“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life(A) and the way of death. Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.(B) But whoever goes out and surrenders(C) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.(D) 10 I have determined to do this city harm(E) and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands(F) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’(G)

Read full chapter

And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.

10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the Lord: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.

Read full chapter

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague,(A) but whoever goes over to the Babylonians[a] will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.’(B)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 38:2 Or Chaldeans; also in verses 18, 19 and 23

Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

Read full chapter

17 Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender(A) to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live.(B) 18 But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands(C) of the Babylonians and they will burn(D) it down; you yourself will not escape(E) from them.’”

19 King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid(F) of the Jews who have gone over(G) to the Babylonians, for the Babylonians may hand me over to them and they will mistreat me.”

20 “They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey(H) the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well(I) with you, and your life(J) will be spared. 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what the Lord has revealed to me: 22 All the women(K) left in the palace of the king of Judah will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say to you:

“‘They misled you and overcame you—
    those trusted friends(L) of yours.
Your feet are sunk in the mud;(M)
    your friends have deserted you.’

23 “All your wives and children(N) will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape(O) from their hands but will be captured(P) by the king of Babylon; and this city will[a] be burned down.”(Q)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 38:23 Or and you will cause this city to

17 Then said Jeremiah unto Zedekiah, Thus saith the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel; If thou wilt assuredly go forth unto the king of Babylon's princes, then thy soul shall live, and this city shall not be burned with fire; and thou shalt live, and thine house:

18 But if thou wilt not go forth to the king of Babylon's princes, then shall this city be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, and they shall burn it with fire, and thou shalt not escape out of their hand.

19 And Zedekiah the king said unto Jeremiah, I am afraid of the Jews that are fallen to the Chaldeans, lest they deliver me into their hand, and they mock me.

20 But Jeremiah said, They shall not deliver thee. Obey, I beseech thee, the voice of the Lord, which I speak unto thee: so it shall be well unto thee, and thy soul shall live.

21 But if thou refuse to go forth, this is the word that the Lord hath shewed me:

22 And, behold, all the women that are left in the king of Judah's house shall be brought forth to the king of Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friends have set thee on, and have prevailed against thee: thy feet are sunk in the mire, and they are turned away back.

23 So they shall bring out all thy wives and thy children to the Chaldeans: and thou shalt not escape out of their hand, but shalt be taken by the hand of the king of Babylon: and thou shalt cause this city to be burned with fire.

Read full chapter

18 I will save(A) you; you will not fall by the sword(B) but will escape with your life,(C) because you trust(D) in me, declares the Lord.’”

Read full chapter

18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the Lord.

Read full chapter

Should you then seek great(A) things for yourself? Do not seek them.(B) For I will bring disaster(C) on all people,(D) declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape(E) with your life.’”(F)

Read full chapter

And seekest thou great things for thyself? seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the Lord: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest.

Read full chapter