1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest. They said,
2"Please ask the LORD for us, because Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will do for us something like all his wonderful works, so that Nebuchadrezzar will go away from us."
3Then Jeremiah said to them, "This is what you are to say to Zedekiah:"
4"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: Look, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands. You are fighting with them against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who are shutting you in outside the walls. I will gather those weapons into the middle of this city."
5"I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a strong arm, in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath."
6"I will strike down those who live in this city, both people and animals. They will die of a great plague."
7"After that, says the LORD, I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and those left in this city after the plague, the sword and the famine. I will hand them over to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and to their enemies, and to those who want to kill them. He will strike them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them, or feel pity, or show mercy."
8"And to this people you are to say, This is what the LORD says: Look, I set before you the way of life and the way of death."
9"Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the plague. But whoever goes out and gives himself up to the Chaldeans who are shutting you in will live. His life will be his prize."
10"For I have set my face against this city for harm, and not for good, says the LORD. It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire."
11"And about the house of the king of Judah, say this: Hear the word of the LORD."
12"House of David, this is what the LORD says: Do justice in the morning. Rescue the one who has been robbed from the hand of the man who crushes him. If you do not, my fury will go out like fire, and burn so that no one can put it out, because of the evil of your deeds."
13"Look, I am against you, you who live in the valley, and you rock of the plain, says the LORD. You say, 'Who will come down against us? Who will enter our homes?'"
14"But I will punish you as your deeds deserve, says the LORD. I will light a fire in her forest, and it will burn up everything around it."