Jeremiah 21
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malchiah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, to him with this request:
2 “Please inquire of the LORD for us, because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is fighting against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonders, and he will withdraw and leave us.”
3 Jeremiah said to them, “This is what you must say to Zedekiah:
4 ‘This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: «I am about to turn back the weapons of war in your hands, the ones you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall. I will gather them inside this city.
5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, in anger, fury, and great wrath.
6 I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both people and animals. They will die of a terrible plague.
7 After that,” declares the LORD, “I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people who remain in this city after the plague, sword, and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, their enemies, and those who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy, pity, or compassion.
8 And to this people you will say: ‘This is what the LORD says: Look, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
9 Whoever stays in this city will die by sword, famine, and plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and will keep their life as spoil.
10 For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good,” declares the LORD. “It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.
11 And to the royal house of Judah: Hear the word of the LORD.
12 House of David, this is what the LORD says: Judge justly each morning, and rescue the plundered from the hand of the oppressor, so that my anger does not break out like fire and burn with no one to put it out, because of your wicked deeds.
13 Look, I am against you, inhabitants of the valley, rock of the plain,” declares the LORD, “you who say, ‘Who can come down against us? Who can enter our dwellings?’
14 I will punish you according to the fruit of your deeds,” declares the LORD. “I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it will consume everything around her.»’”
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