1. This is the word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah (which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon).
2. The prophet Jeremiah spoke concerning all the people of Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem as follows:
3. “From the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon, king of Judah, until this very day — 23 years — the word of the Lord has come to me, and I have spoken to you time and time again, but you have not obeyed.
4. The Lord sent all His servants the prophets to you time and time again, but you have not obeyed or even paid attention.
5. He announced, ‘Turn, each of you, from your evil way of life and from your evil deeds. Live in the land the Lord gave to you and your ancestors long ago and forever.
6. Do not follow other gods to serve them and to worship them, and do not provoke Me to anger by the work of your hands. Then I will do you no harm.
7. “ ‘But you would not obey Me’ — this is the Lord’s declaration — ‘in order that you might provoke Me to anger by the work of your hands and bring disaster on yourselves.’
8. “Therefore, this is what the Lord of Hosts says: ‘Because you have not obeyed My words,