1At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:
2This is what the LORD says: "Stand in the court of the LORD's house. Speak to all the people from the cities of Judah who come to worship in the LORD's house. Tell them every word I command you to speak to them. Do not leave out a single word."
3"Perhaps they will listen, and each one will turn from his evil way. Then I will turn back from the disaster I plan to bring on them because of their evil deeds."
4"You are to say to them, This is what the LORD says: 'If you will not listen to me, and will not walk in my law, which I have set before you,"
5and will not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent to you again and again, though you have not listened,
6"then I will make this house like Shiloh. I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.'"
7The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
8When Jeremiah had finished speaking everything the LORD had commanded him to say to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him and said, "You must die."
9"Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be a ruin with no one living in it'?" And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
10When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the LORD. They sat down at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD's house.
11Then the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people, "This man deserves to die, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears."
12Then Jeremiah said to all the princes and all the people, "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words you have heard."
13So now change your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God. Then the LORD will turn back from the disaster he has spoken against you.
14As for me, look, I am in your hands. Do with me whatever seems good and right to you.
15"But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on the people who live in it. For truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."
16Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve to die, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."
17Then some of the elders of the land stood up and said to the whole assembly of the people,
18"Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He said to all the people of Judah, 'This is what the LORD of hosts says: Zion will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become heaps of ruins, and the mountain of the house will be like the high places of a forest.'"
19"Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death at all? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and plead with the LORD? And the LORD turned back from the disaster he had spoken against them. But we are about to bring great evil on ourselves."
20There was also another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD: Urijah son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land, just as Jeremiah did.
21When Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king tried to put him to death. But when Urijah heard of it, he was afraid. He fled and went into Egypt.
22Then Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor, and some men with him.
23They brought Urijah out of Egypt and took him to Jehoiakim the king. The king killed him with the sword and threw his dead body into the graves of the common people.
24But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.