Jeremiah 44

God Confronts Judah in Egypt

1 The word that came to Jeremiah for all the Jews living in the land of Egypt, at Migdol, Tahpanhes, Memphis, and the land of Pathros, saying,

2 “This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: You saw all the disaster I brought on Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah. Look at them now, they are ruins with no one living in them.”

3 “Because of the evil they did to provoke Me, burning incense and serving other gods they never knew, they, you, or your fathers.”

4 “I sent My servants the prophets to you again and again, saying, ‘Do not do this disgusting thing that I hate.’”

5 “But they did not listen or pay attention. They did not turn from their evil or stop burning incense to other gods.”

6 “So My wrath and anger were poured out and burned in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem. That is why they are ruins today.”

Why Keep Destroying Yourselves,

7 “So now this is what the LORD, the God of armies, the God of Israel, says: Why are you bringing such great disaster on yourselves, Cutting off from Judah men and women, children and infants, Leaving yourselves with no remnant?”

8 “Why provoke Me with the work of your hands by burning incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you have gone to live, You are cutting yourselves off and making yourselves a curse and disgrace among all the nations of the earth.”

9 “Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the kings of Judah, their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, Committed in the land of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,”

10 “To this day they have not humbled themselves or shown fear. They have not followed My law or My statutes that I set before you and your fathers.”

Judgment Declared in Egypt

11 “Therefore this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: I am setting My face against you for disaster, to cut off all Judah.”

12 “I will take the remnant of Judah who set their faces to go to Egypt to live there, And all of them will perish in Egypt. They will fall by sword and famine, from the least to the greatest.”

13 “I will punish those living in Egypt just as I punished Jerusalem, With sword, famine, and plague.”

14 “So none of the remnant of Judah who came to Egypt to live will escape or survive to return to Judah, Even though they long to return and live there, None will return except a few fugitives.”

The People Defy God

15 Then all the men who knew their wives were burning incense to other gods, Along with all the women standing in a large crowd, All the people living in Pathros in Egypt, answered Jeremiah,

16 “As for the word you spoke to us in the name of the LORD, We will not listen to you!”

17 “We will do everything we promised: Burn incense to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, Just as we and our fathers, our kings and officials did in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem.”

18 “Back then we had plenty of food and were well off and saw no disaster.”

19 “And when we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, We lacked everything and were destroyed by sword and famine.”

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, men and women, who were answering him:

Jeremiah’s Final Rebuke

21 “The incense you burned in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, You, your fathers, your kings, your officials, and the people of the land, Did not the LORD remember it, Did it not come to His mind?”

22 “The LORD could no longer bear it because of your evil deeds and disgusting practices. That is why your land became a ruin, a desolation and a curse, without inhabitant, as it is today.”

23 “Because you burned incense and sinned against the LORD, And did not obey His voice or walk in His law, statutes, and testimonies, This disaster happened to you, as it is today.”

No Turning Back

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women: “Hear the word of the LORD, all Judah living in the land of Egypt.”

25 “This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: You and your wives have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, ‘We will surely carry out our vows to burn incense to the queen of heaven.’ Go ahead, confirm your vows and perform them!”

26 “Therefore hear the word of the LORD, all Judah living in Egypt: I swear by My great name,” says the LORD, “that My name will never again be spoken by any man of Judah in Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord GOD lives.’”

27 “I am watching over them, not for good, but for disaster. All the men of Judah in Egypt will perish by sword and famine until they are gone.”

28 “Only a few will escape the sword and return from Egypt to Judah. Then the whole remnant of Judah who went to Egypt to live will know whose word stands, Mine or theirs.”

The Final Sign

29 “This will be the sign to you,” declares the LORD, “that I will punish you in this place, So you will know that My words against you for disaster will surely stand.”

30 “This is what the LORD says: I am about to hand Pharaoh Hophra king of Egypt over to his enemies, To those who seek his life, Just as I handed Zedekiah king of Judah over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, His enemy who sought his life.”