My people come to you, just as they usually do. They sit in front of you. They hear what you say. But they do not put it into practice. With their mouths they say they love me. But in their hearts they want what belongs to others. They try to get rich by cheating them.

他们来到你这里如同民来聚会，坐在你面前仿佛是我的民。他们听你的话却不去行；因为他们的口多显爱情，心却追随财利。

他们如同百姓前来，来到你这里，坐在你面前仿佛是我的子民。他们听了你的话，却不实行；因为他们口里说爱，心却追随财利。

他们如同百姓前来，来到你这里，坐在你面前仿佛是我的子民。他们听了你的话，却不实行；因为他们口里说爱，心却追随财利。

他们随着人群来到你面前，坐着聆听你的话，俨然像我的子民。但他们不付诸实行，嘴里说的是甜言蜜语，心中却追求不义之财。

他们成群来到你那里，坐在你面前，象是我的子民一样。其实他们听了你的话，却不去行；他们只是用口表示爱慕，他们的心却是追随不义之财。

他們來到你這裏如同民來聚會，坐在你面前彷彿是我的民。他們聽你的話卻不去行；因為他們的口多顯愛情，心卻追隨財利。

他們如同百姓前來，來到你這裏，坐在你面前彷彿是我的子民。他們聽了你的話，卻不實行；因為他們口裏說愛，心卻追隨財利。

他們如同百姓前來，來到你這裏，坐在你面前彷彿是我的子民。他們聽了你的話，卻不實行；因為他們口裏說愛，心卻追隨財利。

他們隨著人群來到你面前，坐著聆聽你的話，儼然像我的子民。但他們不付諸實行，嘴裡說的是甜言蜜語，心中卻追求不義之財。

他們成群來到你那裡，坐在你面前，像是我的子民一樣。其實他們聽了你的話，卻不去行；他們只是用口表示愛慕，他們的心卻是追隨不義之財。

他們來見你、如同人民之來；他們坐在你面前彷彿是我的人民；其實他們聽你的話，卻不去行；因為他們只是用口表示着愛，他們的心卻追求着不義之財。

彼詣爾所、如民來集、坐於爾前、若為我民、聽爾言而不行之、其口多顯仁愛、心則逐利、

彼既至、坐於爾前、若我民然、聽爾言而不行、口所言則愛爾不置、其心貪婪、

彼就爾來、若民之會集、坐於爾前、如為我民、聽爾言而不行、口言親愛、心向利欲、

My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain.

And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain.

So my people come pretending to be sincere and sit before you. They listen to your words, but they have no intention of doing what you say. Their mouths are full of lustful words, and their hearts seek only after money.

So my people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Their mouths go on passionately, but their hearts pursue dishonest profit.

And they come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them; for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart follows their unlawful gain.

So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but do them not; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their gain.

So My people come to you in crowds, sit in front of you, and hear your words, but they don’t obey them. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest profit.

And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee[ as] my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love,[ but] their heart goeth after their covetousness.

They come to you in crowds, and they sit in front of you as my people. They hear your words, but do not obey them. For they talk lustfully, and their heart is set on their own advantage.

They come to you as the people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear your words, but don’t do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goes after their gain.

The seed that fell among the thorns is like others who hear the message. But then the worries of this life and the false promises of wealth crowd it out. They keep the message from producing fruit.

But they didn’t mean it when they praised him. They lied to him when they spoke.They turned away from him. They weren’t faithful to the covenant he had made with them.

The Lord says,“ These people worship me only with their words. They honor me by what they say. But their hearts are far away from me. Their worship doesn’t mean anything to me. They teach nothing but human rules that they have been taught.

Don’t just listen to the word. You fool yourselves if you do that. You must do what it says.Suppose someone listens to the word but doesn’t do what it says. Then they are like a person who looks at their face in a mirror.After looking at themselves, they leave. And right away they forget what they look like.

Suppose a person claims to have faith but doesn’t act on their faith. My brothers and sisters, can this kind of faith save them?Suppose a brother or a sister has no clothes or food.Suppose one of you says to them,“ Go. I hope everything turns out fine for you. Keep warm. Eat well.” And suppose you do nothing about what they really need. Then what good have you done?

He replied,“ Instead, blessed are those who hear God’s word and obey it.”

They are like a man who builds a house. He digs down deep and sets it on solid rock. When a flood comes, the river rushes against the house. But the water can’t shake it. The house is well built.But here is what happens when people listen to my words and do not obey them. They are like a man who builds a house on soft ground instead of solid rock. The moment the river rushes against that house, it falls down. It is completely destroyed.”

It was the sixth year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the fifth day of the sixth month, I was sitting in my house. The elders of Judah were sitting there with me. The power of the Lord and King came on me there.

So then, here is what the Lord’ s message will become to them. Do this and do that. There is a rule for this and a rule for that. Learn a little here and learn a little there. So when they try to go forward, they’ll fall back and be wounded. They’ll be trapped and captured.

Suppose someone sees a brother or sister in need and is able to help them. And suppose that person doesn’t take pity on these needy people. Then how can the love of God be in that person?Dear children, don’t just talk about love. Put your love into action. Then it will truly be love.

People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what they do. They are destroyed and die.Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.

The Lord heard you when you spoke to me. He said to me,“ I have heard what these people said to you. Everything they said was good.But I wish they would always have respect for me in their hearts. I wish they would always obey all my commands. Then things would go well with them and their children forever.

When the young man heard this, he went away sad. He was very rich.

Some of the elders of Israel came to see me. They sat down with me.

It was the seventh year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the tenth day of the fifth month, some of the elders of Israel came to ask the Lord for advice. They sat down with me.Then a message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel. Tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ Have you come to ask me for advice? I will not let you do that,” announces the Lord and King.“ And that is just as sure as I am alive.” ’“ Are you going to judge them, son of man? Will you judge them? Tell them the evil things done by their people of long ago. I hate those things.Tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ I chose Israel. On that day I raised my hand and made a promise. I made a promise to the members of Jacob’s family line. I made myself known to them in Egypt. I raised my hand and told them,‘ I am the Lord your God.’On that day I promised I would bring them out of Egypt. I told them I would take them to a land I had found for them. It had plenty of milk and honey. It was the most beautiful land of all.I said to them,‘ Each of you must get rid of the statues of the evil gods you worship. Do not make yourselves“ unclean” by worshiping the gods of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’“‘ “But they refused to obey me. They would not listen to me. They did not get rid of the evil gods they worshiped. And they did not turn away from Egypt’s gods. So I said I would pour out all my great anger on them in Egypt.I wanted my name to be honored. So I brought my people out of Egypt. I did it to keep my name from being treated as if it were not holy. I didn’t want this to happen in front of the nations around my people. I had made myself known to Israel in the sight of those nations.So I led them out of Egypt. I brought them into the Desert of Sinai.I gave them my rules. I made my laws known to them. The person who obeys them will live by them.I also told them to observe my Sabbath days. That is the sign of the covenant I made with them. I wanted them to know that I made them holy. I am the Lord.“‘ “But in the desert the people of Israel refused to obey me. They did not follow my rules. They turned their backs on my laws. The person who obeys them will live by them. They totally misused my Sabbath days. So I said I would pour out my great anger on them. I would destroy them in the desert.But I wanted my name to be honored. I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations. They had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.I also raised my hand and made a promise in the desert. I told my people I would not bring them into the land I had given them. It had plenty of milk and honey. It was the most beautiful land of all.But they turned their backs on my laws. They did not obey my rules. They misused my Sabbath days. Their hearts were committed to worshiping the statues of their gods.Then I felt sorry for them. So I did not destroy them. I did not put an end to them in the desert.I spoke to their children there. I said,‘ Do not follow the rules your parents gave you. Do not obey their laws. Do not make yourselves“ unclean” by worshiping their gods.I am the Lord your God. So follow my rules. Be careful to obey my laws.Keep my Sabbath days holy. That is the sign of the covenant I made with you. You will know that I am the Lord your God.’“‘ “But their children refused to obey me. They did not follow my rules. They were not careful to keep my laws. The person who obeys them will live by them. They misused my Sabbath days. So I said I would pour out all my great anger on them in the desert.But I kept myself from punishing them at that time. I wanted my name to be honored. So I kept it from being treated as if it were not holy. I did not want that to happen in front of the nations. They had seen me bring Israel out of Egypt.I also raised my hand and made a promise in the desert. I told my people I would scatter them among the nations. I would send them to other countries.They had not obeyed my laws. They had turned their backs on my rules. They had misused my Sabbath days. They only wanted to worship the statues of their parents’ gods.So I let them follow other rules. Those other rules were not good. I let them have laws they could not live by.I let them become‘ unclean’ by offering sacrifices to other gods. They even sacrificed the first male child born in each family. I wanted to fill them with horror. Then they would know that I am the Lord.” ’“ Son of man, speak to the people of Israel. Tell them,‘ The Lord and King says,“ Your people spoke evil things against me long ago. They were unfaithful to me.But I brought them into the land. I had promised to give the land to them. Then they offered sacrifices that made me very angry. They did it on every high hill and under every green tree. There they brought their sweet- smelling incense. And there they poured out their drink offerings.Then I said to them,‘ What is this high place you go to?’ ” ’ ” That high place is called Bamah to this day.The Lord said to me,“ Speak to the Israelites. Tell them,‘ Here is what the Lord and King says.“ Are you going to make yourselves‘ unclean’ the way your people of long ago did? Are you also going to want to worship the statues of their evil gods?You make yourselves‘ unclean’ by offering sacrifices to other gods. You even sacrifice your children in the fire. You continue to do these things to this day. People of Israel, should I let you ask me for advice? I will not let you do that,” announces the Lord and King.“ And that is just as sure as I am alive.“‘ “You say,‘ We want to be like the other nations. We want to be like all the other people in the world. They serve gods made out of wood and stone.’ But what you have in mind will never happen.

“ No one can serve two masters at the same time. You will hate one of them and love the other. Or you will be faithful to one and dislike the other. You can’t serve God and money at the same time.

Then he said to them,“ Watch out! Be on your guard against wanting to have more and more things. Life is not made up of how much a person has.”Then Jesus told them a story. He said,“ A certain rich man’s land produced a very large crop.He thought to himself,‘ What should I do? I don’t have any place to store my crops.’“ Then he said,‘ This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones. I will store my extra grain in them.I’ll say to myself,“ You have plenty of grain stored away for many years. Take life easy. Eat, drink and have a good time.” ’“ But God said to him,‘ You foolish man! Tonight I will take your life away from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’“ That is how it will be for whoever stores things away for themselves but is not rich in the sight of God.”

He replied,“ My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and do what it says.”

Jeremiah finished telling the people everything the Lord their God had said. Jeremiah told them everything the Lord had sent him to tell them.After that, Azariah, the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan, the son of Kareah, spoke to Jeremiah. And all the proud men joined them. They said,“ You are lying! The Lord our God hasn’t sent you to speak to us. He hasn’t told you to say,‘ You must not go to Egypt and make your homes there.’But Baruch, the son of Neriah, is turning you against us. He wants us to be handed over to the Babylonians. Then they can kill us. Or they can take us away to Babylon.”So Johanan, the son of Kareah, disobeyed the Lord’ s command. So did all the other army officers and all the people. They didn’t stay in the land of Judah.Instead Johanan, the son of Kareah, and all the other army officers led away all the people who were left in Judah. Those people had returned to Judah from all the nations where they had been scattered.Johanan and the other officers also led away many people Nebuzaradan had left at Mizpah. They included men, women and children. They also included the king’s daughters. Nebuzaradan had left them with Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam. They also took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah along with them. Nebuzaradan was commander of the royal guard. Ahikam was the son of Shaphan.So the Jewish leaders disobeyed the Lord. They took everyone to Egypt. They went all the way to Tahpanhes.

She had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.

“ Jeremiah, these people might ask you a question. Or a prophet or priest might do this. They might ask,‘ What message have you received from the Lord?’ Then tell them,‘ You ask,“ What message?” Here it is.“ I will desert you,” announces the Lord.’A prophet or priest might make a claim. Or someone else might do this. He might claim,‘ This is a message from the Lord.’ Then I will punish them and their family.Here is what each of you people keeps on saying to your friends and other Israelites. You ask,‘ What is the Lord’ s answer?’ Or you ask,‘ What has the Lord spoken?’But you must not talk about‘ a message from the Lord’ again. That’s because each person’s own words become their message. And so you twist the Lord’ s words. He is the living God. He is the Lord who rules over all. And he is our God.Here is what you keep saying to a prophet. You ask,‘ What is the Lord’ s answer to you?’ Or you ask,‘ What has the Lord spoken?’You claim,‘ This is a message from the Lord.’ But here is what the Lord says.‘ You used the words,“ This is a message from the Lord.” But I told you that you must not claim,“ This is a message from the Lord.” ’

The officials in the land are like wolves that tear their food apart. They spill blood and kill people to get rich.

The Lord tells the people of Judah,“ Stand where the roads cross, and look around. Ask where the old paths are. Ask for the good path, and walk on it. Then your hearts will find rest in me. But you said,‘ We won’t walk on it.’I appointed prophets to warn you. I said,‘ Listen to the sound of the trumpets!’ But you said,‘ We won’t listen.’

The Pharisees loved money. They heard all that Jesus said and made fun of him.

“ So then, everyone who hears my words and puts them into practice is like a wise man. He builds his house on the rock.The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. But it does not fall. It is built on the rock.But everyone who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man. He builds his house on sand.The rain comes down. The water rises. The winds blow and beat against that house. And it falls with a loud crash.”

So I sent for you right away. It was good of you to come. Now we are all here. And God is here with us. We are ready to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.”

“ We won’t listen to the message you have spoken to us in the Lord’ s name!

Here is what you can be sure of. Those who give themselves over to sexual sins are lost. So are people whose lives are impure. The same is true of those who always want more and more. People who do these things might as well worship statues of gods. No one who does them will receive a share in the kingdom of Christ and of God.