“I solemnly warned your ancestors
When I brought them up
Out of the land of Egypt.
I warned them persistently,
Even to this day,
Saying.
‘Obey my voice!’
Yet they did not obey.
They did not incline their ear.
But everyone walked
In the stubbornness of an evil heart.
Therefore I brought upon them
All the words of this covenant,
That I commanded them to do.
But they did not.”
Yahweh explained in the first person singular to Jeremiah how he had warned their ancestors, when he brought them out of Egypt. He has consistently warned them even until the present day. They were to obey his voice. However, they did not obey since they did not listen. They all walked in the stubbornness of their evil hearts. Thus Yahweh asked them to hear the words of the covenant and observe them. However, they did not, so that is the problem.