Zedekiah’s Request Denied
1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from theLordwhen King Zedekiah sent Pashhurson of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniahson of Maaseiah to Jeremiah, asking,
2 “Ask theLordon our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzarking of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps theLordwill perform for us something like all His past wonderful works so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”
3 But Jeremiah answered, “This is what you are to say to Zedekiah:
4 ‘This is what theLord, the God of Israel, says: I will repel the weapons of war in your hands,those you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeanswho are besieging you outside the wall, and I will bring them into the center of this city.
5 I will fight against youwith an outstretched hand and a mighty arm,with anger, rage, and great wrath.
6 I will strike the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a great plague.
7 Afterward’ ” — this is theLord’s declaration — “ ‘King Zedekiah of Judah, his officers, and the people — those in this city who survive the plague, the sword, and the famine — I will hand over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon,to their enemies, yes, to those who want to take their lives. He will put them to the sword; he won’t spare them or show pity or compassion.’
A Warning for the People
8 “But you must say to this people, ‘This is what theLordsays: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death.
9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live and will retain his life like the spoils of war.
10 For I have turnedagainst this city to bring disaster and not good’” — this is theLord’s declaration. “ ‘It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will burn it down.’
11 “And to the house of the king of Judah say this: ‘Hear the word of theLord!
12 House of David, this is what theLordsays:
Administer justice every morning,
and rescue the victim of robbery
from the hand of his oppressor,
or My anger will flare up like fire
and burn unquenchably
because of their evil deeds.
13 Beware! I am against you,
you who sit above the valley,
you atop the rocky plateau —
this is theLord’s declaration —
you who say, “Who can come down against us?
Who can enter our hiding places? ”
14 I will punish you according to what you have done—
this is theLord’s declaration.
I will kindle a fire in its forest
that will consume everything around it.’ ”
—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/21-da8c3ec8caed0e921d000f1dd64d3a1d.mp3?version_id=72—