1. This is the Lord’S message to Jeremiah:
2. “Jeremiah, stand at the gate of the Lord’S house. Teach this message at the gate: “‘Hear the message from the Lord, all you people of the nation of Judah. All you who come through these gates to worship the Lord, hear this message.
3. The Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: Change your lives and do good things. If you do this, I will let you live in this place.
4. Don’t trust the lies that some people say. They say, “This is the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord, the Temple of the Lord!”
5. If you change your lives and do good things, I will let you live in this place. You must be fair to each other.
6. You must be fair to strangers. You must help widows and orphans. Don’t kill innocent people! And don’t follow other gods, because they will only ruin your lives.
7. If you obey me, I will let you live in this place. I gave this land to your ancestors for them to keep forever.
8. “‘But you are trusting lies that are worthless.
9. Will you steal and murder? Will you commit adultery? Will you falsely accuse other people? Will you worship the false god Baal and follow other gods that you have not known?
10. If you commit these sins, do you think that you can stand before me in this house that is called by my name? Do you think you can stand before me and say, “We are safe,” just so you can do all these terrible things?
11. This Temple is called by my name. Is this Temple nothing more to you than a hideout for robbers? I have been watching you.’” This message is from the Lord.