1. The word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah (the first year of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon).
2. This word the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem:
3. Since the thirteenth year of Josiah, son of Amon, king of Judah, to this day—that is, twenty-three years—the word of the Lord has come to me and I spoke to you untiringly, but you would not listen.
4. The Lord kept sending you all his servants the prophets, but you refused to listen or pay attention
5. to this message: Turn back, each of you, from your evil way and from your evil deeds; then you shall remain in the land which the Lord gave you and your ancestors, from of old and forever.
6. Do not follow other gods to serve and bow down to them; do not provoke me with the works of your hands, or I will bring evil upon you.