<p class="bodytext">I answered, &#8220;Oh, Lord <sc>Godsc>,<n id="1" /> I really<n id="2" /> do not know how to speak well enough for that,<n id="3" /> for I am too young.&#8221;<n id="4" />

When they have drunk it, they will stagger to and fro<n id="1" /> and act insane. For I will send wars sweeping through them.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

But listen to what I say to you and to all these people.<n id="1" />

For I know what I have planned for you,&#8217; says the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="1" /> &#8216;I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you<n id="2" /> a future filled with hope.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;For I, the <sc>Lordsc>, say:<n id="1" /> &#8216;I will surely bring on these people all the good fortune that I am hereby promising them. I will be just as sure to do that as I have been in bringing all this great disaster on them.<n id="2" />

All the nations will hear about all the good things which I will do to them. This city will bring me fame, honor, and praise before them for the joy that I bring it. The nations will tremble in awe at all the peace and prosperity that I will provide for it.&#8217;<n id="1" />p>

The <sc>Lordsc> said to me, &#8220;Do not say, &#8216;I am too young.&#8217; But go<n id="1" /> to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you.

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;But you, Jeremiah,<n id="1" /> get yourself ready!<n id="2" /> Go and tell these people everything I instruct you to say. Do not be terrified of them, or I will give you good reason to be terrified of them.<n id="3" />

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;Come back to me, my wayward sons,&#8221; says the <sc>Lordsc>, &#8220;for I am your true master.<n id="1" /> If you do,<n id="2" /> I will take one of you from each town and two of you from each family group, and I will bring you back to Zion.

<p class="poetry">Raise a signal flag that tells people to go to Zion.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">Run for safety! Do not delay!p> <p class="poetry">For I am about to bring disaster out of the north.p> <p class="poetry">It will bring great destruction.<n id="2" />p>

Do you think this temple I have claimed as my own<n id="1" /> is to be a hideout for robbers?<n id="2" /> You had better take note!<n id="3" /> I have seen for myself what you have done! says the <sc>Lordsc>.

Maybe they will pay attention and each of them will stop living the evil way they do.<n id="1" /> If they do that, then I will forgo destroying them<n id="2" /> as I had intended to do because of the wicked things they have been doing.<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.

&#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel has a message for you.<n id="1" /> &#8216;I made a covenant with your ancestors<n id="2" /> when I brought them out of Egypt where they had been slaves.<n id="3" /> It stipulated,<n id="4" />

Then say, &#8216;In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again because of the judgments<n id="1" /> I am ready to bring upon her; they will grow faint.&#8217;&#8221;p> <p class="bodytext">The prophecies of Jeremiah end here.<n id="2" />p>

<p class="poetry">Hear this, you peoples of the earth:<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8216;Take note!<n id="2" /> I am about to bring disaster on these people.p> <p class="poetry">It will come as punishment for their scheming.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">For they have paid no attention to what I have said,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">and they have rejected my law.p>

Even if they fast, I will not hear their cries for help. Even if they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them.<n id="1" /> Instead, I will kill them through wars, famines, and plagues.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

So now, tell the people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem<n id="1" /> this: The <sc>Lordsc> says, &#8216;I am preparing to bring disaster on you! I am making plans to punish you.<n id="2" /> So, every one of you, stop the evil things you have been doing.<n id="3" /> Correct the way you have been living and do what is right.&#8217;<n id="4" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">So<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lord,sc> the God of Israel, spoke to me in a vision.<n id="2" /> &#8220;Take this cup from my hand. It is filled with the wine of my wrath.<n id="3" /> Take it and make the nations to whom I send you drink it.

<p class="bodytext">Then the <sc>Lordsc> said to me,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Tell them that the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all<n id="2" /> says,<n id="3" /> &#8216;Drink this cup<n id="4" /> until you get drunk and vomit. Drink until you fall down and can&#8217;t get up.<n id="5" /> For I will send wars sweeping through you.&#8217;<n id="6" />