Jeremiah 26
1 At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:
2 “This is what the LORD says: ‘Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak to all the towns of Judah whose people come to worship at the house of the LORD. Tell them everything I have commanded you to say; do not leave out a single word.
3 Perhaps they will listen, and each will turn from his evil way. Then I may relent from the disaster I intend to bring on them because of the evil they have done.
4 Tell them: ‘This is what the LORD says: “If you do not listen to me and follow my law, which I have set before you,
5 and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I keep sending to you again and again, though you have not listened,
6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.”’”
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.
8 When Jeremiah had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests, 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 become like Shiloh, and this city will be laid waste, with no one living in it’?” Then all the people gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
10 When the officials of Judah heard what had happened, they went up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD and sat at the entrance of the LORD’s New Gate.
11 Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man deserves the death sentence, because he has prophesied against this city, as you heard with your own ears.”
12 Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and this city, with all the words you have heard.
13 Now, change your ways and your actions, and listen to the voice of the LORD your God. Then the LORD may relent from the disaster he has spoken against you.
14 As for me, I am in your hands. Do with me what 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, on this city, and on its people. For the LORD really did send me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death sentence, because he spoke to us in the name of the LORD our God.”
17 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 Armies says: “Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become heaps of rubble, and the temple mount will be overgrown like a wooded hill.”’
19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t Hezekiah fear the LORD and seek the LORD’s favor? Didn’t the LORD relent from the disaster he had spoken against them? We are about to bring great disaster on ourselves!”
20 There was also another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD: Uriah son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and this land, using the same words as Jeremiah.
21 King Jehoiakim, all his warriors, and all the officials heard what he said, and the king sought to kill him. When Uriah heard about it, he was afraid, fled, and went to Egypt.
22 Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor and other men with him.
23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with the sword and threw his body into the graves of the common people.
24 But Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
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