Jeremiah 7:16-29

Jeremiah 7:16-29

[16] Therefore pray  not thou for this people,  neither lift up  cry  nor prayer  for them,  neither make intercession  to me: for I will not hear  thee. [17] Seest  thou not what they do  in the cities  of Judah  and in the streets  of Jerusalem?  [18] The children  gather  wood,  and the fathers  kindle  the fire,  and the women  knead  their dough,  to make  cakes  to the queen  of heaven,  and to pour out  drink offerings  unto other  gods,  that they may provoke me to anger.  [19] Do they provoke me to anger?  saith  the LORD:  do they not provoke themselves to the confusion  of their own faces?  [20] Therefore thus saith  the Lord  GOD;  Behold, mine anger  and my fury  shall be poured out  upon this place,  upon man,  and upon beast,  and upon the trees  of the field,  and upon the fruit  of the ground;  and it shall burn,  and shall not be quenched.  [21] Thus saith  the LORD  of hosts,  the God  of Israel;  Put  your burnt offerings  unto your sacrifices,  and eat  flesh.  [22] For I spake  not unto your fathers,  nor commanded  them in the day  that I brought them out  of the land  of Egypt,  concerning  burnt offerings  or sacrifices:  [23] But this thing  commanded  I them, saying,  Obey  my voice,  and I will be your God,  and ye shall be my people:  and walk  ye in all the ways  that I have commanded  you, that it may be well  unto you. [24] But they hearkened  not, nor inclined  their ear,  in the counsels  and in the imagination  of their evil  heart,  and went backward,  and not forward.  [25] Since the day  that your fathers  came forth out  of the land  of Egypt  unto this day  I have even sent  unto you all my servants  the prophets,  daily  rising up early  and sending  [26] Yet they hearkened  not unto me, nor inclined  their ear,  but hardened  their neck:  they did worse  than their fathers.  [27] Therefore thou shalt speak  all these words  unto them; but they will not hearken  to thee: thou shalt also call  unto them; but they will not answer  [28] But thou shalt say  unto them, This is a nation  that obeyeth  not the voice  of the LORD  their God,  nor receiveth  correction:  truth  is perished,  and is cut off  from their mouth.  [29] Cut off  thine hair,  O Jerusalem, and cast it away,  and take up  a lamentation  on high places;  for the LORD  hath rejected  and forsaken  the generation  of his wrath.