“Therefore, the Lord who rules over all says, ‘You have not listened to what I said.

“You say, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets of good news for us here in Babylon.’

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah about the nations.

For I, the Lord, tell you what will happen to the children who are born here in this land and to the men and women who are their mothers and fathers.

“The Lord has told you people who remain in Judah, ‘Do not go to Egypt.’ Be very sure of this: I warn you here and now.

The Lord asked, “How can I leave you unpunished, Jerusalem? Your people have rejected me and have worshiped gods that are not gods at all. Even though I supplied all their needs, they were like an unfaithful wife to me. They went flocking to the houses of prostitutes.

Hear this, you peoples of the earth: ‘Take note! I am about to bring disaster on these people. It will come as punishment for their scheming. For they have paid no attention to what I have said, and they have rejected my law.

Then tell them that the Lord says, ‘It is because your ancestors rejected me and paid allegiance to other gods. They have served them and worshiped them. But they have rejected me and not obeyed my law.

“I made the earth and the people and animals on it by my mighty power and great strength, and I give it to whomever I see fit.

Then Jeremiah answered, “You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the Lord by doing what I have been telling you. Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared.

He will come and attack Egypt. Those who are destined to die of disease will die of disease. Those who are destined to be carried off into exile will be carried off into exile. Those who are destined to die in war will die in war.

The soldiers of Babylonia will stop fighting. They will remain in their fortified cities. They will lose their strength to do battle. They will be as frightened as women. The houses in her cities will be set on fire. The gates of her cities will be broken down.

You have brought all this on yourself, Israel, by deserting the Lord your God when he was leading you along the right path.

I see one destruction after another taking place, so that the whole land lies in ruins. I see our tents suddenly destroyed, their curtains torn down in a mere instant.

They do one act of violence after another, and one deceitful thing after another. They refuse to pay attention to me,” says the Lord.

The Lord gave me knowledge, that I might have understanding. Then he showed me what the people were doing.

But I will completely uproot and destroy any of those nations that will not pay heed,’” says the Lord.

Even the doe abandons her newborn fawn in the field because there is no grass.

I did not send those prophets. Yet they were in a hurry to give their message. I did not tell them anything. Yet they prophesied anyway.

Each of you should merely ask the prophet, ‘What answer did the Lord give you? Or what did the Lord say?’