Message at the Temple Gate

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

2 “aStand in the gate of the Lord’s house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the Lord!’ ”

3 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, “aAmend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place.

4 “aDo not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘1This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.’

5 “For aif you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly bpractice justice between a man and his neighbor,

6 if you do not oppress the alien, the 1aorphan, or the widow, and do not shed binnocent blood in this place, nor cwalk after other gods to your own ruin,

7 then I will let you adwell in this place, in the bland that I gave to your fathers forever and ever.

8 “Behold, you are trusting in adeceptive words to no avail.

9 “Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and 1aoffer sacrifices to Baal and walk after bother gods that you have not known,

10 then acome and stand before Me in bthis house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’—that you may do all these abominations?

11 “Has athis house, which is called by My name, become a bden of robbers in your sight? Behold, cI, even I, have seen it,” declares the Lord.