21 The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. King Zedekiah sent Malkijah's son Pashhur, to speak to Jeremiah. He also sent the priest Zephaniah, Maaseiah's son. They went to say to Jeremiah, 2 ‘Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon, is attacking us. Please ask the Lord to help us. Perhaps he will do a powerful miracle as he has done for us in the past. Perhaps he will cause Nebuchadnezzar to go away and leave us alone.’ [ a ]
3 Jeremiah answered them, ‘Tell Zedekiah that the Lord , Israel's God, says this:
4 “Your soldiers have gone outside the city to fight against the king of Babylon and his soldiers. But I will make the weapons of your soldiers useless. You will have to bring them all back into the city. 5 I myself will use my great power and strength to fight against you. I will do that because I am very angry with you. 6 I will attack everything that lives in this city, both people and animals. A very bad disease will kill them.”
7 The Lord also says this: “Then I will put King Zedekiah of Judah under the power of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. I will do the same thing to any of his officers or people who are still alive. Those are the people that war, famine or disease has not already killed. I will give them to King Nebuchadnezzar and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will tell his soldiers to kill them. He will not be kind to them and he will kill them all.”
8 But also tell the people that the Lord says this: “I will let you choose between two things. One is a way that will give you life. The other is a way that will give you death. 9 Anyone who stays in the city will die. War or famine or disease will kill them. But you may choose to leave the city. You may put yourselves under the power of Babylon's army that is attacking the city. Anyone who does that will continue to live. 10 I, the Lord , tell you this: I have decided not to rescue this city. Instead I will destroy it. I will give it to the king of Babylon. He will destroy it with fire.” ’
11 This is the Lord 's message to the king of Judah, to his family and his officers:
12 ‘Descendants of King David, the Lord says this to you:
Every day you must be fair as you judge people.
Punish those who rob other people.
Punish those who are cruel to other people.
Help the people that they have hurt.
If you do not do judge in a fair way,
I will be very angry.
My anger will burn like a hot fire
that nobody can stop.
It will destroy you
because of the evil things that you have done.’
The Lord says:
13 ‘I have turned against you, Jerusalem's palace.
Kings sit there on their thrones,
on a high rock above the valley.
You say, “We are safe here in our strong building.
No enemy can get in here to attack us.”
14 But I will punish you for everything that you have done.
I will destroy your palace with fire.
That fire will destroy everything that is around you.’
That is what the Lord says.
21 This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord . This was when King Zedekiah of Judah sent Pashhur [ a ] son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to Jeremiah. They brought a message for Jeremiah. 2 They said to Jeremiah, “Pray to the Lord for us. Ask him what will happen. We want to know, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe the Lord will do great things for us, as he did in the past. Maybe he will make Nebuchadnezzar stop attacking us and leave.”
3 Then Jeremiah answered Pashhur and Zephaniah. He said, “Tell King Zedekiah, 4 ‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: You have weapons of war in your hands that you are using to defend yourselves from the Babylonians and their king. But I will make those weapons worthless.
“‘The army from Babylon is outside the wall all around the city. Soon I will bring that army into Jerusalem. 5 I myself will fight against you people of Judah. I will fight against you with my own powerful hand. I am very angry with you, so I will fight against you with my own powerful arm. I will fight very hard against you and show how angry I am. 6 I will kill everything living in Jerusalem, both people and animals. They will die from a terrible disease that will spread all through the city. 7 After that happens,’” says the Lord , “‘I will give King Zedekiah of Judah and all his officials to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. And I will give to Nebuchadnezzar the people who remain alive in Jerusalem—those who did not die from the terrible disease and the people who did not die in war or from hunger. I will give them all to King Nebuchadnezzar. The people of Judah will be captured by their enemies who want to kill them. Nebuchadnezzar’s army will use their swords to kill the people of Judah and Jerusalem. Nebuchadnezzar will not show any mercy. He will not feel sorry for them.’
8 “Also tell the people of Jerusalem, ‘This is what the Lord says: Understand that I will let you choose to live or die. 9 Anyone who stays in Jerusalem will die in war or from hunger or disease. But anyone who goes out of Jerusalem and surrenders to the Babylonians attacking you will live. Only those who leave the city will win anything in this war—their lives! 10 I have decided to make trouble for the city of Jerusalem. I will not help this city! I will give it to the king of Babylon, who will burn it with fire.’” This message is from the Lord .
11 “Say this to Judah’s royal family: ‘Listen to the message from the Lord . 12 Family of David, this is what the Lord says:
“‘You must judge people fairly every day.
Protect the victims from the criminals.
If you don’t do that, I will become very angry.
My anger will be like a fire that no one will be able to put out.
This will happen because you have done evil things.’
13 “Jerusalem, I am against you.
You sit on top of the mountain.
You sit like a queen over this valley.
You people of Jerusalem say,
‘No one can attack us.
No one can come into our strong city.’”
This message is from the Lord .
14 “You will get the punishment you deserve.
I will start a fire in your forests
that will completely burn everything around you.”
This message is from the Lord .
21 The word which came unto Jeremiah from the Lord , when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
2 Enquire, I pray thee, of the Lord for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the Lord will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
3 Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
4 Thus saith the Lord God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
5 And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
6 And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
7 And afterward, saith the Lord , I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
8 And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord ; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
9 He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the Lord : it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
11 And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the Lord ;
12 O house of David, thus saith the Lord ; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
13 Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the Lord ; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
14 But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the Lord : and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
21 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when ( A ) King Zedekiah sent to him ( B ) Pashhur the son of Malchijah and ( C ) Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying, 2 “Please ( D ) inquire of the Lord in our behalf, because ( E ) Nebuchadnezzar king of ( F ) Babylon is making war against us; perhaps the Lord will deal with us ( G ) in accordance with all His [ a ] wonderful acts, so that the enemy will withdraw from us.”
3 But Jeremiah said to them, “You shall say to Zedekiah as follows: 4 ‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel says: “Behold, I am going to ( H ) turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you are making war against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall; and I will ( I ) gather them into the middle of this city. 5 And I ( J ) Myself will make war against you with an ( K ) outstretched hand and a mighty arm, and in ( L ) anger, wrath, and great indignation. 6 I will also strike the inhabitants of this city, both the people and the animals; they will die of a great ( M ) plague. 7 Then afterward,” declares the Lord , “ ( N ) I will hand Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, that is, those who survive in this city from the plague, the sword, and the famine, over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to their enemies, and to those who seek their lives; and he will strike and kill them with the edge of the sword. He ( O ) will not spare them nor have pity nor compassion.”’
8 “You shall also say to this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: “Behold, I am ( P ) setting before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 Anyone who ( Q ) stays in this city will die by the ( R ) sword, by famine, or by plague; but anyone who leaves and goes over to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and he will have his own life as plunder. 10 For I have ( S ) set My face against this city for harm and not for good,” declares the Lord . “It will be ( T ) handed over to the king of Babylon and he will ( U ) burn it with fire.”’
11 “Then say to the household of the ( V ) king of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord , 12 ( W ) house of David, this is what the Lord says:
“ ( X ) Administer justice [ b ] every ( Y ) morning;
And save the person who has been robbed from the [ c ] power of his oppressor,
( Z ) So that My wrath will not spread like fire
And ( AA ) burn, with no one to extinguish it ,
Because of the evil of their deeds.
13 “Behold, ( AB ) I am against you, you inhabitant of the ( AC ) valley,
You [ d ] rocky plain,” declares the Lord ,
“You who say, ‘ ( AD ) Who will come down against us?
Or who will enter our dwellings?’
14 But I will punish you ( AE ) according to the [ e ] results of your deeds,” declares the Lord ,
“And I will ( AF ) kindle a fire in its forest
So that it may devour all its surroundings.”’”
21 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah ( A ) sent to him Pashhur ( B ) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah ( C ) son of Maaseiah. They said: 2 “Inquire ( D ) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar [ a ] ( E ) king of Babylon ( F ) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders ( G ) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”
3 But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, 4 ‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn ( H ) against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians [ b ] who are outside the wall besieging ( I ) you. And I will gather them inside this city. 5 I myself will fight ( J ) against you with an outstretched hand ( K ) and a mighty arm ( L ) in furious anger and in great wrath. 6 I will strike ( M ) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague. ( N ) 7 After that, declares the Lord , I will give Zedekiah ( O ) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, ( P ) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ( Q ) and to their enemies ( R ) who want to kill them. ( S ) He will put them to the sword; ( T ) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’ ( U )
8 “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life ( V ) and the way of death. 9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. ( W ) But whoever goes out and surrenders ( X ) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives. ( Y ) 10 I have determined to do this city harm ( Z ) and not good, declares the Lord . It will be given into the hands ( AA ) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’ ( AB )
11 “Moreover, say to the royal house ( AC ) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord . 12 This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:
“‘Administer justice ( AD ) every morning;
rescue from the hand of the oppressor ( AE )
the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire ( AF )
because of the evil ( AG ) you have done—
burn with no one to quench ( AH ) it.
13 I am against ( AI ) you, Jerusalem,
you who live above this valley ( AJ )
on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord —
you who say, “Who can come against us?
Who can enter our refuge?” ( AK )
14 I will punish you as your deeds ( AL ) deserve,
declares the Lord .
I will kindle a fire ( AM ) in your forests ( AN )
that will consume everything around you.’”
