1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD during the days of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying:
2Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them, bring them into the house of the LORD, to one of the chambers, and offer them wine to drink.
3So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, his brothers, all his sons, and the entire house of the Rechabites.
4And I brought them into the house of the LORD, into the chamber of the sons of Hanan, son of Igdaliah, a man of God, which was near the chamber of the officials, above the chamber of Maaseiah, son of Shallum, the gatekeeper.
5Then I set bowls full of wine and cups before the sons of the house of the Rechabites and said to them, 'Drink wine.'
6But they said, 'We will not drink wine, for Jonadab, son of Rechab, our ancestor, commanded us, saying: “You and your descendants must never drink wine.”'
7'You must not build houses, sow seed, plant vineyards, or own any of these things, but instead, live in tents all your days so that you may live long in the land where you sojourn.'
8We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab, son of Rechab, our ancestor, in everything he instructed us, so that we do not drink wine all our days—we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters.
9We do not build houses to live in, or own vineyards, fields, or seed.
10But we live in tents, and we have obeyed and done everything that Jonadab, our ancestor, commanded us.
11However, when Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, came up against the land, we said, 'Come, let us go to Jerusalem to escape the army of the Chaldeans and the army of Aram.' So we have lived in Jerusalem.
12Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying:
13This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Go and say to the people of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem: “Will you not accept instruction and obey My words?” declares the LORD.
14The words of Jonadab, son of Rechab, which he commanded his sons not to drink wine, have been upheld to this day. They have obeyed their ancestor's command. But I have spoken to you persistently, and you have not listened to Me.
15I sent all My servants the prophets to you persistently, saying: 'Turn now, each one of you, from your evil ways and correct your deeds. Do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you shall dwell in the land I have given to you and your ancestors.' But you did not incline your ear or listen to Me.
16Surely the sons of Jonadab, son of Rechab, have kept the command their ancestor gave them, but these people have not listened to Me.
17Therefore, this is what the LORD, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: 'Behold, I am bringing upon Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the disaster I have spoken against them because I spoke to them, but they did not listen; I called to them, but they did not answer.'