1A message from the LORD came to Jeremiah. It came when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur to Jeremiah. Pashhur was the son of Malkijah. Zedekiah sent Zephaniah the priest along with him. Zephaniah was the son of Maaseiah. They said to Jeremiah,2‘Ask the LORD to help us. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. In the past the LORD did wonderful things for us. Maybe he’ll do them again. Then Nebuchadnezzar will pull his armies back from us.’3But Jeremiah answered them, ‘Tell Zedekiah and his people,4“The LORD is the God of Israel. He says, ‘The king of Babylon and his armies are all around this city. They are getting ready to attack you. You have weapons of war in your hands to fight against them. But I am about to turn your weapons against you. And I will bring your enemies inside this city.5I myself will fight against you. I will reach out my powerful hand and mighty arm. I will come against you with all my great anger.6I will strike down those who live in this city. I will kill people and animals alike. They will die of a terrible plague.7After that, I will hand you over to your enemies. They want to kill you,’ announces the LORD. ‘I will hand over Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his officials. I will also hand over the people in this city who live through the plague, war and hunger. All of them will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He will kill them with swords. He will show them no mercy. He will not feel sorry for them. In fact, he will not have any concern for them at all.’ ”8‘Tell the people, “The LORD says, ‘I am offering you a choice. You can choose the way that leads to life. Or you can choose the way that leads to death.9Those who stay in this city will die of war, hunger or plague. But suppose some go out and give themselves up to the Babylonians attacking you. They will live. They will escape with their lives.10I have decided to do this city harm and not good,’ announces the LORD. ‘It will be handed over to the king of Babylon. And he will destroy it with fire.’ ”11‘Also speak to Judah’s royal family. Tell them, “Listen to the LORD’s message.12Here is what the LORD says to you who belong to David’s royal house. ‘ “ ‘Every morning do what is right and fair. Save those who have been robbed. Set them free from the people who have treated them badly. If you do not, my anger will blaze out against you. It will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done. No one will be able to put it out.13Jerusalem, I am against you,’ announces the LORD. ‘You live above this valley. You are on a high, rocky plain. And you say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our place of safety?”14But I will punish you in keeping with what you have done,’ announces the LORD. ‘I will start a fire in your forests. It will burn down everything around you.’ ” ’
Jeremiah 21
English Standard Version
Jerusalem Will Fall to Nebuchadnezzar
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah, saying, (2Ki 25:18; 2Ch 34:8; Jer 20:1; Jer 29:25; Jer 35:4; Jer 37:3)2“Inquire of the Lord for us, for Nebuchadnezzar[1] king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all his wonderful deeds and will make him withdraw from us.” (2Ki 25:1; Ps 105:2; Ps 105:5; Jer 37:7)3Then Jeremiah said to them: “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah,4‘Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. And I will bring them together into the midst of this city. (Isa 13:4; Jer 32:5; Jer 37:10)5I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and strong arm, in anger and in fury and in great wrath. (Ex 6:6; De 4:34; De 29:28; Jer 27:5; Jer 32:17; Jer 32:21; Jer 32:37; Eze 20:33)6And I will strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast. They shall die of a great pestilence.7Afterward, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah and his servants and the people in this city who survive the pestilence, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and into the hand of their enemies, into the hand of those who seek their lives. He shall strike them down with the edge of the sword. He shall not pity them or spare them or have compassion.’ (De 28:50; 2Ch 36:17; Jer 37:17; Jer 39:5; Jer 52:9; Eze 5:11)8“And to this people you shall say: ‘Thus says the Lord: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. (De 30:15; De 30:19; Jer 38:2)9He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live and shall have his life as a prize of war. (Jer 15:2; Jer 37:13; Jer 39:18; Jer 45:5)10For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, declares the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.’ (Le 20:3; Le 20:5; 2Ch 36:19; Ps 34:16; Jer 14:11; Jer 21:7; Jer 34:2; Jer 37:8; Jer 37:10; Jer 38:17; Jer 38:23; Jer 39:8; Jer 44:11; Jer 52:13; Eze 14:8; Am 9:4)
Message to the House of David
11“And to the house of the king of Judah say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord,12O house of David! Thus says the Lord: “Execute justice in the morning, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of your evil deeds.’” (Ps 101:8; Jer 4:4; Jer 22:3; Jer 22:16; Zec 7:9)13“Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, O rock of the plain, declares the Lord; you who say, ‘Who shall come down against us, or who shall enter our habitations?’ (Jer 21:10; Jer 49:4; Eze 13:8)14I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds, declares the Lord; I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is around her.” (Pr 1:31; Isa 3:10; Jer 9:25; Eze 20:47)