1. These are the words that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah:
2. “Listen to the words of this agreement. Tell the people of Judah about it. Tell it to those living in Jerusalem.
3. Tell them this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Trouble will come to anyone who does not obey this agreement.
4. I am talking about the agreement I made with your ancestors. I made it with them when I brought them out of Egypt. Egypt was like a furnace for melting iron!’ I told them, ‘Obey me and do everything I command you. If you do this, you will be my people. And I will be your God.
5. Then I will keep the promise I made to your ancestors. I promised to give them a land where much food grows.’ And you are living in that country today!”I, Jeremiah, answered, “Amen, Lord.”
6. The Lord said this to me: “Prophesy this message in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem: ‘Listen to the words of this agreement. Then obey them!
7. I warned your ancestors to obey me when I brought them out of Egypt. I have warned them again and again to this very day!
8. But your ancestors did not listen to me. They were stubborn and did what their own evil hearts wanted. The agreement says curses will come upon them if they don’t obey it. So I made all those curses come upon them! I commanded them to obey the agreement, but they did not.’”