Jeremiah 44:16-18

The Voice

People: ¹⁶ We will not listen to you or the message you claim comes from the Eternal! ¹⁷ We are going to stand by our own word: we will burn incense and pour out our drink offerings to the queen of heaven^[a] just as we have always done—just as our ancestors, our kings, and our officials did in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. Back then we had plenty to eat, and no harm came to us. ¹⁸ But ever since we stopped burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out our drink offerings to her, we’ve not had enough of anything. Besides that, we are being finished off by war and famine.