{This is} the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which {were} at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all {their} heart and all {their} soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? {which...: Heb. whereupon my name is called}

They clave to their brethren, their nobles, and entered into a curse, and into an oath, to walk in God's law, which was given by Moses the servant of God, and to observe and do all the commandments of the LORD our Lord, and his judgments and his statutes; {by: Heb. by the hand of}

This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with {their} lips; but their heart is far from me.

Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; they take delight in approaching to God.

But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.

Now when all the princes, and all the people, which had entered into the covenant, heard that every one should let his manservant, and every one his maidservant, go free, that none should serve themselves of them any more, then they obeyed, and let {them} go.

I have sworn, and I will perform {it}, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.

And the LORD said unto Jehu, Because thou hast done well in executing {that which is} right in mine eyes, {and} hast done unto the house of Ahab according to all that {was} in mine heart, thy children of the fourth {generation} shall sit on the throne of Israel.

Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. {unto him...: Heb. to fear}

And Jehoash did {that which was} right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

And it came to pass, when Ahab heard those words, that he rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.

And he did {that which was} right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did.

And come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name, and say, We are delivered to do all these abominations? {which...: Heb. whereupon my name is called}

Now {it is} in mine heart to make a covenant with the LORD God of Israel, that his fierce wrath may turn away from us.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The children of Israel and the children of Judah {were} oppressed together: and all that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.

O Ephraim, what shall I do unto thee? O Judah, what shall I do unto thee? for your goodness {is} as a morning cloud, and as the early dew it goeth away. {goodness: or, mercy, or, kindness}

For they shall eat, and not have enough: they shall commit whoredom, and shall not increase: because they have left off to take heed to the LORD.