Jeremiah — Chapter 21

The word that came to Jeremiah from GOD—when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchiah and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, to say,

“Please inquire of GOD on our behalf, for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps GOD will act for our sake in accordance with all the priorathe prior Lit. “His.” wonders, so that he will withdraw from us.”

Jeremiah answered them, “Thus shall you say to Zedekiah:

Thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: I am going to turn around the weapons in your hands with which you are battling outside the wall against those who are besieging you—the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans—and I will take them into the midst of this city;

and I Myself will battle against you with an outstretched mighty arm, with anger and rage and great wrath.

I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both human and animal: they shall die by a terrible pestilence.

And then—declares GOD—I will deliver King Zedekiah of Judah and his courtiers and the people—those in this city who survive the pestilence, the sword, and the famine—into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, into the hands of their enemies, into the hands of those who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword without pity, without compassion, without mercy.

“And to this people you shall say: Thus said GOD: I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Whoever remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but whoever leaves and goes over to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live; he shall at least gain his life.bhe shall at least gain his life Lit. “he shall have his life as booty.”

For I have set My face against this city for evil and not for good—declares GOD. It shall be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it by fire.”

To the House of the king of Judah: Hear the word of GOD!

O House of David, thus said GOD:Render just verdictsMorning by morning;Rescue from the defrauderAnyone who is robbed.Else My wrath will break forth like fireAnd burn, with none to quench it,Because of your wicked acts.

I will deal with you, O inhabitants of the valley,O rock of the plaincO inhabitants of the valley, / O rock of the plain Force of Heb. uncertain.—declares GOD—You who say, “Who can come down against us?Who can get into our lairs?”

I will punish you according to your deeds—declares GOD.I will set fire to its forest;dforest Perhaps a reference to the royal palace; cf. 1 Kings 7.2. It shall consume all that is around it.