16 The Lord said, “Jeremiah, do not pray for these people. Do not cry or pray on their behalf; do not plead with me, for I will not listen to you.
17 Don't you see what they are doing in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?
18 The children gather firewood, the men build fires, and the women mix dough to bake cakes for the goddess they call the Queen of Heaven. They also pour out offerings of wine to other gods, in order to hurt me.
19 But am I really the one they are hurting? No, they are hurting themselves and bringing shame on themselves.
20 And so I, the Sovereign Lord, will pour out my fierce anger on this Temple. I will pour it out on people and animals alike, and even on the trees and the crops. My anger will be like a fire that no one can put out.
21 “My people, some sacrifices you burn completely on the altar, and some you are permitted to eat. But what I, the Lord, say is that you might as well eat them all.
22 I gave your ancestors no commands about burnt offerings or any other kinds of sacrifices when I brought them out of Egypt.