But you banished<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s priests, Aaron&#8217;s descendants, and the Levites, and appointed your own priests just as the surrounding nations do! Anyone who comes to consecrate himself with a young bull or seven rams becomes a priest of these fake gods!<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">I predestine you to die by the sword,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">all of you will kneel down at the slaughtering block,<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">because I called to you, and you did not respond,p> <p class="poetry">I spoke and you did not listen.p> <p class="poetry">You did evil before me;<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">you chose to do what displeases me.&#8221;p>

Recently, however, you yourselves<n id="1" /> showed a change of heart and did what is pleasing to me. You granted your fellow countrymen their freedom and you made a covenant to that effect in my presence in the house that I have claimed for my own.<n id="2" />

<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;