So, now the <sc>Lordsc> says,<n id="1" /> &#8216;You have not listened to me. But<n id="2" /> you have made me angry by the things that you have done.<n id="3" /> Thus you have brought harm on yourselves.&#8217;p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Therefore, the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all<n id="1" /> says, &#8216;You have not listened to what I said.<n id="2" />

This day<n id="1" /> I have told you what he said.<n id="2" /> But you do not want to obey the <sc>Lordsc> by doing what he sent me to tell you.<n id="3" />

Over and over again<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> has sent<n id="2" /> his servants the prophets to you. But you have not listened or paid attention.<n id="3" />

You must pay attention to the exhortations of my servants the prophets. I have sent them to you over and over again.<n id="1" /> But you have not paid any attention to them.

Now he has brought it about. The <sc>Lordsc> has done just as he threatened to do. This disaster has happened because you people sinned against the <sc>Lordsc> and did not obey him.<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">However, you must confess that you have done wrong,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">and that you have rebelled against the <sc>Lordsc> your God.p> <p class="poetry">You must confess<n id="2" /> that you have given yourself to<n id="3" /> foreign gods under every green tree,p> <p class="poetry">and have not obeyed my commands,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>.p>

You also have done all these things, says the <sc>Lordsc>, and I have spoken to you over and over again.<n id="1" /> But you have not listened! You have refused to respond when I called you to repent!<n id="2" />

&#8220;For the last twenty-three years, from the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was ruling in Judah<n id="1" /> until now, the <sc>Lordsc> has been speaking to me. I told you over and over again<n id="2" /> what he said.<n id="3" /> But you would not listen.

Then the priests and the prophets made their charges before the officials and all the people. They said,<n id="1" /> &#8220;This man should be condemned to die<n id="2" /> because he prophesied against this city. You have heard him do so<n id="3" /> with your own ears.&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">Then Jeremiah made his defense before all the officials and all the people.<n id="1" /> &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> sent me to prophesy everything you have heard me say against this temple and against this city.

For they have not paid attention to what I said to them through my servants the prophets whom I sent to them over and over again,&#8217;<n id="1" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="2" /> &#8216;And you exiles<n id="3" /> have not paid any attention to them either,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="4" />

<p class="bodytext">Then Jeremiah spoke to the Rechabite community, &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all<n id="1" /> says, &#8216;You have obeyed the orders of your ancestor Jonadab. You have followed all his instructions. You have done exactly as he commanded you.&#8217;

You have sacrificed to other gods! You have sinned against the <sc>Lordsc>! You have not obeyed the <sc>Lordsc>! You have not followed his laws, his statutes, and his decrees! That is why this disaster that is evident to this day has happened to you.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

So I, the <sc>Lordsc>, say: &#8220;You have not really obeyed me and granted freedom to your neighbor and fellow countryman.<n id="1" /> Therefore, I will grant you freedom, the freedom<n id="2" /> to die in war, or by starvation or disease. I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm it!<n id="3" /> I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to you.<n id="4" />

Jonadab son of Rechab ordered his descendants not to drink wine. His orders have been carried out.<n id="1" /> To this day his descendants have drunk no wine because they have obeyed what their ancestor commanded them. But I<n id="2" /> have spoken to you over and over again,<n id="3" /> but you have not obeyed me!

I sent all my servants the prophets to warn you over and over again. They said, &#8220;Every one of you, stop doing the evil things you have been doing and do what is right.<n id="1" /> Do not pay allegiance to other gods<n id="2" /> and worship them. Then you can continue to live in this land that I gave to you and your ancestors.&#8221; But you did not pay any attention or listen to me.