Category: Jeremiah

God’s Relationship with His People

1 “At that time” — this is theLord’s declaration — “I will be the God of all the families of Israel,and they will be My people.”

2 This is what theLordsays:

They found favor in the wilderness—

the people who survived the sword.

When Israel went to find rest,

3 theLordappeared to himfrom far away.

I have loved you with an everlasting love;

therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you.

4 Again I will build you so that you will be rebuilt,

Virgin Israel.

You will take up your tambourines again

and go out in joyful dancing.

5 You will plant vineyards again

on the mountains of Samaria;

the planters will plant and will enjoy the fruit.

6 For there will be a day when watchmen will call out

in the hill country of Ephraim,

“Get up, let’s go up to Zion,

to Yahweh our God! ”

God’s People Brought Home

7 For this is what theLordsays:

Sing with joy for Jacob;

shout for the chief of the nations!

Proclaim, praise, and say,

“Lord, save Your people,

the remnant of Israel! ”

8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land.

I will gather them from remote regions of the earth—

the blind and the lame will be with them,

along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth.

They will return here as a great assembly!

9 They will come weeping,

but I will bring them back with consolation.

I will lead them to wadis filled with water

by a smooth way where they will not stumble,

for I am Israel’s Father,

and Ephraim is My firstborn.

10 Nations, hear the word of theLord,

and tell it among the far off coastlands!

Say: The One who scattered Israel will gather him.

He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock,

11 for theLordhas ransomed Jacob

and redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he.

12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;

they will be radiant with joy

because of theLord’s goodness,

because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,

and because of the young of the flocks and herds.

Their life will be like an irrigated garden,

and they will no longer grow weak from hunger.

13 Then the young woman will rejoice with dancing,

while young and old men rejoice together.

I will turn their mourning into joy,

give them consolation,

and bring happiness out of grief.

14 I will refresh the priests with an abundance,

and My people will be satisfied with My goodness.

This is theLord’s declaration.

Lament Turned to Joy

15 This is what theLordsays:

A voice was heard in Ramah,

a lament with bitter weeping —

Rachel weeping for her children,

refusing to be comforted for her children

because they are no more.

16 This is what theLordsays:

Keep your voice from weeping

and your eyes from tears,

for the reward for your work will come —

this is theLord’s declaration —

and your children will return from the enemy’s land.

17 There is hope for your future—

this is theLord’s declaration —

and your children will return to their own territory.

18 I have heard Ephraim moaning,

“You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined

like an untrained calf.

Restore me, and I will return,

for you,Lord, are my God.

19 After I returned, I repented;

After I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief.

I was ashamed and humiliated

because I bore the disgrace of my youth.”

20 Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to Me,

a delightful child?

Whenever I speak against him,

I certainly still think about him.

Therefore, My inner being yearns for him;

I will truly have compassion on him.

This is theLord’s declaration.

Repentance and Restoration

21 Set up road markersfor yourself;

establish signposts!

Keep the highway in mind,

the way you have traveled.

Return, Virgin Israel!

Return to these cities of yours.

22 How long will you turn here and there,

faithless daughter?

For theLordcreates something new in the land—

a femalewill sheltera man.

23 This is what theLordof Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “When I restore their fortunes,they will once again speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities, ‘May theLordbless you, righteous settlement,holy mountain.’

24 Judah and all its cities will live in it together — also farmers and those who movewith the flocks —

25 for I satisfy the thirsty person and feed all those who are weak.”

26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.

27 “The days are coming” — this is theLord’s declaration — “when I will sow the house of Israeland the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast.

28 Just as I watched over them to uproot and to tear them down, to demolish and to destroy, and to cause disaster,so will I be attentive to build and to plant them,”says theLord.

29 “In those days, it will never again be said:

The fathers have eaten sour grapes,

and the children’s teeth are set on edge.

30 Rather, each will die for his own wrongdoing.Anyone who eats sour grapes — his own teeth will be set on edge.

The New Covenant

31 “Look, the days are coming”— this is theLord’s declaration — “when I will make a new covenantwith the house of Israel and with the house of Judah.

32 This one will not be like the covenant I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt — a covenant they broke even though I had married them”— theLord’s declaration.

33 “Instead, this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days” — theLord’s declaration. “I will put My teaching within them and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be My people.

34 No longer will one teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know theLord,’for they will all know Me, from the least to the greatest of them”— this is theLord’s declaration. “For I will forgive their wrongdoingand never again remember their sin.

35 This is what theLordsays:

The One who gives the sun for light by day,

the fixed order of moon and stars for light by night,

who stirs up the sea and makes its waves roar—

Yahweh of Hosts is His name:

36 If this fixed order departs from My presence —

this is theLord’s declaration —

then also Israel’s descendants will cease

to be a nation before Me forever.

37 This is what theLordsays:

If the heavens above can be measured

and the foundations of the earth below explored,

I will reject all of Israel’s descendants

because of all they have done —

this is theLord’s declaration.

38 “Look, the days are coming” — theLord’s declaration — “when the cityfrom the Tower of Hananelto the Corner Gatewill be rebuilt for theLord.

39 A measuring line will once again stretch out straight to the hill of Gareband then turn toward Goah.

40 The whole valley — the corpses, the ashes, and all the fields as far as the Kidron Valleyto the corner of the Horse Gateto the east — will be holy to theLord. It will never be uprooted or demolished again.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/31-4a5c9486f945ce614e21a435aadef59c.mp3?version_id=72—

Jeremiah’s Land Purchase

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from theLordin the tenth year of Zedekiahking of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

2 At that time, the army of the king of Babylon was besieging Jerusalem,and Jeremiah the prophet was imprisoned in the guard’s courtyardin the palace of the king of Judah.

3 Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: “Why are you prophesying, ‘This is what theLordsays: Look, I am about to hand this city over to Babylon’s king, and he will capture it.

4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape from the Chaldeans; indeed, he will certainly be handed over to Babylon’s king. They will speak face to faceand meet eye to eye.

5 He will take Zedekiah to Babylon where he will stay until I attend to him’ — this is theLord’s declaration. ‘You will fight the Chaldeans, but you will not succeed’? ”

6 Jeremiah replied, “The word of theLordcame to me:

7 Watch! Hanamel, the son of your uncle Shallum, is coming to you to say, ‘Buy my field in Anathothfor yourself, for you own the right of redemptionto buy it.’

8 “Then my cousin Hanamel came to the guard’s courtyard as theLordhad said and urged me, ‘Please buy my field in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for you own the right of inheritance and redemption. Buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of theLord.

9 So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and I weighed out to him the money— 17 shekelsof silver.

10 I recorded it on a scroll,sealed it, called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver in the scales.

11 I took the purchase agreement — the sealed copy with its terms and conditions and the open copy —

12 and gave the purchase agreement to Baruchson of Neriah, son of Mahseiah. I did this in the sight of my cousinHanamel, the witnesses who were signing the purchase agreement, and all the Judeans sitting in the guard’s courtyard.

13 “I instructed Baruch in their sight,

14 ‘This is what theLordof Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Take these scrolls — this purchase agreement with the sealed copy and this open copy — and put them in an earthen storage jar so they will last a long time.

15 For this is what theLordof Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields, and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’

16 “After I had given the purchase agreement to Baruch, son of Neriah, I prayed to theLord:

17 Oh, LordGod! You Yourself made the heavens and earthby Your great powerand with Your outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You!

18 You show faithful love to thousands but lay the fathers’ sins on their sons’ laps after them,great and mighty Godwhose name is Yahweh of Hosts,

19 the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men in order to give to each person according to his ways and the result of his deeds.

20 You performed signs and wonders in the land of Egyptand do so to this very day both in Israel and among mankind. You made a namefor Yourself, as is the case today.

21 You brought Your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and with great terror.

22 You gave them this land You swore to give to their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.

23 They entered and possessed it, but they did not obey Your voice or live according to Your instructions.They failed to perform all You commanded them to do,and so You have brought all this disaster on them.

24 Look! Siege rampshave come against the city to capture it, and the city, as a result of the sword, famine, and plague, has been handed over to the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What You have spoken has happened. Look, You can see it!

25 Yet You, LordGod, have said to me: Buy the field with silver and call in witnesses — even though the city has been handed over to the Chaldeans! ”

26 Then the word of theLordcame to Jeremiah:

27 “Look, I am Yahweh, the God of all flesh.Is anything too difficult for Me?

28 Therefore, this is what theLordsays: I am about to hand this city over to the Chaldeans,to Babylon’s king Nebuchadnezzar, and he will capture it.

29 The Chaldeans who are going to fight against this city will come, set this city on fire, and burn it along with the houses where incense has been burned to Baal on their rooftops and where drink offerings have been poured out to other gods to provoke Me to anger.

30 From their youth, the Israelites and Judeans have done nothing but what is evil in My sight! They have done nothing but provoke Me to anger by the work of their hands”— this is theLord’s declaration —

31 “for this city has caused My wrath and fury from the day it was built until now. I will therefore remove it from My presence,

32 because of all the evil the Israelites and Judeans have done to provoke Me to anger — they, their kings,their officials, their priests, and their prophets, the men of Judah, and the residents of Jerusalem.

33 They have turned their backs to Me and not their faces.Though I taught them time and time again,they do not listen and receive discipline.

34 They have placed their detestable thingsin the house that is called by My name and have defiled it.

35 They have built the high places of Baal in the Valley of Hinnom to make their sons and daughters pass through the fire to Molech— something I had not commanded them. I had never entertained the thoughtthat they do this detestable act causing Judah to sin!

36 “Now therefore, this is what theLord, the God of Israel, says to this city about which you said, ‘It has been handed over to Babylon’s king through sword, famine, and plague’:

37 I am about to gather them from all the lands where I have banished them in My anger, rage and great wrath, and I will return them to this place and make them live in safety.

38 They will be My people, and I will be their God.

39 I will give them one heartand one way so that for their good and for the good of their descendants after them, they will fear Me always.

40 “I will make an everlasting covenant with them:I will never turn away from doing good to them, and I will put fear of Me in their hearts so they will never again turn away from Me.

41 I will take delight in them to do what is good for them, and with all My heart and mind I will faithfully plant them in this land.

42 “For this is what theLordsays: Just as I have brought all this great disaster on these people,so am I about to bring on them all the good I am promising them.

43 Fields will be bought in this land about which you are saying,‘It’s a desolationwithout man or beast; it has been handed over to the Chaldeans! ’

44 Fields will be purchased with silver, the transaction written on a scroll and sealed,and witnesses will be called on in the land of Benjamin,in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in Judah’s cities — the cities of the hill country, the cities of the Judean foothills, and the cities of the Negev — because I will restore their fortunes.”

This is theLord’s declaration.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/32-ac1e634b3c466138673c554869514965.mp3?version_id=72—

Israel’s Restoration

1 While he was still confined in the guard’s courtyard,the word of theLordcame to Jeremiah a second time:

2 “TheLordwho made the earth,theLordwho forms it to establish it,Yahweh is His name,says this:

3 Call to Me and I will answer youand tell you great and incomprehensible things you do not know.

4 For this is what theLord, the God of Israel, says concerning the houses of this city and the palaces of Judah’s kings, the ones torn down for defense against the siege ramps and the sword:

5 The people coming to fight the Chaldeans will fill the houses with the corpses of their own men that I strike down in My wrath and rage. I have hidden My facefrom this city because of all their evil.

6 Yet I will certainly bring healthand healing to it and will indeed heal them. I will let them experience the abundanceof peace and truth.

7 I will restore the fortunesof Judah and of Israel and will rebuild them as in former times.

8 I will purify them from all the wrongs they have committed against Me,and I will forgive all the wrongs they have committed against Me, rebelling against Me.

9 This city will bear on My behalf a name of joy, praise, and glorybefore all the nations of the earth, who will hear of all the good I will do for them. They will tremble with awe because of all the good and all the peaceI will bring about for them.

10 “This is what theLordsays: In this place, which you say is a ruin,without man or beast — that is, in Judah’s cities and Jerusalem’s streets that are a desolation without man, without inhabitant, and without beast — there will be heard again

11 a sound of joy and gladness, the voice of the groom and the bride,and the voice of those saying,

Praise theLordof Hosts,

for theLordis good;

His faithful love endures forever

as they bring thank offerings to the temple of theLord. For I will restore the fortunesof the land as in former times, says theLord.

12 “This is what theLordof Hosts says: In this desolate place — without man or beast — and in all its cities there will once more be a grazing land where shepherds may rest flocks.

13 The flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts themin the cities of the hill country,the cities of the Judean foothills, the cities of the Negev, the land of Benjamin — the cities surrounding Jerusalem and Judah’s cities, says theLord.

God’s Covenant with David

14 “Look, the days are coming” —

this is theLord’s declaration —

“when I will fulfill the good promises

that I have spoken

concerning the house of Israel

and the house of Judah.

15 In those days and at that time

I will cause a Righteous Branch

to sprout up for David,

and He will administer justice

and righteousness in the land.

16 In those days Judah will be saved,

and Jerusalem will dwell securely,

and this is what she will be named:

Yahweh Our Righteousness.

17 “For this is what theLordsays: David will never fail to have a man sitting on the throne of the house of Israel.

18 The Levitical priests will never fail to have a man always before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices.”

19 The word of theLordcame to Jeremiah:

20 “This is what theLordsays: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night so that day and night cease to come at their regular time,

21 then also My covenant with My servant Davidmay be broken so that he will not have a son reigning on his throne, and the Levitical priests will not be My ministers.

22 The hosts of heaven cannot be counted; the sand of the sea cannot be measured.So, too, I will make the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister to Me innumerable.”

23 The word of theLordcame to Jeremiah:

24 “Have you not noticed what these people have said? They say, ‘TheLordhas rejected the two families He had chosen.’My people are treated with contempt and no longer regarded as a nation among them.

25 This is what theLordsays: If I do not keep My covenant with the day and with the night and fail to establish the fixed order of heaven and earth,

26 then I might also reject the seed of Jacob and of My servant David — not taking from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore their fortunesand have compassion on them.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/33-52298fa0d2a42e9cabb32a8974f4deed.mp3?version_id=72—

Jeremiah’s Word to King Zedekiah

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from theLordwhen Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon,all his army, all the earthly kingdoms under his control,and all other nations were fighting against Jerusalem and all its surrounding cities:

2 “This is what theLord, the God of Israel, says: Go, speak to Zedekiah, king of Judah, and tell him: This is what theLordsays: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon,and he will burn it down.

3 As for you, you will not escapefrom his hand but are certain to be captured and handed over to him. You will meet the king of Babylon eye to eye and speak face to face;you will go to Babylon.

4 “Yet hear theLord’s word, Zedekiah, king of Judah. This is what theLordsays concerning you: You will not die by the sword;

5 you will die peacefully. There will be a burning ceremony for you just like the burning ceremonies for your fathers, the former kings who preceded you.‘Our king is dead! ’will be the lament for you, for I have spoken this word.” This is theLord’s declaration.

6 So Jeremiah the prophet related all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem

7 while the king of Babylon’s army was attacking Jerusalem and all of Judah’s remaining cities — against Lachish and Azekah,for they were the only ones left of Judah’s fortified cities.

The People and Their Slaves

8 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from theLordafter King Zedekiah made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem to proclaim freedomto them,

9 so each man would free his male and female Hebrew slaves and no one would enslave his Judean brother.

10 All the officials and people who entered into covenant to free their male and female slaves — in order not to enslave them any longer — obeyed and freed them.

11 Afterward, however, they changed their minds and took back their male and female slaves they had freed and forced them to become slaves again.

12 Then the word of theLordcame to Jeremiah from theLord:

13 “This is what theLord, the God of Israel, says: I made a covenantwith your ancestors when I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery, saying:

14 At the end of seven years, each of you must free his Hebrew brother who sold himselfto you. He may serve you six years, but then you must send him out free from you.But your ancestors did not obey Me or pay any attention.

15 Today you repented and did what pleased Me, each of you proclaiming freedom for his neighbor. You made a covenant before Meat the temple called by My name.

16 But you have changed your mindsand profaned My name.Each has taken back his male and female slaves who had been freed to go wherever they wanted, and you have again subjugated them to be your slaves.

17 “Therefore, this is what theLordsays: You have not obeyed Me by proclaiming freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor.I hereby proclaim freedom for you”— this is theLord’s declaration — “to the sword, to plague, and to famine! I will make you a horror to all the earth’s kingdoms.

18 As for those who disobeyed My covenant,not keeping the terms of the covenant they made before Me, I will treat them like the calf they cut in two in order to pass between its pieces.

19 The officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf

20 will be handed over to their enemies, to those who want to take their life. Their corpses will become food for the birds of the sky and for the wild animals of the land.

21 I will hand Zedekiah king of Judah and his officials over to their enemies, to those who want to take their lives, to the king of Babylon’s army that is withdrawing.

22 I am about to give the command” — this is theLord’s declaration — “and I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it, capture it, and burn it down.I will make Judah’s cities a desolation, without inhabitant.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/34-be48c732968b1da1d8bf86a9208d7a6d.mp3?version_id=72—

The Rechabites’ Example

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from theLordin the days of Jehoiakimson of Josiah, king of Judah:

2 “Go to the house of the Rechabites, speak to them,and bring them to one of the chambersof the temple of theLordto offer them a drink of wine.”

3 So I took Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah, son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons — the entire house of the Rechabites —

4 and I brought them into the temple of theLordto a chamber occupied by the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God,who had a chamber near the officials’ chamber, which was above the chamber of Maaseiah son of Shallum the doorkeeper.

5 I set jars filled with wine and some cups before the sons of the house of the Rechabites and said to them, “Drink wine! ”

6 But they replied, “We do not drink wine, for Jonadab,son of our ancestor Rechab, commanded: ‘You and your sons must never drink wine.

7 You must not build a house or sow seed or plant a vineyard. Those things are not for you. Rather, you must live in tents your whole life, so you may live a long time on the soil where you stay as a temporary resident.’

8 We have obeyed the voice of Jonadab, son of our ancestor Rechab, in all he commanded us. So we haven’t drunk wine our whole life — we, our wives, our sons, and our daughters.

9 We also have not built houses to live in and do not have vineyard, field, or seed.

10 But we have lived in tents and have obeyed and done as our ancestor Jonadab commanded us.

11 However, when Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched into the land,we said: Come, let’s go into Jerusalem to get away from the Chaldean and Aramean armies. So we have been living in Jerusalem.”

12 Then the word of theLordcame to Jeremiah:

13 “This is what theLordof Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Go, say to the men of Judah and the residents of Jerusalem: Will you not accept disciplineby listening to My words? ” — this is theLord’s declaration.

14 “The words of Jonadab, son of Rechab, have been carried out. He commanded his sons not to drink wine, and they have not drunk to this very day because they have obeyed their ancestor’s command. But I have spoken to you time and time again,and you have not obeyed Me!

15 Time and time againI have sent you all My servants the prophets, proclaiming: Turn, each one from his evil way of life,and correct your actions. Stop following other gods to serve them.Live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors. But you would not pay attention or obey Me.

16 Yes, the sons of Jonadab son of Rechab carried out their ancestor’s command he gave them, but these people have not obeyed Me.

17 Therefore, this is what theLord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I will certainly bring to Judah and to all the residents of Jerusalem all the disaster I have pronounced against them because I have spoken to them, but they have not obeyed, and I have called to them, but they would not answer.”

18 Jeremiah said to the house of the Rechabites: “This is what theLordof Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘Because you have obeyed the command of your ancestor Jonadab and have kept all his commands and have done all that he commanded you,

19 this is what theLordof Hosts, the God of Israel, says: Jonadab son of Rechab will never fail to have a man to always stand before Me.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/35-f59496e86628c954e1a8c39b80d8e8c2.mp3?version_id=72—

Jeremiah Dictates a Scroll

1 In the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah,king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from theLord:

2 “Take a scroll,and write on it all the words I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah, and all the nations from the time I first spoke to you during Josiah’s reign until today.

3 Perhaps when the house of Judah hears about all the disaster I am planning to bring on them, each one of them will turn from his evil way. Then I will forgive their wrongdoingand their sin.”

4 So Jeremiah summoned Baruchson of Neriah. At Jeremiah’s dictation,Baruch wrote on a scroll all the words theLordhad spoken to Jeremiah.

5 Then Jeremiah commanded Baruch, “I am restricted;I cannot enter the temple of theLord,

6 so you must go and read from the scroll — which you wrote at my dictation— the words of theLordin the hearing of the people at the temple of theLordon a day of fasting. You must also read them in the hearing of all the Judeans who are coming from their cities.

7 Perhaps their petition will come before theLord,and each one will turn from his evil way, for the anger and fury that theLordhas pronounced against this people are great.”

8 So Baruch son of Neriah did everything Jeremiah the prophet had commanded him. At theLord’s temple he read theLord’s words from the scroll.

Baruch Reads the Scroll

9 In the fifth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month,all the people of Jerusalem and all those coming in from Judah’s cities into Jerusalem proclaimed a fast before theLord.

10 Then at theLord’s temple, in the chamber of Gemariah son of Shaphan the scribe,in the upper courtyard at the opening of the New Gateof theLord’s temple, in the hearing of all the people, Baruch read Jeremiah’s words from the scroll.

11 When Micaiah son of Gemariah, son of Shaphan, heard all the words of theLordfrom the scroll,

12 he went down to the scribe’s chamber in the king’s palace. All the officials were sitting there — Elishama the scribe, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor,Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials.

13 Micaiah reported to them all the words he had heard when Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.

14 Then all the officials sent word to Baruch through Jehudi son of Nethaniah, son of Shelemiah, son of Cushi, saying, “Bring the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch son of Neriah took the scroll and went to them.

15 They said to him, “Sit down and read it in our hearing.” So Baruch read it in their hearing.

16 When they had heard all the words, they turned to each other in fear and said to Baruch, “We must surely tell the king all these things.”

17 Then they asked Baruch, “Tell us — how did you write all these words? At his dictation? ”

18 Baruch said to them, “At his dictation.He recited all these words to me while I was writing on the scroll in ink.”

Jehoiakim Burns the Scroll

19 The officials said to Baruch, “You and Jeremiah must hide yourselves and tell no one where you are.”

20 Then they came to the king at the courtyard, having deposited the scroll in the chamber of Elishama the scribe, and reported everything in the hearing of the king.

21 The king sent Jehudi to get the scroll, and he took it from the chamber of Elishama the scribe. Jehudi then read it in the hearing of the king and all the officials who were standing by the king.

22 Since it was the ninth month, the king was sitting in his winter quarterswith a fire burning in front of him.

23 As soon as Jehudi would read three or four columns, Jehoiakim would cut the scrollwith a scribe’s knife and throw the columns into the blazing fire until the entire scroll was consumed by the fire in the brazier.

24 As they heard all these words, the king and all of his servants did not become terrifiedor tear their garments.

25 Even though Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah had urged the king not to burn the scroll, he would not listen to them.

26 Then the king commanded Jerahmeel the king’s son, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to seize Baruch the scribe and Jeremiah the prophet, but theLordhad hidden them.

Jeremiah Dictates Another Scroll

27 After the king had burned the scroll with the words Baruch had written at Jeremiah’s dictation,the word of theLordcame to Jeremiah:

28 “Take another scroll, and once again write on it the very words that were on the original scroll that Jehoiakim king of Judah burned.

29 You are to proclaim concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: This is what theLordsays: You have burned the scroll, saying, ‘Why have you written on it:The king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land and cause it to be without man or beast?’

30 Therefore, this is what theLordsays concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David’s throne,and his corpse will be thrown out to be exposed to the heat of day and the frost of night.

31 I will punish him, his descendants, and his officers for their wrongdoing. I will bring on them, on the residents of Jerusalem, and on the men of Judah all the disaster, which I warned them about but they did not listen.”

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to Baruch son of Neriah, the scribe, and he wrote on it at Jeremiah’s dictationall the words of the scroll that Jehoiakim,Judah’s king, had burned in the fire. And many other words like them were added.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/36-d3e69593ef345abfee85c2aba2b32ca7.mp3?version_id=72—

Jerusalem’s Last Days

1 Zedekiah son of Josiahreigned as king in the land of Judahin place of Jehoiachinson of Jehoiakim, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon made him king.

2 He and his officers and the people of the land did not obey the words of theLordthat He spoke through Jeremiah the prophet.

3 Nevertheless, King Zedekiah sent Jehucalson of Shelemiah and Zephaniahson of Maaseiah, the priest, to Jeremiah the prophet, requesting, “Please pray to theLordour God for us! ”

4 Jeremiah was going about his daily tasksamong the people, for they had not yet put him into the prison.

5 Pharaoh’s army had left Egypt,and when the Chaldeans, who were besieging Jerusalem, heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

6 The word of theLordcame to Jeremiah the prophet:

7 “This is what theLord, the God of Israel, says: This is what you will say to Judah’s king,who is sending you to inquire of Me: Watch: Pharaoh’s army, which has come out to help you,is going to return to its own land of Egypt.

8 The Chaldeans will then return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it down.

9 This is what theLordsays: Don’t deceive yourselves by saying, ‘The Chaldeans will leave us for good,’ for they will not leave.

10 Indeed, if you were to strike down the entire Chaldean army that is fighting with you,and there remained among them only the badly woundedmen, each in his tent, they would get up and burn this city down.”

Jeremiah’s Imprisonment

11 When the Chaldean army withdrew from Jerusalem because of Pharaoh’s army,

12 Jeremiah started to leave Jerusalem to go to the land of Benjamin to claim his portion thereamong the people.

13 But when he was at the Benjamin Gate,an officer of the guard was there, whose name was Irijah son of Shelemiah, son of Hananiah, and he apprehended Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans.”

14 “That’s a lie,” Jeremiah replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans! ” Irijah would not listen to him but apprehended Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

15 The officials were angry at Jeremiah and beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathanthe scribe, for it had been made into a prison.

16 So Jeremiah went into a cell in the dungeonand stayed there many days.

Jeremiah Summoned by Zedekiah

17 King Zedekiah later sent for him and received him, and in his house privately asked him, “Is there a word from theLord? ”

“There is,” Jeremiah responded, and he continued, “You will be handed over to the king of Babylon.”

18 Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people that you have put me in prison?

19 Where are your prophets who prophesied to you, claiming, ‘The king of Babylon will not come against you and this land’?

20 So now please listen, my lord the king. May my petition come before you.Don’t send me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe, or I will die there.”

21 So King Zedekiah gave orders, and Jeremiah was placed in the guard’s courtyard.He was given a loaf of bread each day from the baker’s street until all the bread was gone from the city. So Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/37-f538519bb8acd0ee589ba1ca99aad1b9.mp3?version_id=72—

Jeremiah Thrown into a Cistern

1 Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucalson of Shelemiah,and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard the words Jeremiah was speaking to all the people:

2 “This is what theLordsays: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague,but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live.He will keep his life like the spoils of war and will live.’

3 This is what theLordsays: ‘This city will most certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon’s army,and he will capture it.’ ”

4 The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not seeking the well-being of this people, but disaster.”

5 King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he’s in your hands since the king can’t do anything against you.”

6 So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

7 But Ebed-melech, a Cushite court official employed in the king’s palace, heard Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,

8 Ebed-melech went from the king’s palace and spoke to the king:

9 “My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to Jeremiah the prophet. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.”

10 So the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Cushite, “Take from here 30 men under your authority and pull Jeremiah the prophet up from the cistern before he dies.”

11 So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went to the king’s palace to a place below the storehouse.From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

12 Ebed-melech the Cushite cried out to Jeremiah, “Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did so,

13 and they pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he continued to stay in the guard’s courtyard.

Zedekiah’s Final Meeting with Jeremiah

14 King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah the prophet and received him at the third entrance of theLord’s temple. The king said to Jeremiah, “I am going to ask you something; don’t hide anything from me.”

15 Jeremiah replied to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, you will kill me, won’t you? Besides, if I give you advice, you won’t listen to me anyway.”

16 King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private,“As theLordlives, who has given us this life,I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who want to take your life.”

17 Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, “This is what theLord, the God of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: ‘If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon,then you will live, this city will not be burned down, and you and your household will survive.

18 But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans.They will burn it down, and you yourself will not escape from them.’ ”

19 But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am worried about the Judeans who have deserted to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to the Judeans to abuse me.”

20 “They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the voice of theLordin what I am telling you, so it may go well for you and you can live.

21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is the verdictthat theLordhas shown me:

22 ‘All the womenwho remain in the palace of Judah’s king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say:

Your trusted friendsmisledyou

and overcame you.

Your feet sank into the mire,

and they deserted you.

23 All your wives and sons will be brought out to the Chaldeans.You yourself will not escape from them, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon and this city will burn down.’ ”

24 Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Don’t let anyone know about these things or you will die.

25 If the officials hear that I have spoken with youand come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king; don’t hide anything from us and we won’t kill you. Also, what did the king say to you? ’

26 then you will tell them, ‘I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’ ”

27 When all the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him, he reported the exact words to them the king had commanded, and they quit speaking with him because nothing had been heard.

28 Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard until the day Jerusalem was captured, and he was there when it happened.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/38-4a9c57d31325811f9498c7df50369ace.mp3?version_id=72—

The Fall of Jerusalem to Babylon

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to it.

2 In the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, on the ninth day of the month, the city was broken into.

3 All the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar, Nebusarsechimthe Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the officials of Babylon’s king.

4 When he saw them, Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers fled. They left the city at night by way of the king’s gardenthrough the gate between the two walls. They left along the route to the Arabah.

5 However, the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plainsof Jericho, arrested him, and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon’s king, at Riblah in the land of Hamath. The king passed sentence on him there.

6 At Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah’s sons before his eyes, and he also slaughtered all Judah’s nobles.

7 Then he blinded Zedekiah and put him in bronze chains to take him to Babylon.

8 The Chaldeans next burned down the king’s palace and the people’s houses and tore down the walls of Jerusalem.

9 Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guards,deported the rest of the people to Babylon — those who had remained in the city and those deserters who had defected to him along with the rest of the people who had remained.

10 However, Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guards, left in the land of Judah some of the poor people who owned nothing, and he gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

Jeremiah Freed by Nebuchadnezzar

11 Speaking through Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave orders concerning Jeremiah, saying:

12 “Take him, look after him, and don’t let any harm come to him; do for him whatever he says.”

13 Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer the Rab-mag, and all the captains of the king of Babylon

14 had Jeremiah brought from the guard’s courtyardand turned him over to Gedaliahson of Ahikam,son of Shaphan, to take him home. So he settled among his own people.

15 Now the word of theLordhad come to Jeremiah when he was confined in the guard’s courtyard:

16 “Go tell Ebed-melech the Cushite:This is what theLordof Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill My words for harm and not for good against this city. They will take place before your eyes on that day.

17 But I will rescue you on that day” — this is theLord’s declaration — “and you will not be handed over to the men you fear.

18 Indeed, I will certainly deliver you so that you do not fall by the sword. Because you have trusted in Me, you will keep your life like the spoils of war.”This is theLord’s declaration.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/39-dbe6bda0f982008db7ca8586d7d95594.mp3?version_id=72—

Jeremiah Stays in Judah

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from theLordafter Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, released him at Ramah.When he found him, he was bound in chains with all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.

2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “TheLordyour God decreed this disaster on this place,

3 and theLordhas fulfilled it. He has done just what He decreed. Because you people have sinned against theLordand have not obeyed Him, this thing has happened.

4 Now pay attention: Today I am setting you free from the chains that were on your hands.If it pleases you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take care of you. But if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, go no farther.Look — the whole land is in front of you.Wherever it seems good and right for you to go, go there.”

5 When Jeremiah had not yet turned to go, Nebuzaradan said to him: “Returnto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people or go wherever you want to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him a rationand a giftand released him.

6 Jeremiah therefore went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah,and he stayed with him among the people who remained in the land.

Gedaliah Advises Peace

7 When all the commanders of the armies in the field — they and their men — heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land and that he had put him in charge of the men, women, and children from the poorest of the land who had not been deported to Babylon,

8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The commanders included Ishmaelson of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite — they and their men.

9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men, assuring them, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well for you.

10 As for me, I am going to live in Mizpah to representyou before the Chaldeanswho come to us. As for you, gather wine, summer fruit, and oil, place them in your storage jars, and live in the cities you have captured.”

11 When all the Judeans in Moaband among the Ammonites and inEdom and in all the other landsalso heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, over them,

12 they all returned from all the places where they had been banishedand came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and harvested a great amount of wine and summer fruit.

13 Meanwhile, Johanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah at Mizpah

14 and warned him, “Don’t you realize that Baalis, king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmaelson of Nethaniahto kill you? ” But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.

15 Then Johanan son of Kareah suggested to Gedaliah in private at Mizpah, “Let me go kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will know it. Why should he kill you and scatter all of Judah that has gathered to you so that the remnant of Judah would perish? ”

16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam responded to Johanan son of Kareah, “Don’t do that! What you’re saying about Ishmael is a lie.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/17/32k/JER/40-a1738b74515eaad087f158643fe08780.mp3?version_id=72—