11. So this is what the Lord says: ‘I will soon bring a disaster on the people of Judah. They will not be able to escape! And they will cry to me for help. But I will not listen to them!
12. The people living in the towns of Judah and the city of Jerusalem will pray to their idols for help. They will burn incense to their idols. But those idols will not be able to help when that terrible time comes!
13. The people of Judah have as many idols as there are towns in Judah. They have built many altars for worshiping that shameful god Baal. There are as many altars as there are streets in Jerusalem!’
14. “As for you, Jeremiah, don’t pray for these people. Don’t cry out for them or ask anything for them. I will not listen when they call to me in the time of their trouble.
15. “What is my lover, Judah, doing in my Temple?She makes many evil plans.Does she think animal sacrifices will stop her punishment?When you do your evil, then you are happy.”
16. The Lord called you “a leafy olive tree,with beautiful fruit to look at.”But with a strong stormthe Lord will set that tree on fire.And its branches will be burned up.