2. “Listen to the words of this agreement. Tell the people of Judah about it. Tell it to those living in Jerusalem.
3. Tell them this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Trouble will come to anyone who does not obey this agreement.
4. I am talking about the agreement I made with your ancestors. I made it with them when I brought them out of Egypt. Egypt was like a furnace for melting iron!’ I told them, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you. If you do this, you will be my people. And I will be your God.
5. Then I will keep the promise I made to your ancestors. I promised to give them a land where much food grows.’ And you are living in that country today!”I, Jeremiah, answered, “Amen, Lord.”
6. The Lord said this to me: “Prophesy this message in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the words of this agreement. Then obey them!
7. I warned your ancestors to obey me when I brought them out of Egypt. I have warned them again and again to this very day!
8. But your ancestors did not listen to me. They were stubborn and did what their own evil hearts wanted. The agreement says curses will come upon them if they don’t obey it. So I made all those curses come upon them! I commanded them to obey the agreement, but they did not.’”
9. Then the Lord said to me, “I know the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem have made secret plans.
10. They are doing the same sins their ancestors did! Their ancestors refused to listen to my message. They followed and worshiped other gods. The families of Israel and Judah have broken the agreement I made with their ancestors.
11. So this is what the Lord says: ‘I will soon bring a disaster on the people of Judah. They will not be able to escape! And they will cry to me for help. But I will not listen to them!
12. The people living in the towns of Judah and the city of Jerusalem will pray to their idols for help. They will burn incense to their idols. But those idols will not be able to help when that terrible time comes!
13. The people of Judah have as many idols as there are towns in Judah. They have built many altars for worshiping that shameful god Baal. There are as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem!’