Jeremiah 25:1-7

This is the message that came to Jeremiah about the people of Judah. He received this prophecy in the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah and the first year of Nebuchadnezzar’s reign in Babylon. Jeremiah the prophet spoke to all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, saying: “For the last twenty-three years, ever since the thirteenth year that Josiah son of Amon was king, I have been warning you and continually prophesying to you the words of YAHWEH, but you have not listened. Additionally, YAHWEH has sent all his servants the prophets to you over and over again, but still you have neither listened nor humbled your hearts to pay attention to them. They told you, ‘If you turn, each person, from your evil ways and from your evil doings, YAHWEH will let you remain in the land that he gave you and your ancestors for all time. Do not run after other gods to serve and worship them.’ “ ‘Do not provoke me to anger by worshiping idols your own hands have made, and I will do you no harm,’ declares YAHWEH. ‘But you have not listened to me and have provoked my anger by worshiping idols your own hands have made, to your own harm.’ ”