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Jeremiah 7
New International Version

### False Religion Worthless

7 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Stand(A) at the gate of the Lord’s house and there proclaim this message:

“‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the Lord. 3 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways(B) and your actions, and I will let you live(C) in this place. 4 Do not trust(D) in deceptive(E) words and say, “This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord!” 5 If you really change(F) your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly,(G) 6 if you do not oppress(H) the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood(I) in this place, and if you do not follow other gods(J) to your own harm, 7 then I will let you live in this place, in the land(K) I gave your ancestors(L) for ever and ever. 8 But look, you are trusting(M) in deceptive(N) words that are worthless.

9 “‘Will you steal(O) and murder,(P) commit adultery(Q) and perjury,[a](R) burn incense to Baal(S) and follow other gods(T) you have not known, 10 and then come and stand(U) before me in this house,(V) which bears my Name, and say, “We are safe”—safe to do all these detestable things?(W) 11 Has this house,(X) which bears my Name, become a den of robbers(Y) to you? But I have been watching!(Z) declares the Lord.

12 “‘Go now to the place in Shiloh(AA) where I first made a dwelling(AB) for my Name,(AC) and see what I did(AD) to it because of the wickedness of my people Israel. 13 While you were doing all these things, declares the Lord, I spoke(AE) to you again and again,(AF) but you did not listen;(AG) I called(AH) you, but you did not answer.(AI) 14 Therefore, what I did to Shiloh(AJ) I will now do to the house that bears my Name,(AK) the temple(AL) you trust in, the place I gave to you and your ancestors. 15 I will thrust you from my presence,(AM) just as I did all your fellow Israelites, the people of Ephraim.’(AN)

16 “So do not pray for this people nor offer any plea(AO) or petition for them; do not plead with me, for I will not listen(AP) to you. 17 Do you not see what they are doing in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem? 18 The children gather wood, the fathers light the fire, and the women knead the dough and make cakes to offer to the Queen of Heaven.(AQ) They pour out drink offerings(AR) to other gods to arouse(AS) my anger. 19 But am I the one they are provoking?(AT) declares the Lord. Are they not rather harming themselves, to their own shame?(AU)

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign(AV) Lord says: My anger(AW) and my wrath will be poured(AX) out on this place—on man and beast, on the trees of the field and on the crops of your land—and it will burn and not be quenched.(AY)

21 “‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices(AZ) and eat(BA) the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commands(BB) about burnt offerings and sacrifices,(BC) 23 but I gave them this command:(BD) Obey(BE) me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.(BF) Walk in obedience to all(BG) I command you, that it may go well(BH) with you. 24 But they did not listen(BI) or pay attention;(BJ) instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.(BK) They went backward(BL) and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and again(BM) I sent you my servants(BN) the prophets.(BO) 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention.(BP) They were stiff-necked(BQ) and did more evil than their ancestors.’(BR)

27 “When you tell(BS) them all this, they will not listen(BT) to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.(BU) 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction.(BV) Truth(BW) has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

29 “‘Cut off(BX) your hair and throw it away; take up a lament(BY) on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandoned(BZ) this generation that is under his wrath.

### The Valley of Slaughter

30 “‘The people of Judah have done evil(CA) in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idols(CB) in the house that bears my Name and have defiled(CC) it. 31 They have built the high places of Topheth(CD) in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(CE) to burn their sons and daughters(CF) in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.(CG) 32 So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter,(CH) for they will bury(CI) the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. 33 Then the carcasses(CJ) of this people will become food(CK) for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.(CL) 34 I will bring an end to the sounds(CM) of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom(CN) in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,(CO) for the land will become desolate.(CP)

#### Footnotes

1. Jeremiah 7:9 Or and swear by false gods

#### Cross references

1. Jeremiah 7:2 : Jer 17:19
2. Jeremiah 7:3 : Jer 18:11; 26:13; 35:15
3. Jeremiah 7:3 : ver 7
4. Jeremiah 7:4 : S Job 15:31
5. Jeremiah 7:4 : ver 8; Jer 28:15; Mic 3:11
6. Jeremiah 7:5 : ver 3; Jer 18:11; 26:13; 35:15
7. Jeremiah 7:5 : S Ex 22:22; S Lev 25:17; S Isa 1:17
8. Jeremiah 7:6 : S Jer 5:28; Eze 22:7
9. Jeremiah 7:6 : S 2Ki 21:16; Jer 2:34; 19:4; 22:3
10. Jeremiah 7:6 : S Ex 20:3; S Dt 8:19
11. Jeremiah 7:7 : S Dt 4:40
12. Jeremiah 7:7 : S Jos 1:6
13. Jeremiah 7:8 : S Job 15:31
14. Jeremiah 7:8 : S ver 4
15. Jeremiah 7:9 : Ex 20:15
16. Jeremiah 7:9 : Ex 20:13
17. Jeremiah 7:9 : Ex 20:14; S Nu 25:1
18. Jeremiah 7:9 : Ex 20:16; S Lev 19:12; Zec 8:17; Mal 3:5
19. Jeremiah 7:9 : S Isa 1:13; Jer 11:13, 17; 32:29
20. Jeremiah 7:9 : S Ex 20:3; Hos 2:13
21. Jeremiah 7:10 : S Isa 48:1
22. Jeremiah 7:10 : ver 30; 2Ki 21:4-5; Jer 23:11; 32:34; Eze 23:38-39
23. Jeremiah 7:10 : Eze 33:25
24. Jeremiah 7:11 : Isa 56:7
25. Jeremiah 7:11 : Mt 21:13*; Mk 11:17*; Lk 19:46*
26. Jeremiah 7:11 : Ge 31:50; Jdg 11:10; Jer 29:23; 42:5
27. Jeremiah 7:12 : S Jos 18:1; S 1Sa 2:32
28. Jeremiah 7:12 : S Ex 40:2; S Jos 18:10
29. Jeremiah 7:12 : Da 9:18
30. Jeremiah 7:12 : S 1Sa 4:10-11, 22; Ps 78:60-64
31. Jeremiah 7:13 : Ps 71:17; Isa 48:17; Jer 32:33
32. Jeremiah 7:13 : S 2Ch 36:15
33. Jeremiah 7:13 : S ver 26; S Isa 65:12
34. Jeremiah 7:13 : S Pr 1:24
35. Jeremiah 7:13 : Jer 35:17
36. Jeremiah 7:14 : S Jdg 18:31; S 1Sa 2:32
37. Jeremiah 7:14 : S 1Ki 9:7
38. Jeremiah 7:14 : ver 4; Eze 24:21
39. Jeremiah 7:15 : S Ge 4:14; S Ex 33:15; S 2Ki 17:20; Jer 23:39
40. Jeremiah 7:15 : S Ps 78:67
41. Jeremiah 7:16 : S Ex 32:10; Dt 9:14; Jer 15:1
42. Jeremiah 7:16 : S Nu 23:19
43. Jeremiah 7:18 : Jer 44:17-19
44. Jeremiah 7:18 : S Isa 57:6
45. Jeremiah 7:18 : S Dt 31:17; S 1Ki 14:9
46. Jeremiah 7:19 : Dt 32:21; Jer 44:3
47. Jeremiah 7:19 : S Job 7:20; Jer 9:19; 20:11; 22:22
48. Jeremiah 7:20 : S Isa 30:15
49. Jeremiah 7:20 : S Job 40:11; Jer 42:18; La 2:3-5
50. Jeremiah 7:20 : Jer 6:11-12; La 4:11
51. Jeremiah 7:20 : S Isa 1:31; Jer 11:16; 13:14; 15:6, 14; 17:4, 27; Eze 20:47-48
52. Jeremiah 7:21 : S Jer 6:20; Am 5:21-22
53. Jeremiah 7:21 : S 1Sa 2:12-17; Hos 8:13
54. Jeremiah 7:22 : Isa 43:23
55. Jeremiah 7:22 : S 1Sa 15:22
56. Jeremiah 7:23 : 1Jn 3:23
57. Jeremiah 7:23 : S Ex 19:5
58. Jeremiah 7:23 : S Lev 26:12; S Isa 51:16
59. Jeremiah 7:23 : S 1Ki 8:36; S Ps 119:3
60. Jeremiah 7:23 : S Dt 5:33
61. Jeremiah 7:24 : S Jer 6:10
62. Jeremiah 7:24 : Jer 11:8; 17:23; 34:14
63. Jeremiah 7:24 : S Jer 3:17
64. Jeremiah 7:24 : S Jer 2:19; Eze 37:23
65. Jeremiah 7:25 : S 2Ch 36:15
66. Jeremiah 7:25 : S Isa 20:3
67. Jeremiah 7:25 : S Nu 11:29; Jer 25:4; 35:15
68. Jeremiah 7:26 : ver 13, 24; S 2Ch 36:16; Ps 81:11; Jer 13:11; 22:21; 25:3; 35:15; Eze 20:8, 21
69. Jeremiah 7:26 : S Ex 32:9; Ac 7:51
70. Jeremiah 7:26 : Jer 16:12; Mal 3:7; Lk 11:47
71. Jeremiah 7:27 : Eze 2:7
72. Jeremiah 7:27 : ver 13; Eze 3:7; Zec 7:13
73. Jeremiah 7:27 : S Isa 65:12
74. Jeremiah 7:28 : S Lev 26:23; Zep 3:7
75. Jeremiah 7:28 : S Ps 15:2; S Isa 59:15
76. Jeremiah 7:29 : S Lev 21:5; S Job 1:20
77. Jeremiah 7:29 : S Jer 4:8; S Eze 19:1
78. Jeremiah 7:29 : S Jer 6:30; 12:7; Hos 11:8; Mic 5:3
79. Jeremiah 7:30 : S ver 10; S Lev 18:21
80. Jeremiah 7:30 : S Jer 2:7; S 4:1; Eze 7:20-22
81. Jeremiah 7:30 : S Lev 20:3; Jer 32:34
82. Jeremiah 7:31 : S 2Ki 23:10
83. Jeremiah 7:31 : S Jos 15:8; 2Ch 33:6
84. Jeremiah 7:31 : S Lev 18:21; Eze 16:20
85. Jeremiah 7:31 : Jer 19:5; 32:35; Eze 20:31; Mic 6:7
86. Jeremiah 7:32 : Jer 19:6
87. Jeremiah 7:32 : Jer 19:11
88. Jeremiah 7:33 : S Ge 15:11
89. Jeremiah 7:33 : S Dt 28:26; Eze 29:5
90. Jeremiah 7:33 : Jer 6:11; 14:16
91. Jeremiah 7:34 : S Isa 24:8
92. Jeremiah 7:34 : Rev 18:23
93. Jeremiah 7:34 : Isa 24:7-12; Jer 33:10
94. Jeremiah 7:34 : S Lev 26:34; Zec 7:14; Mt 23:38

New International Version (NIV)

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