Jeremiah 34:8-17 ▼

8 The word that came to Jeremiah from YHWH after King Zedekiah had cut a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim to them liberty,

9 that each man should send forth free his manservant and his maidservant, a Hebrew or a Hebrewess, that none of them should lay service on a Jew, his fellow man.

10 And they agreed, all the princes and all the people who had come into this covenant, to send forth free each man his manservant and his maidservant, so as not to lay service on them anymore. And they agreed and sent them forth.

11 And they turned around after thus, the menservants and the maidservants made return whom they had sent forth free, and they subjected them as menservants and as maidservants.

12 And the word of YHWH came to Jeremiah from YHWH, saying:

13 “Thus says YHWH, the God of Israel: I cut a covenant with your? fathers in the day that I brought them from the land of Egypt, from the house of slaves, saying:

14 At the end of seven years you? will send forth each man his brother, the Hebrew who has been sold to him. When he has served you six years, then you will send him forth free from you. Your? fathers did not listen to Me and they did not incline their ear.

15 And you? turned this day and did right in My eyes, proclaiming liberty, each man to his neighbor. And you? cut a covenant before Me in the house upon which My name is called.

16 And you? turned back and profaned My name, and each man his manservant and his maidservant whom he had sent forth free according to their soul, you? made return and subjected them to become for you? as menservants and maidservants.

17 Therefore, thus says YHWH: You? have not listened to Me in proclaiming liberty, each man to his brother, and each man to his neighbor. Behold, I am proclaiming to you? liberty, a declaration of YHWH, to the sword, to the pestilence, and to the famine! And I will give have to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth.