15 The Lord says to the people of Judah,“What right do you have to be in my temple, my beloved people?Many of you have done wicked things.Can your acts of treachery be so easily canceled by sacred offeringsthat you take joy in doing evil even while you make them?
16 I, the Lord, once called you a thriving olive tree,one that produced beautiful fruit.But I will set you on fire,fire that will blaze with a mighty roar.Then all your branches will be good for nothing.
17 For though I, the Lord who rules over all, planted you in the land,I now decree that disaster will come on youbecause the nations of Israel and Judah have done eviland have made me angry by offering sacrifices to the god Baal.”
18 The Lord gave me knowledge, that I might have understanding.Then he showed me what the people were doing.
19 Before this I had been like a docile lamb ready to be led to the slaughter. I did not know they were making plans to kill me. I did not know they were saying,“Let’s destroy the tree along with its fruit!Let’s remove Jeremiah from the world of the livingso people will not even be reminded of him any more.”
20 So I said to the Lord,“O Lord who rules over all, you are a just judge!You examine people’s hearts and minds.I want to see you pay them back for what they have donebecause I trust you to vindicate my cause.”
21 Then the Lord told me about some men from Anathoth who were threatening to kill me. They had threatened, “Stop prophesying in the name of the Lord or we will kill you!”