<p class="bodytext">Then the <sc>Lordsc> told me about<n id="1" /> some men from Anathoth<n id="2" /> who were threatening to kill me.<n id="3" /> They had threatened,<n id="4" /> &#8220;Stop prophesying in the name of the <sc>Lordsc> or we will kill you!&#8221;<n id="5" />

<p class="poetry">They will lay it waste.p> <p class="poetry">It will lie parched<n id="1" /> and empty before me.p> <p class="poetry">The whole land will be laid waste.p> <p class="poetry">But no one living in it will pay any heed.<n id="2" />p>

And I will smash them like wine bottles against one another, children and parents alike.<n id="1" /> I will not show any pity, mercy, or compassion. Nothing will keep me from destroying them,&#8217;<n id="2" /> says the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;p>

<p class="poetry">Why should you be like someone who is helpless,<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">like a champion<n id="2" /> who cannot save anyone?p> <p class="poetry">You are indeed with us,<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">and we belong to you.<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">Do not abandon us!&#8221;p>

And you have acted even more wickedly than your ancestors! Each one of you has followed the stubborn inclinations of your own wicked heart and not obeyed me.<n id="1" />

<p class="poetry">Cursed be the manp> <p class="poetry">who made my father very gladp> <p class="poetry">when he brought him the newsp> <p class="poetry">that a baby boy had been born to him!<n id="1" />p>

<p class="poetry">May that man be like the cities<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">that the <sc>Lordsc> destroyed without showing any mercy.p> <p class="poetry">May he hear a cry of distress in the morningp> <p class="poetry">and a battle cry at noon.p>

<p class="bodytext">&#8220;&#8216;People from other nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another, &#8220;Why has the <sc>Lordsc> done such a thing to this great city?&#8221;

<t /><p class="poetry">Here is what the <sc>Lordsc> says concerning the false prophets:<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">My heart and my mind are deeply disturbed.p> <p class="poetry">I tremble all over.<n id="3" />p> <p class="poetry">I am like a drunk person,p> <p class="poetry">like a person who has had too much wine,<n id="4" />p> <p class="poetry">because of the way the <sc>Lordsc>p> <p class="poetry">and his holy word are being mistreated.<n id="5" />p>

<p class="poetry">&#8220;Do you really think anyone can hide himselfp> <p class="poetry">where I cannot see him?&#8221; the <sc>Lordsc> asks.<n id="1" />p> <p class="poetry">&#8220;Do you not know that I am everywhere?&#8221;<n id="2" />p> <p class="poetry">the <sc>Lordsc> asks.<n id="3" />p>

How long will they go on plotting<n id="1" /> to make my people forget who I am<n id="2" /> through the dreams they tell one another? That is just as bad as what their ancestors<n id="3" /> did when they forgot who I am by worshiping the god Baal.<n id="4" />

I will punish any prophet, priest, or other person who says &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s message is burdensome.&#8221;<n id="1" /> I will punish both that person and his whole family.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

You must no longer say that the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s message is burdensome.<n id="1" /> For what is &#8216;burdensome&#8217;<n id="2" /> really pertains to what a person himself says.<n id="3" /> You are misrepresenting<n id="4" /> the words of our God, the living God, the <sc>Lordsc> who rules over all.<n id="5" />

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 plan great things and you do mighty deeds.<n id="1" /> You see everything people do.<n id="2" /> You reward each of them for the way they live and for the things they do.<n id="3" />

For I, the <sc>Lordsc>, promise: &#8220;David will never lack a successor to occupy<n id="1" /> the throne over the nation of Israel.<n id="2" />

Nor will the Levitical priests ever lack someone to stand before me and continually offer up burnt offerings, sacrifice cereal offerings, and offer the other sacrifices.&#8221;&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

So the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel who rules over all says, &#8216;Jonadab son of Rechab will never lack a male descendant to serve me.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

Then the officials said to Baruch, &#8220;You and Jeremiah must go and hide. You must not let anyone know where you are.&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

But I will rescue you when it happens.<n id="1" /> I, the <sc>Lordsc>, affirm it!<n id="2" /> You will not be handed over to those whom you fear.<n id="3" />