you, to the fatherless
nor to the widow, and do not shed the blood of the innocent in this
place nor follow other gods to your hurt, then I will let you stay in
this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers, forever and ever.

"'But now you are trusting in misleading words that are useless. Will
you steal, murder, tell lies and offer sacrifice to Baal, and follow
other gods whom you have not known, and then come and stand before me in
this house which bears my name and say, We are free to do all these
shameful deeds? Is this my house, which bears my name, in your eyes a
den of robbers? I myself have seen these shameful deeds,' says Jehovah.

"'Then go to my temple which was at Shiloh, where people used to worship
me at first, and see what I did to it because of the wickedness of my
people Israel. Now because you have done all these deeds, and have paid
no attention, although I spoke to you earnestly and often; and have not
answered, although I called you, I will destroy the temple which bears
my name, in which you trust, and the place which I gave to you and to
your fathers, as I did at Shiloh. I will also send you from my sight, as
I have sent away your relatives, even all the Northern Israelites.'"

When Jeremiah had finished speaking all that Jehovah had commanded him
to say, the priests and prophets seized him and said, "You must die. Why
have you said in the name of Jehovah that this temple shall be like
Shiloh and this city shall be deserted, with no one living in it?" And
all the people were gathered about Jeremiah in the temple of Jehovah.

But when the public officials of Judah heard of these things, they came
up from the palace to the temple of Jehovah and held court at the
entrance, at the new gate of the temple. Then the priests and the
prophets said to the officials and to the people, "This man should be
put to death, for he has prophesied against this city as you have heard
with your own ears." But Jeremiah answered the officials and all the
people, "It was Jehovah who sent me to prophesy against this temple and
city all that you have heard. Now therefore change your ways and your
deeds and listen to Jehovah your God; and he will not do the evil things
that he has threatened to do to you. But as for me, see, I am in your
power; do to me as you think right and proper. Only remember that, if
you put me to death, you will bring upon yourselves and upon this city
and upon its inhabitants guilt for shed