21 “ ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrificesl and eatm the meat yourselves! 22 For when I brought your ancestors out of Egypt and spoke to them, I did not just give them commandsn about burnt offerings and sacrifices,o 23 but I gave them this command:p Obeyq me, and I will be your God and you will be my people.r Walk in obedience to alls I command you, that it may go wellt with you. 24 But they did not listenu or pay attention;v instead, they followed the stubborn inclinations of their evil hearts.w They went backwardx and not forward. 25 From the time your ancestors left Egypt until now, day after day, again and againy I sent you my servantsz the prophets.a 26 But they did not listen to me or pay attention.b They were stiff-neckedc and did more evil than their ancestors.’d

27 “When you telle them all this, they will not listenf to you; when you call to them, they will not answer.g 28 Therefore say to them, ‘This is the nation that has not obeyed the Lord its God or responded to correction.h Truthi has perished; it has vanished from their lips.

29 “ ‘Cut offj your hair and throw it away; take up a lamentk on the barren heights, for the Lord has rejected and abandonedl this generation that is under his wrath.

The Valley of Slaughter

30 “ ‘The people of Judah have done evilm in my eyes, declares the Lord. They have set up their detestable idolsn in the house that bears my Name and have defiledo it. 31 They have built the high places of Tophethp in the Valley of Ben Hinnomq to burn their sons and daughtersr in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind.s 32 So beware, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when people will no longer call it Topheth or the Valley of Ben Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter,t for they will buryu the dead in Topheth until there is no more room. 33 Then the carcassesv of this people will become foodw for the birds and the wild animals, and there will be no one to frighten them away.x 34 I will bring an end to the soundsy of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroomz in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,a for the land will become desolate.b