Jeremiah 44:16-30 ▼

16 “As for the word you have spoken to us in the name of the LORD {YHWH}, we will not listen to you!

17 Instead, we will do everything we vowed to do: We will burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and offer drink offerings to her, just as we, our fathers, our kings, and our officials did in the cities of Judah (praised) and in the streets of Jerusalem (city of peace). At that time we had plenty of food and good things, and we saw no disaster.

18 But from the time we stopped burning incense to the Queen of Heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have lacked everything and have been perishing by sword and famine.”

19 “Moreover,” said the women, “when we burned incense to the Queen of Heaven and poured out drink offerings to her, was it without our husbands’ knowledge that we made sacrificial cakes in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”

20 Then Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) said to all the people, both men and women, who were answering him,

21 “As for the incense you⁺ burned in the cities of Judah (praised) and in the streets of Jerusalem (city of peace)—you⁺, your⁺ fathers, your⁺ kings, your⁺ officials, and the people of the land—did the LORD {YHWH} not remember and bring this to mind?

22 So the LORD {YHWH} could no longer endure the evil deeds and detestable acts you⁺ committed, and your⁺ land became a desolation, a horror, and an object of cursing, without inhabitant, as it is this day.

23 Because you⁺ burned incense and sinned against the LORD {YHWH} and did not obey the voice of the LORD or walk in His instruction, His statutes, and His testimonies, this disaster has befallen you⁺, as you⁺ see today.”

24 Then Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) said to all the people, including all the women, “Hear the word of the LORD {YHWH}, all those of Judah (praised) who are in the land of Egypt (land of bondage).

25 This is what the LORD {YHWH} of Hosts, the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: As for you⁺ and your⁺ wives, you⁺ have spoken with your⁺ mouths and fulfilled with your⁺ hands your⁺ words: ‘We will surely perform our vows that we have made to burn incense to the Queen of Heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ Go ahead, then, do what you⁺ have promised! Keep your⁺ vows!

26 Nevertheless, hear the word of the LORD {YHWH}, all you people of Judah (praised) living in Egypt (land of bondage): Behold, I have sworn by My great name, says the LORD, that never again will any man of Judah living in the land of Egypt invoke My name or say, ‘As surely as the Lord GOD {Adonai YHWH} lives.’

27 I am watching over them for harm and not for good, and every man of Judah (praised) who is in the land of Egypt (land of bondage) will meet his end by sword or famine, until they are finished off.

28 Those who escape the sword will return from Egypt (land of bondage) to Judah (praised), few in number, and the whole remnant of Judah who went to dwell in the land of Egypt will know whose word will stand, Mine or theirs!

29 This will be a sign to you⁺ that I will punish you⁺ in this place, declares the LORD {YHWH}, so that you⁺ may know that My threats of harm against you⁺ will surely stand.

30 This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: Behold, I will deliver Pharaoh (great house) Hophra (the great house covering evil) king of Egypt (land of bondage) into the hands of his enemies who seek his life, just as I delivered Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) king of Judah (praised) into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), the enemy who was seeking his life.”