Jeremiah 11

1 The word that came unto Jeremiah from Yahweh saying:

This is the Lord's message that came to Jeremiah:

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

Listen to the terms of this agreement, and then repeat them to the people of Judah and Jerusalem.

3 and say thou unto them, Thus, saith Yahweh God of Israel, —Accursed, is the man who will not hear the words of this covenant;

Tell them this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: You are cursed if you don't obey the terms of this agreement.

4 which I commanded your fathers—in the day when I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt out of the smelting-pot of iron—saying, Hearken unto my voice and do them, According to all that I may command you, —So shall ye become my people, And, I, will become, your God:

I made this agreement with your forefathers when I led them out of Egypt, out of the iron-making furnace, saying, “Obey me, and do everything I order you to do, and you will be my people, and I will be your God.”

5 That the oath may be established which I sware to your fathers, To give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as at this day. Then answered I and said, Amen, O Yahweh!

I did this to fulfill what I promised to your forefathers—to give them a land flowing with milk and honey, as it still is today. Amen, Lord, I answered.

6 And Yahweh said unto me, —Proclaim thou all, these words, throughout the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem saying, —Hear ye the words of this covenant, and do them,

Then the Lord told me, Go and publicly announce this whole message in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Pay attention the terms of this agreement and do what they say.

7 For I, solemnly took your fathers to witness, in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt—even until this day, betimes, taking them to witness saying, —Hearken ye unto my voice.

From the time I led your forefathers out of Egypt until now, I seriously warned them time and again, saying, “Do what I tell you!”

8 Howbeit they hearkened not neither inclined their ear, but walked severally in the stubbornness of their wicked heart, —so then I brought upon them all the words of this covenant which I commanded them to do, but they did them not.

But they refused to obey, they wouldn't listen. Instead each of them followed their own stubborn and evil thinking. I had ordered them to follow the agreement, but they didn't do so. So I brought down on them all the curses contained in the agreement.

9 Yahweh therefore said unto me, —There is found a conspiracy, among the men of Judah, and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem:

The Lord told me, There is a rebellion happening among the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem.

10 They have turned back unto the iniquities of their first fathers who refused to hear my words, yea, they themselves, have walked after other gods to serve them, —the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken my covenant which I solemnised with their fathers.

They have gone back to the sins of their forefathers who refused to obey what I said. They have gone to worship other gods. The people of Israel and Judah have broken the agreement I made with their forefathers.

11 Therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me! bringing upon them calamity, which they shall not be able to escape, —and though they make outcry unto me, yet will I not hearken unto them.

So this is what the Lord says: I'm going to bring upon them a disaster they won't be able to escape. They will cry out to me for help, but I won't listen to them.

12 Then shall the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, go and make outcry unto the gods to whom they have been burning incense, —but they will not at all, save, them in the time of their calamity;

Then the people in the towns of Judah and Jerusalem will go and call out for help to the gods they've been burning incense to, but these gods won't be able to do anything to save them in their time of trouble.

13 for according to the number of thy cities, have become thy gods O Judah, —and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem, have ye set up altars to the Shameful thing, altars for burning incense to Baal.

You certainly have as many gods as you have towns, Judah! You have built shameful altars, altars to burn incense to Baal. You have as many altars as the streets of Jerusalem.

14 Thou, therefore do not pray for this people, Neither lift thou up for them cry or prayer, —For I am not going to hear in the time that they cry unto me concerning their calamity.

Jeremiah, don't pray for these people. Don't cry for help or offer a prayer on their behalf, because I won't be listening when they cry out to me in the time of their trouble.

15 Why hath the beloved in mine own house, done an abomination? Shall, vows and holy flesh, take away from thee thy wickednesses, or shalt thou by these, escape?

What right do the people I love have to be in my Temple when they've done so many evil things? Do you think the meat of sacrifices will save you? When disaster strikes will you be happy?

16 A green olive-tree, fair with goodly fruit, did Yahweh call thy name, —with the noise of a great tumult, hath he kindled fire upon it, and the branches thereof shall be broken.

At one time the Lord said you were a healthy olive tree, full of leaves and bearing beautiful fruit. But with a great noise he will set fire to it, destroying its branches.

17 But, Yahweh of hosts, who planted thee hath pronounced against thee calamity, —on account of the wickedness of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah which they have wrought for themselves, provoking me to anger by burning incense to Baal.

I, the Lord Almighty, was the one who planted you, but I have announced you will be destroyed because of the evil that the people of Israel and Judah have committed, making me angry by burning incense to Baal.

18 Now when Yahweh, let me know and I did know, then, didst thou shew me their doings.

The Lord told me about it, so I knew. Then he showed me what they were actually doing.

19 But, I, was as a gentle lamb that is to be led to the slaughter, —and I knew not that against me, they had devised devices [saying] —Let us destroy the tree with its fruit Yea let us cut him off out of the land of the living, And, his name, shall be remembered no more!

I was like a trusting little lamb being led away to be slaughtered. I didn't know that they had been plotting against me. They said, “Let's destroy the tree along with everything it produces. Let's kill him so no one will even remember his name.”

20 But, O Yahweh of hosts Who judgest righteously, Who triest affections and intellect, —Let me see thine avenging upon them, For unto thee, have I revealed my cause.

I appeal to you, Lord Almighty, you who judge rightly and examine peoples thoughts and feelings, let me see how you punish them, because I've left my case in your hands.

21 Therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh Concerning the men of Anathoth, who are seeking thy life, saying, —Thou shalt not prophesy in the name of Yahweh, So shalt thou not die by our hand:

So this is what the Lord says about the people of Anathoth who are trying to kill you, telling you, “Don't prophesy in the name of the Lord, or we'll kill you.”

22 Therefore, Thus saith Yahweh of hosts, —Behold me! bringing punishment upon them, The young men, shall die by the sword, Their sons and their daughters, shall die by famine;

This is the reply of the Lord Almighty: I will punish them. Their young men will killed by the sword, their sons and daughters will be killed by famine.

23 And remnant, shall they have none, —For I will bring calamity against the men of Anathoth, in the year of their visitation.

There won't be anyone left because I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth at the time when they're punished.