles. In your love defeat my enemies. Destroy all those who trouble me because I am your servant.
This is the word the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. It was in the tenth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah. The tenth year of Zedekiah was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. At that time the army of Babylon was surrounding Jerusalem. Jeremiah was under arrest in the courtyard of the guard. This courtyard was at the palace of the king of Judah.
Zedekiah king of Judah had put Jeremiah in prison there. Zedekiah had asked, “Why have you prophesied the things you have?” (Jeremiah had said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘I will soon give the city of Jerusalem to the king of Babylon. Nebuchadnezzar will capture this city. Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the army of the Babylonians. But he will surely be given to the king of Babylon. And Zedekiah will speak to the king of Babylon face to face. Zedekiah will see him with his own eyes. The king of Babylon will take Zedekiah to Babylon. Zedekiah will stay there until I have punished him,’ says the Lord. ‘If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”)
While Jeremiah was prisoner, he said, “The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: Jeremiah, your cousin Hanamel will come to you soon. He is the son of your uncle Shallum. Hanamel will say to you, ‘Jeremiah, you are my nearest relative. So buy my field near the town of Anathoth. It is your right and your responsibility to buy that field.’
“Then it happened just as the Lord had said. My cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard. He said to me, ‘Buy my field near Anathoth in the land of Benjamin. Buy that land for yourself. It is your right to buy it and own it.’ So I knew this was a message from the Lord.
“I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out seven ounces of silver for him. I signed the record that showed I now owned the field. And I had a copy of the record sealed up. Some men witnessed it and signed it also. And I weighed out the silver on the scales. Then I took the sealed copy of the record of ownership. And I took the copy that was not sealed. And I gave them to Baruch son of Neriah. Neriah was the son of Mahseiah. The sealed copy of the record of ownership had all the demands and limits of my purchase. I gave this paper of ownership to Baruch. It was while my cousin Hanamel and the other witnesses were there. Those witnesses also signed the record of ownership. There were also many Jews sitting in the courtyard. And they saw me give the record of ownership to Baruch.
“With all the people watching, I said to Baruch, ‘This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says: Take both copies of the record of ownership. Take both the sealed copy and the copy that was not sealed. And put them in a clay jar. Do this so that they will last a long time. This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says: In the future my people will once again buy houses. They will also buy fields for grain and vineyards in the land of Israel.’
“I gave the record of ownership to Baruch son of Neriah. Then I prayed to the Lord. I said: Oh, Lord God, you made the skies and the earth. You made them with your very great power. There is nothing too wonderful for you to do. Lord, you show love and kindness to thousands of people. But you also bring punishment to children for their fathers’ sins. Great and powerful God, your name is the Lord of heaven’s armies. You plan and do great things, Lord. You see everything that people do. You reward people for the way they live and for what they do. Lord, you did miracles and wonderful things in the land of Egypt. You have kept on doing them even until today. You did miracles in Israel and among the other nations. You have become well known. Lord, you used signs and miracles and brought your people, the Israelites, out of Egypt. You used your great power and strength to do those things. You brought great terror on everyone. Lord, you gave this land to the people of Israel. This is the land you promised to their ancestors long ago. It’s a land where much food grows. The people of Israel came into this land and took it for their own. But those people did not obey you. They did not follow your teachings. They did not do the things you commanded. So you made all these terrible things happen to them.
“And now, the enemy has surrounded the city. They are building roads to the top of the walls. There will be war, hunger and terrible diseases. These will cause the city to be handed over to the Babylonians. They are attacking the city now. Lord, you said this would happen. And now you see it is happening. But now, Lord God, you are telling me, ‘Buy the field with silver. Choose some men to watch while I purchase it.’ You are telling me this while the Babylonian army is ready to capture the city.”
Then the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah: “I am the Lord. I am the God of every person on the earth. You know that nothing is impossible for me. So this is what I say: I will soon give the city of Jerusalem to the Babylonian army. And I will give it to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. That army will capture the city. The Babylonian army is already attacking the city of Jerusalem. They will soon enter the city and start a fire to burn down the city. They will also burn down the houses. The people of Jerusalem made me angry. They offered sacrifices to Baal on the roofs of their houses. And the people poured out drink offerings to other idols. The people of Israel and Judah have done only the things I said were wrong. They have done this since they were young. They have made me angry by worshiping idols made with their own hands,” says the Lord. “From the day Jerusalem was built until now, they have made me very angry. Jerusalem has made me so angry I must remove it from my sight. I will destroy it. This is because of the evil the people of Israel and Judah have done. The people, their kings and officers have made me angry. Their priests and prophets have made me angry. All the men of Judah and the people of Jerusalem have made me angry. They turned their backs to me. I tried to teach them again and again. But they wouldn’t listen to me. I tried to correct them, but they wouldn’t listen. They put their hated idols in the place where I have chosen to be worshiped. In this way they made it unclean. In the Valley of Ben Hinnom those people built places to worship Baal. They built them so they could burn their sons and daughters as sacrifices to Molech. But I never commanded them to do such a hated thing. I never even thought of it! This would make Judah sin.
“You are saying, ‘There will be war, hunger and terrible diseases. So the city will be handed over to the king of Babylon.’ But the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I have forced the people of Israel and Judah to leave their land. I was very furious and angry with them. But I will gather them from the land where I forced them to go. I will bring them back to this place. I will let them live in peace and safety. The people of Israel and Judah will be my people. And I will be their God. I will make them want to be truly one people. They will have one goal. They will truly want to worship me all their lives. They will do this for their own good and for their children after them.
“I will make an agreement with them. This agreement will last forever. And I will never turn away from them. I will always be good to them. I will make them want to respect me. Then they will never turn away from me. I will enjoy doing good to them. And I will surely plant them in this land and make them grow. I will do this with my whole being.”
This is what the Lord says: “I have brought this great disaster to the people of Israel and Judah. In the same way I will bring good things to them. I promise to do good things for them. You are saying, ‘This land is an empty desert. There are no people or animals here. The Babylonian army defeated this country.’ But in the future, people will once again buy fields in this land. They will use their money and buy fields. They will sign and seal their agreements. People will witness their signing records of ownership. They will again buy fields in the land of Benjamin and in the area around Jerusalem. They will buy fields in the towns of Judah and in the mountains. They will buy them in the western mountain slopes and in southern Judah. This is because I will make everything as good as it once was,” says the Lord.
So we must be more careful to follow what we were taught. Then we will not be pulled away from the truth. The teaching that God spoke through angels was shown to be true. And anyone who did not follow it or obey it received the punishment he earned. The salvation that was given to us is very great. So surely we also will be punished if we live as if this salvation were not important. It was the Lord himself who first told about this salvation. And those who heard him proved to us that this salvation is true. God also proved it by using wonders, great signs, and many kinds of miracles. And he proved it by giving people gifts through the Holy Spirit, just as he wanted.
God did not choose angels to be the rulers of the new world that was coming. It is that future world we have been talking about. It is written somewhere in the Scriptures,
“Why is man important to you? Why do you take care of the son of man? For a short time you made him lower than the angels. But you crowned him with glory and honor. You put all things under his control.” Psalm 8:4-6
If God put everything under his control, there was nothing left that he did not rule. But we do not yet see him ruling over everything. But we see Jesus! For a short time he was made lower than the angels. But now we see him wearing a crown of glory and honor because he suffered and died. Because of God’s grace, he died for everyone.
God is the One who made all things. And all things are for his glory. God wanted to have many sons share his glory. So God made perfect the One who leads people to salvation. He made Jesus a perfect Savior through Jesus’ suffering.
Jesus, who makes people holy, and those who are made holy are from the same family. So he is not ashamed to call them his brothers. He says,
“Then, I will tell my fellow Israelites about you. I will praise you when your people meet to worship you.” Psalm 22:22
He also says,
“I will trust in God.” Isaiah 8:17
And he also says,
“I am here. And with me are the children that God has given me.” Isaiah 8:18
These children are people with physical bodies. So Jesus himself became like them and had the same experiences they have. He did this so that, by dying, he could destroy the one who has the power of death. That one is the devil. Jesus became like men and died so that he could free them. They were like slaves all their lives because of their fear of death. Clearly, it is not angels that Jesus helps, but the people who are from Abraham. For this reason Jesus had to be made like his brothers in every way. He became like men so that he could be their merciful and faithful high priest in service to God. Then Jesus could bring forgiveness for their sins. And now he can help those who are tempted. He is able to help because he himself suffered and was tempted.
20 It was the seventh year, in the fifth month of our captivity. It was the tenth day of the month. Some of the elders of Israel came to ask about the Lord. They sat down before me.
The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: “Human being, speak to the elders of Israel. Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Did you come to ask me questions? As surely as I live, I will not let you ask me questions.’
“Will you judge them? Will you judge them, human being? Let them know the hated things their fathers did. Say to them: ‘This is what the Lord God says: I chose Israel and made a promise to the descendants of Jacob. At that time I made myself known to them in Egypt. I promised them, “I am the Lord your God.” At that time I promised them I would bring them out of Egypt. I promised to bring them into a land I had chosen for them. This is a land where much food grows. It is the best of all lands. I said to them, “Each one of you must throw away the hateful idols you have set your eyes on. Don’t make yourselves unclean with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”
“‘But they turned against me and refused to listen to me. They did not throw away the hated idols which they saw and liked. They did not leave the idols of Egypt. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them in the land of Egypt. But I acted to show who I am. I did not allow myself to be dishonored before the nations where the Israelites lived. I made myself known to the Israelites. I did this by bringing them out of Egypt while the nations were watching. So I took them out of Egypt and brought them into the desert. I gave them my rules. I told them about my laws. If a person obeys them, he will live. I also gave them my Sabbaths. They were to be a sign between us. Then they would know that I am the Lord. I make them holy.
“‘But in the desert Israel turned against me. They did not follow my rules. They rejected my laws. But if a person obeys them, he will live. They dishonored my Sabbaths. Then I decided to pour out my anger against them and destroy them in the desert. But I acted for the sake of my name. I did not allow it to be dishonored before the nations. As the nations watched, I had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. But in the desert I had to make another promise to the Israelites. I had to promise I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It is a land where much food grows. It is the best of all the lands. This is because they rejected my laws. They did not follow my rules. They dishonored my Sabbaths. They would rather worship their idols. But I had pity on them. I did not destroy them. I did not put an end to them in the desert. I said to their children in the desert, “Don’t live by the rules of your fathers. Don’t obey their laws. Don’t make yourselves unclean with their idols. I am the Lord your God. Live by my rules. Obey my laws and do them. Keep my Sabbaths holy. They will be a sign between me and you. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”
“‘But the people turned against me. If a person obeys my laws, he will live. But they did not live by my rules. They were not careful to obey my laws. They dishonored my Sabbaths. So I decided to pour out my anger against them. I decided to carry out my anger against them in the desert. But I held back my anger. I acted for the sake of my name. Then my name would not be dishonored with the nations watching. As the nations watched, I had brought the Israelites out from Egypt. Also in the desert I had to make a promise to the Israelites. I had to promise to scatter them among the nations and spread them among the countries. This is because they did not obey my laws. They had rejected my rules and dishonored my Sabbaths. And they worshiped the idols of their ancestors. I also allowed them to follow rules that were not good. And they followed laws by which they could not live. I let the Israelites make themselves unclean by the gifts they brought to their false gods. They sacrificed their oldest children in the fire. This is how I shocked them so they would know that I am the Lord.’
“So, human being, speak to the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: Your ancestors spoke against me by being unfaithful to me in this way: I had brought them into the land I promised to give them. They saw every high hill and every leafy tree. There they offered their sacrifices to false gods. They brought offerings that made me angry. There, also, they burned their incense. There they poured out their drink offerings. Then I said to them: What is this place where you go to worship false gods?’” (It is still called High Place today.)
“So say to the people of Israel: ‘This is what the Lord God says: Will you make yourselves unclean as your ancestors did? Will you be unfaithful and desire their hated idols? You offer your children as gifts to the false gods. You sacrifice them in the fire. You make yourselves unclean with all your idols even today. So, people of Israel, should I let you ask me questions? As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will not accept questions from you.
“‘What you want will not come true. You say, “We want to be like the other nations and the people in other lands. We want to worship idols made of wood and stone.” As surely as I live, says the Lord God, I will rule you. I will rule you with my great power and strength and anger. I will bring you out from the foreign nations. I will gather you from the lands where you are scattered. I will do this with my great power and strength and anger. I will bring you among the nations as I brought your ancestors into the desert with Moses. There I will judge you face to face. I will judge you the same way I judged your ancestors. That was in the desert of the land of Egypt. So I will judge you, says the Lord God. I will take control of you. I will punish you by my agreement. I will get rid of those who refuse to obey me and who turn against me. I will bring them out of the land where they are now living. But they will never enter the land of Israel. Then you will know that I am the Lord.
“‘This is what the Lord God says: People of Israel, go serve your idols for now. But later you will listen to me. You will not continue to dishonor my holy name with your gifts and false gods. My holy mountain is the high mountain of Israel. There all Israel will serve me in the land, says the Lord God. There I will accept you. There I will look for your offerings. I will look for the first harvest of your offerings and all your holy gifts. I will accept you like a pleasing smell. This will happen when I bring you out from the foreign nations. It will take place when I gather you from the lands where you are scattered. Then through you I will show how holy I am. The nations will see it. When I bring you into the land of Israel, you will know that I am the Lord. I will bring you into the land I promised your ancestors. There you will remember everything you did that made you unclean. Then you will hate yourselves for all the evil things you have done. I will deal with you to show who I am. Then you will know I am the Lord, people of Israel. But it’s not because of your evil ways or unclean actions, says the Lord God.’”
Now the Lord spoke his word to me. He said: “Human being, look toward the south. Prophesy against the south. Prophesy against the forest of the southern area. Say to that forest: ‘Hear the word of the Lord. This is what the Lord God says: I am ready to start a fire in you. The fire will destroy all your green trees and all your dry trees. The flame that burns will not be put out. All the land from south to north will be burned by the fire. Then all the people will see that I, the Lord, have started the fire. It will not be put out.’”
Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! The people are saying about me, ‘He is only telling stories.’”
21 Then the Lord spoke his word to me. He said: “Human being, look toward Jerusalem and speak against their holy place. Prophesy against the land of Israel. Say to Israel: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am against you. I will pull my sword out of its holder. I will separate you from both wicked people and those who do right. I am going to separate the wicked and those who do right. So my sword will come out from its holder. And it will come against all people from south to north. Then all people will know that I, the Lord, have pulled my sword out from its holder. My sword will not go back in again.’
“So, human being, groan with breaking heart and great sadness. Make these sad sounds in front of the people. They will ask you, ‘Why do you make these sad sounds?’ Then you will say, ‘Because of the news that is coming. Every heart will melt with fear. All hands will become weak. Everyone will be afraid. All knees will become weak as water. Look, it is coming. It will happen, says the Lord God.’”
The Lord spoke his word to me. He said, “Human being, prophesy and say, ‘This is what the Lord says:
A sword, a sword, made sharp and polished. It is made sharp for the killing. It is polished to flash like lightning.
“‘You are not happy about this horrible punishment by the sword. But my son, Judah, you did not change when you were only beaten with a rod.
The sword should be polished. The sword is meant to be held in the hand. It is made sharp and polished. It is made ready for the hand of the killer. Shout and yell, human being. This is because the sword is against my people. It is against all the rulers of Israel. They will be killed by the sword, along with my people. So beat your chest in sadness.
“‘The test will come. And Judah, who is hated by the armies of Babylon, will not last, says the Lord God.’
“So, human being, prophesy. And clap your hands. Let the sword hit two or three times. It is the sword for killing. It is the sword for much killing. This sword surrounds the people. Their hearts will melt with fear. And many people will die. I have placed the killing sword at all their gates. Oh! The sword is made to flash like lightning. It is held, ready for killing. Sword, cut on the right side. Then cut on the left side. Cut anywhere your blade is turned. I will also clap my hands. Then my anger will rest. I, the Lord, have spoken.”
The Lord spoke his word to me. He said: “Human being, mark two roads that the king of Babylon and his sword can follow. Both of these roads will start from the same country. And make signs where the road divides and one way goes toward the city. One sign shows the road he can take with his sword to Rabbah. It is in the land of the Ammonites. And the other sign shows the road he can take to Judah and Jerusalem. Jerusalem is protected with strong walls. The king of Babylon will come to where the road divides into two. He will use magic. He will throw lots with arrows. He will ask questions of his family idols. He will look at the liver of a sacrificed animal to learn where he should go. The lots will tell him to go toward his right to Jerusalem. They will tell him these things: Use logs to break down the city gates. Shout the battle cry and give the order to kill. Build a dirt road to the top of the walls and devices to attack the walls. The people of Jerusalem have made agreements with other nations to help them fight Babylon. So they will think this prediction is wrong. But the king of Babylon will remind them of their sin. And he will capture them.
“So this is what the Lord God says: ‘You have shown how sinful you are by turning against the Lord. Your sins are seen in all the things you do. So you will be taken captive by the enemy.
“‘You unclean and evil leader of Israel, you will be killed! The time of your final punishment has come. This is what the Lord God says: Take off the turban. Take off the crown. Things will change. Those who are important now will be made unimportant. And those who are unimportant now will be made important. A ruin! A ruin! I will make it a ruin! This place will not be rebuilt until the one comes who has a right to be king. Then I will give it to him.’
“And you, human being, prophesy and say: ‘This is what the Lord God says about the people of Ammon and their insults:
A sword, a sword is pulled out of its holder. It is polished to kill and destroy. It will flash like lightning! Prophets see false visions about you and prophesy lies about you. The sword will be put on the necks of these evil people who are to be killed. Their day has come. The time of your final punishment has come. Put the sword back in its holder. I will judge you in the place where you were created. I will judge you in the land where you were born. I will pour out my anger against you. I will breathe on you with the fire of my anger. I will hand you over to cruel men who are skilled in destruction. You will be like fuel for the fire. You will die in the land. You will not be remembered. I, the Lord, have spoken.’”
18 This is the word the Lord spoke to Jeremiah: “Go down to the potter’s house. I will give you my message there.” So I went down to the potter’s house. I saw him working at the potter’s wheel. He was making a pot from clay. But something went wrong with it. So the potter used that clay to make another pot. He used his hands to shape the pot the way that he wanted it to be.
Then the Lord spoke his word to me: “Family of Israel, can’t I do the same thing with you?” says the Lord. “You are like the clay in the potter’s hands. There may come a time when I will speak about a nation or a kingdom. I might say I will pull that nation up by its roots. Or I might say I will pull that nation down and destroy it. But if the people of that nation are sorry for the evil they have done, I would change my mind. I would not carry out my plans to bring disaster to them. There may come another time when I will speak about a nation. I might say that I will build up and plant that nation. But if I see it doing evil by not obeying me, I would change my mind. I would not carry out my plans to do good for them.
“So, say this to the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem: ‘This is what the Lord says: I am preparing disaster for you right now. I am making plans against you. So stop doing the evil you are doing. Change your ways and do what is right.’ But the people of Judah will answer, ‘It won’t do any good to try! We will continue to do what we want. Each of us will do what his stubborn, evil heart wants!’”
So this is what the Lord says: “Ask the people in other nations this question: ‘Have you ever heard anything like this?’ The people of Israel have done a horrible thing. The snow on the mountains of Lebanon never melts from the rocks. Its cool, flowing streams do not dry up. But my people have forgotten me. They make offerings to worthless idols. This makes them stumble in what they do. They stumble about in the old ways of their ancestors. They walk along back roads and on poor highways. So Judah’s country will become an empty desert. People will not stop making fun of it. They will shake their heads as they pass by. They will be shocked at how the country was destroyed. I will scatter them before their enemies as a strong east wind blows things away. At that awful time they will not see me coming to help them. They will see me leaving.”
Then the people said, “Come, let’s make plans against Jeremiah. Surely the teaching of the law by the priest will not be lost. And the advice from the wise men will still be with us. We will still have the words of the prophets. So let’s ruin him by telling lies about him! We won’t pay attention to anything he says.”
Lord, listen to me. Listen to what my accusers are saying! Good should not be paid back with evil. But they have dug a pit in order to kill me. Lord, remember that I stood before you and asked you to do good things for these people. I asked you to turn your anger away from them. So now, let their children starve. Let their enemies defeat them with swords. Let their wives lose their children and husbands. Let the men from Judah be put to death. Let the young men be killed in battle. Let them cry out in their houses. Bring an enemy against them suddenly. Let all this happen because my enemies have dug a pit to trap me. And they have hidden traps for me to step in. Lord, you know about their plans to kill me. Don’t forgive their crimes. Don’t erase their sins. Make them fall from their places. Punish them while you are angry.
19 This is what the Lord said to me: “Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Go out to the Valley of Ben Hinnom. Go near the front of the Potsherd Gate. Take some of the elders of the people and priests with you. There speak the words I tell you. Say, ‘King of Judah and people of Jerusalem, listen to this message from the Lord. This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says: I will soon bring a disaster on this place! Everyone who hears about it will be amazed and full of fear. I will do this because the people of Judah have quit following me. They have made this a place for foreign gods. They have burned sacrifices to other gods. They did not worship these gods long ago! Their ancestors didn’t worship these gods. The kings of Judah filled this place with the blood of the innocent people. The kings of Judah have built places to worship Baal. There they burn their sons in the fire to Baal. I did not speak about it or tell them to do that. I never even thought of such a thing. Now people call this place the Valley of Ben Hinnom or Topheth. But watch out! The days are coming, says the Lord, when people will call this place the Valley of Killing.
“‘At this place I will ruin the plans of the people of Judah and Jerusalem. The enemy will chase them. And I will let the people of Judah be killed with swords. I will make their dead bodies food for the birds and wild animals. I will completely destroy this city. People will make fun of it and hiss at it. And they will shake their heads when they pass by Jerusalem. They will be shocked when they see how the city was destroyed. An enemy army will surround the city. They will not let anyone go out to get food. The people will become so hungry they will eat the bodies of their own sons and daughters. And then they will begin to eat each other.’”
The Lord said, “While the people with you are watching, break that jar. Then say this: ‘The Lord of heaven’s armies says: I will break this nation and this city just as someone breaks a clay jar. It cannot be put back together again. The dead people will be buried here in Topheth. We will bury bodies until there is no more room. This is what I will do to these people and to this place, says the Lord. I will make this city like Topheth. The houses in Jerusalem and the king’s palaces will become as unclean as this place, Topheth. This is because the people worshiped false gods on the roofs of their houses. They worshiped the stars and burned incense to honor them. They gave drink offerings to false gods.’”
Then Jeremiah left Topheth where the Lord had told him to prophesy. He went to the Lord’s Temple, stood in the courtyard and said to all the people: “This is what the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I said I would bring disaster to Jerusalem and the villages around it. I will make it happen soon! This is because the people are very stubborn. They do not listen at all to what I say.’”
3 Then the Lord said to me, “Human being, eat what you find. Eat this scroll. Then go and speak to the people of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and the Lord gave me the scroll.
The Lord said to me, “Human being, eat this scroll which I am giving you. Fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it. And it was sweet like honey in my mouth.
Then the Lord said to me, “Human being, go to the people of Israel. Speak my words to them. You are not being sent to people whose speech you can’t understand. Their language is not difficult. You are being sent to Israel. You are not being sent to many nations whose speech you can’t understand. The language of Israel is not difficult. You are not being sent to people whose words you cannot understand. If I had sent you to them, they would have listened to you. But the people of Israel are not willing to listen to you. This is because they are not willing to listen to me. Yes, all the people of Israel are stubborn and will not obey. See, I have made you as stubborn as they are. You will be as hard as they are. I have made you as hard as a diamond, harder than stone. Don’t be afraid of them. Don’t be frightened by them. They are a people who turn against me.”
Also, the Lord said to me, “Human being, believe all the words that I will speak to you. And listen carefully. Go to the captives, your people. And speak to them, whether they listen or not. Tell them, ‘The Lord God says this.’”
Then the Spirit lifted me up. And I heard a loud rumbling sound behind me. A voice said, “Praise God in heaven.” I heard the wings of the living creatures touching each other. And I heard the sound of the wheels by them. It was a loud rumbling sound. So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away. I was unhappy and angry. I felt the great power of the Lord. I came to the captives from Judah. They lived by the Kebar River at Tel Abib. I sat there seven days where these people lived. I was shocked.
After seven days the Lord spoke his word to me again. He said, “Human being, I have made you a watchman for Israel. Any time you hear a word from my mouth, warn them for me. When I say to an evil person, ‘You will surely die,’ you must warn him. If you don’t speak out to warn the evil person to leave his evil way, he will die in his sin. But I will hold you responsible for his death. You must warn the evil person. Then if he does not turn from his wickedness or his evil ways, he will die because of his sin. But you will have saved yourself.
“Again, a person who does right may turn away from his goodness. He may do evil. If I caused him to sin, he will die. Because you have not warned him, he will die because of his sin. And the good he did will not be remembered. But I will hold you responsible for his death. But if you do warn that good person not to sin, he may not sin. Then he will surely live. This is because he was warned. And you will save yourself.”
Then I felt the power of the Lord there. He said to me, “Get up and go out to the plain. There I will speak to you.” So I got up and went out to the plain. I saw the glory of the Lord standing there. It was like the glory I saw by the Kebar River. And I bowed facedown on the ground.
Then the Spirit entered me and made me stand on my feet. He spoke to me and said, “Go, shut yourself up in your house. As for you, human being, the people will tie you up with ropes. They will tie you up, and you will not be able to go out among them. Also, I will make your tongue stick to the roof of your mouth. Then you will be silent. And you will not be able to argue with the people, even though they turn against me. But when I speak to you, I will open your mouth. And you will say, ‘The Lord God says this.’ Whoever will listen, let him listen. Whoever refuses, let him refuse. They are a people who turn against me.
4 “Now, human being, get yourself a brick. Put it in front of you and draw a map of Jerusalem on it. Then surround it with an army. Build battle works against the city. Build a road of earth to the top of the city walls. Set up camps around it. Put heavy logs in place to break down the walls. Then get yourself an iron plate. Put it up like an iron wall between you and the city. Turn your face toward the city as if to attack it. Then surround it and attack it. This is a sign to Israel.
“Then lie down on your left side. Take the guilt of Israel on yourself. Their guilt will be on you for the number of days you lie on your left side. I have given you the same number of days as the years of the people’s sin. So you will have the guilt of Israel’s sin on you for 390 days.
“When you have finished these 390 days, lie down a second time. This time lie on your right side. You will then have the guilt of Judah on you. I have given it to you for 40 days. This is a day for each year of their sin. Then you will turn your face toward the army attacking Jerusalem. With your arm bare, you will prophesy against Jerusalem. I will put ropes on you so you cannot turn from one side to the other. This will last until you have finished the days of your attack on Jerusalem.
“Take wheat, barley, beans, small peas and millet seeds. And put them in one bowl. Make them into bread for yourself. You will eat it the 390 days you lie on your side. You will eat eight ounces of food every day. You will eat it at set times. You will drink about two-thirds of a quart of water every day. Drink it at set times. Eat your food as you would eat a barley cake. Bake it over human dung where the people can see.” Then the Lord said, “In the same way Israel will eat unclean food. They will eat it among the nations where I force them to go.”
But I said, “No, Lord God! I have never been made unclean. From the time I was young until now I’ve never eaten anything that died by itself. And I’ve never eaten anything torn by animals. Unclean meat has never entered my mouth.”
“Very well,” he said. “Then I will give you cow’s dung instead of human dung. You may use it for your fire to bake your bread.”
Then the Lord said to me, “Human being, look! I am going to cut off the supply of bread to Jerusalem. They will eat the bread that is measured out to them. And they will worry as they eat it. They will drink water that is measured out to them. And they will be in shock as they drink it. This is because bread and water will be hard to find. And the people will be shocked at the sight of each other. They will become weak because of their sin.
These are the words of Jeremiah son of Hilkiah. He belonged to the family of priests who lived in the town of Anathoth. That town is in the land that belongs to the tribe of Benjamin. The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. This happened during the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king of Judah. The Lord also spoke to Jeremiah while Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah. And the Lord spoke to Jeremiah during the 11 years and 5 months Zedekiah son of Josiah was king of Judah. After that, the people who lived in Jerusalem were taken away as captives out of their country.
The Lord spoke these words to me:
“Before I made you in your mother’s womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a special work. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Then I said, “But Lord God, I don’t know how to speak. I am only a boy.”
But the Lord said to me, “Don’t say, ‘I am only a boy.’ You must go everywhere that I send you. You must say everything I tell you to say. Don’t be afraid of anyone, because I am with you. I will protect you,” says the Lord.
Then the Lord reached out with his hand and touched my mouth. He said to me, “See, I am putting my words in your mouth. Today I have put you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will pull up and tear down, destroy and overthrow. You will build up and plant.”
The Lord spoke this word to me: “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
I answered the Lord and said, “I see a stick of almond wood.”
The Lord said to me, “You have seen correctly! And I am watching to make sure my words come true.”
The Lord spoke his word to me again: “Jeremiah, what do you see?”
I answered the Lord and said, “I see a pot of boiling water. It is tipping over from the north!”
The Lord said to me, “Disaster will come from the north. It will happen to all the people who live in this country. In a short time I will call all of the people in the northern kingdoms,” said the Lord.
“Those kings will come and set up their thrones near the entrance of the gates of Jerusalem. They will attack the city walls around Jerusalem. They will attack all the cities in Judah. And I will announce my judgments against my people. I will do this because of their evil in turning away from me. They offered sacrifices to other gods. And they worshiped idols they had made with their own hands.
“Jeremiah, get ready. Stand up and speak to the people. Tell them everything I tell you to say. Don’t be afraid of the people. If you are afraid of them, I will give you good reason to be afraid of them. Today I am going to make you a strong city, an iron pillar, a bronze wall. You will be able to stand against everyone in the land: Judah’s kings, officers, priests and the people of the land. They will fight against you. But they will not defeat you. This is because I am with you, and I will save you!” says the Lord.
In the same way, you wives should accept the authority of your husbands. Then, if some husbands have not obeyed God’s teaching, they will be persuaded to believe. You will not need to say a word to them. They will be persuaded by the way their wives live. Your husbands will see the pure lives that you live with your respect for God. It is not fancy hair, gold jewelry, or fine clothes that should make you beautiful. No, your beauty should come from within you—the beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. This beauty will never disappear, and it is worth very much to God. It was the same with the holy women who lived long ago and followed God. They made themselves beautiful in this way. They accepted the authority of their husbands. Sarah obeyed Abraham, her husband, and called him her master. And you women are true children of Sarah if you always do what is right and are not afraid.
In the same way, you husbands should live with your wives in an understanding way. You should show respect to them. They are weaker than you. But God gives them the same blessing that he gives you—the grace that gives true life. Do this so that nothing will stop your prayers.
Finally, all of you should live together in peace. Try to understand each other. Love each other as brothers. Be kind and humble. Do not do wrong to a person to pay him back for doing wrong to you. Or do not insult someone to pay him back for insulting you. But ask God to bless that person. Do this, because you yourselves were called to receive a blessing. The Scripture says,
“A person must do these things to enjoy life and have many, happy days. He must not say evil things. He must not tell lies. He must stop doing evil and do good. He must look for peace and work for it. The Lord sees the good people. He listens to their prayers. But the Lord is against those who do evil.” Psalm 34:12-16
If you are always trying to do good, no one can really hurt you. But you may suffer for doing right. Even if that happens, you are blessed.
“Don’t be afraid of the things they fear. Do not dread those things. But respect Christ as the holy Lord in your hearts.” Isaiah 8:12-13
Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have. But answer in a gentle way and with respect. Always feel that you are doing right. Then, those who speak evil of your good life in Christ will be made ashamed. It is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong. Yes, it is better, if that is what God wants. Christ himself died for you. And that one death paid for your sins. He was not guilty, but he died for those who are guilty. He did this to bring you all to God. His body was killed, but he was made alive in the spirit. And in the spirit he went and preached to the spirits in prison. These were the spirits who refused to obey God long ago in the time of Noah. God was waiting patiently for them while Noah was building the boat. Only a few people—eight in all—were saved by water. That water is like baptism that now saves you—not the washing of dirt from the body, but the promise made to God from a good heart. And this is because Jesus Christ was raised from death. Now Jesus has gone into heaven and is at God’s right side. He rules over angels, authorities, and powers.
Gather together, you unwanted people. Do it before it’s too late. Do it before you are blown away like chaff. Do it before the Lord’s terrible anger reaches you. Do it before the day of the Lord’s anger comes to you. All you who are not proud, come to the Lord. You who obey his laws, come to him. Do what is right. Learn to be humble. Maybe you will escape on the day the Lord shows his anger.
No one will be left in the city of Gaza. The city of Ashkelon will be destroyed. Ashdod will be empty by noon. And the people of Ekron will be chased away. How terrible it will be for you who live by the Mediterranean Sea, you Philistines! This message from the Lord is for you, people of Canaan, land of the Philistines.
“I will destroy you. No one will be left.” You live in the land by the Mediterranean Sea. It will be a place for shepherds and sheep. Your land will belong to the descendants of Judah who are left alive. There they will let their sheep eat grass. At night they will sleep in the houses of Ashkelon. The Lord their God will come to be with them. He will give them back their riches.
“I heard the country of Moab insult my people. The country of Ammon threatened to take their land.” So the Lord of heaven’s armies, the God of Israel, says, “As surely as I live, Moab will be destroyed like Sodom. Ammon will be destroyed like Gomorrah. Their land will be covered with weeds and salt. It will be destroyed forever. Those of my people who are left alive will take whatever they want from them. Those who are left from my nation will take their land.”
This is what Moab and Ammon get for being proud. This will happen because they insulted and made fun of the people of the Lord of heaven’s armies. Those people will be afraid of the Lord. He will destroy all the gods of the earth. Then those people in faraway places will worship the Lord in their own countries.
“You Cushites also will be killed by my sword.” Then the Lord will turn against the north and punish Assyria. He will destroy Nineveh. It will be dry like a desert. Sheep and goats will lie down there. Wild animals will live there. The owls and crows will sit on the stone pillars that are left standing. Their calls will be heard through the windows. Trash will be in the doorways. The wooden boards of the buildings will be gone. This is the happy and safe city. It thinks there is no one else as strong as it is. But that city will be destroyed. Only animals will stay there. Those who pass by will make fun and shake their fists.
26 At that time people will sing this song in Judah:
We have a strong city. God protects us with its strong walls and defenses. Open the gates, and the good people will enter. They follow God’s good way of living. You, Lord, give true peace. You give peace to those who depend on you. You give peace to those who trust you. So, trust the Lord always. Trust the Lord because he is our Rock forever. But the Lord will destroy the proud city. And he will punish the people living there. He will bring that high city down to the ground. He throws it down into the dust. Then those who were hurt by the city will walk on its ruins. Those who were made poor by the city will trample it under their feet.
The path of life of the people who are right with God is level. Lord, you make the way of life smooth for those people. But, Lord, we are waiting for your way of justice. Our souls want to remember you and your name. My soul wants to be with you at night. And my spirit wants to be with you at the dawn of every day. When your way of justice comes to the land, people of the world will learn the right way of living. An evil person will not learn to do good even if you show him kindness. He will continue doing evil, even if he lives in a good world. He never sees the Lord’s greatness. Lord, you are ready to punish those people. But they do not see that. Lord, show them your strong love for your people. Then the evil people will be ashamed. Burn them in the fire you have prepared for your enemies. Lord, all our success is because of what you have done. So give us peace. Lord, our God, other masters besides you have ruled us. But we honor only you. Those masters are now dead. Their ghosts will not rise from death. You decided to destroy them. And you destroyed any memory of them. Lord, you multiplied the number of your people. You multiplied them and brought honor to yourself. You made the borders of the land wide. Lord, people remember you when they are in trouble. They say quiet prayers to you when you punish them. Lord, when we are with you, we are like a woman giving birth to a baby. She cries and has pain from the birth. In the same way, we had pain. We gave birth, but only to wind. We don’t bring salvation to the land. We don’t make new people for the world. Your people have died, but they will live again. Their bodies will rise from death. Dead people in the ground, get up and be happy! The dew covering you is like the dew of a new day. The ground will give birth to the dead buried in it.
My people, go into your rooms. Shut your doors behind you. Hide in your rooms for a short time. Hide until God’s anger is finished. The Lord will leave his place. He will punish the people of the world for their sins. The earth will show the blood of the people who have been killed. It will not cover the dead any longer.
27 At that time the Lord will judge Leviathan, the gliding snake. He will punish Leviathan, the coiled snake. The Lord will use his great sword, his hard and powerful sword. He will kill the monster in the sea.
In that day people will sing about the pleasant vineyard. “I, the Lord, will care for that vineyard. I will water it at the right time. No one will hurt it. I will guard it day and night. I am not angry. If anyone builds a wall of thornbushes in war, I will march to it and burn it. But if anyone comes to me for safety and wants to make peace with me, he should come and make peace with me.” In the days to come, the people of Jacob will be like a plant with good roots. Israel will grow like a plant beginning to bloom. Then the world will be filled with their children.
The Lord has not hurt his people as he hurt their enemies. His people have not been killed like those who tried to kill them. The Lord will settle his argument with Israel by sending it far away. Like a hot desert wind, he will drive Israel away. This is how Israel’s guilt will be forgiven. This is how its sins will be taken away. Israel will crush the rocks of the altar to dust. No statues or altars will be left standing for the Asherah idols. At that time the strong, walled city will be empty. It will be like a desert. Calves will eat grass there. They will lie down there. They will eat leaves from the branches. The limbs will become dry and break off. Women will use them for firewood. The people refuse to understand. So God will not comfort them. Their Maker will not be kind to them.
At that time the Lord will begin gathering his people one by one. He will gather all his people from the Euphrates River to the brook of Egypt. He will separate them from others as grain is separated from chaff. Many of my people are now lost in Assyria. Some of my people have run away to Egypt. But at that time a great trumpet will be blown. And all those people will come back to Jerusalem. They will bow down before the Lord on that holy mountain.
