1 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord:
2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.
3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.
4 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you,
5 and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened),
6 then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.’ ”
7 The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord.