17 “But rather we will certainly acarry out every word that has proceeded from our mouths, 1by burning 2sacrifices to the bqueen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, just as cwe ourselves, our forefathers, our kings and our princes did in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; for then we had dplenty of 3food and were well off and saw no 4misfortune.

18 “But since we stopped burning 1sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have alacked everything and have 2met our end by the sword and by famine.”

19 “And,” said the women, “when we were aburning 1sacrifices to the queen of heaven and 2were pouring out drink offerings to her, was it bwithout our husbands that we made for her sacrificial cakes 3in her image and poured out drink offerings to her?”

Calamity for the Jews

20 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, to the men and women—even to all the people who were giving him such an answer—saying,

21 “As for the 1asmoking sacrifices that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the bstreets of Jerusalem, you and your forefathers, your kings and your princes, and the people of the land, did not the Lord cremember them and did not all this come into His 2mind?

22 “So the Lord was ano longer able to endure it, bbecause of the evil of your deeds, because of the abominations which you have committed; thus your land has become a cruin, an object of horror and a curse, without an inhabitant, as it is this day.

23 “Because you have burned 1sacrifices and have sinned against the Lord and anot obeyed the voice of the Lord or bwalked in His law, His statutes or His testimonies, therefore this ccalamity has befallen you, as it has this day.”

24 Then Jeremiah said to all the people, including all the women, “aHear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are bin the land of Egypt,

25 thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, as follows: ‘As for you and your wives, you have spoken with your mouths and fulfilled it with your hands, saying, “We will acertainly perform our vows that we have vowed, to burn 1sacrifices to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her.” 2bGo ahead and confirm your vows, and certainly perform your vows!’

26 “1Nevertheless hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are living in the land of Egypt, ‘Behold, I have asworn by My great name,’ says the Lord, ‘bnever shall My name be invoked again by the mouth of any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, “cAs the Lord 2God lives.”

27 ‘Behold, I am watching over them afor harm and not for good, and ball the men of Judah who are in the land of Egypt will 1meet their end by the sword and by famine until they 2are completely gone.

28 ‘aThose who escape the sword will return out of the land of Egypt to the land of Judah 1bfew in number. Then all the remnant of Judah who have gone to the land of Egypt to reside there will know cwhose word will stand, Mine or theirs.

29 ‘This will be the asign to you,’ declares the Lord, ‘that I am going to punish you in this place, so that you may know that bMy words will surely stand against you for harm.’