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25 The davar that came to Yirmeyah concerning kol HaAm Yehudah in the fourth year of Y’hoyakim Ben Yoshiyah Melech Yehudah, that was the first year of Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel;

The which Yirmeyah HaNavi spoke unto kol HaAm Yehudah, and to all the inhabitants of Yerushalayim, saying,

From the thirteenth year of Yoshiyah Ben Amon Melech Yehudah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the Devar Hashem hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not paid heed.

And Hashem hath sent unto you all His avadim the nevi’im, rising early and sending them; but ye have not paid heed, nor inclined your ozen to hear.

They said, Shuvu, make teshuvah now every ish from his derech ra’ah, and from the rah of your doings, and dwell in ha’aretz that Hashem hath given unto you and to avoteichem l’min olam v’ad olam;

And go not after elohim acherim to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke Me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no harm.

Yet ye have not paid heed unto Me, saith Hashem; that ye might provoke Me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

Therefore thus saith Hashem Tzva’os; Because ye have not paid heed to My Devarim,

Hinei, I will send and take all the mishpekhot of the tzafon (north), saith Hashem, and Avdi Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these Goyim all around, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.

10 Moreover I will cause to perish from them the kol sasson (voice of gladness), and the kol simchah (voice of joy), the voice of the Choson, and the voice of the Kallah, the sound of the millstones, and the ohr of the ner.

11 And this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these Goyim shall serve Melech Bavel shiv’im shanah (seventy years). [T.N. Note: length of Exile predicted here.]

12 And it shall come to pass, when shiv’im shanah are accomplished, that I will punish Melech Bavel, and that nation, saith Hashem, for their avon, and the Eretz Kasdim (Land of Chaldeans), and will make it perpetual desolations.

13 And I will bring upon that land all My Devarim which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this sefer, which Yirmeyah hath prophesied against kol HaGoyim.

14 For Goyim rabbim and melachim gedolim shall enslave them also; I will recompense them according to their deeds, according to the ma’aseh of their own hands.

15 For thus saith Hashem Elohei Yisroel unto me, Take this kos hayayin haChemah (wine cup of wrath, see Lk 22:42) from My yad, and cause kol HaGoyim, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

16 And they shall drink, and stagger, and go mad, because of the cherev that I will send among them.

17 Then took I the Kos from the yad Hashem, and made all the Goyim to drink, unto whom Hashem had sent me;

18 Namely, Yerushalayim, and the towns of Yehudah, and the melachim thereof, and the sarim thereof, to make them a desolation, an astonishment, a hissing, and a kelalah (curse); as it is this day;

19 Pharaoh Melech Mitzrayim, and his avadim, and his sarim and all his people;

20 And all the mixed multitude rabble, and kol melachim of Eretz Utz, and kol melachim of Eretz Pelishtim, and Ashkelon, and Azzah (Gaza), and Ekron, and the she’erit (remnant) of Ashdod,

21 Edom, and Moav, and the Bnei Ammon,

22 And kol melachim of Tzor, and kol melachim of Tzidon, and the melachim of the coastlands which are beyond the yam,

23 Dedan, and Tema, and Buz, and all that are in the utmost [desert] fringes,

24 And kol melachim of Arabia, and kol melachim of the mixed multitude rabble that dwell in the desert,

25 And kol melachim of Zimri, and kol melachim of Eilam, and kol melachim of the Medes,

26 And kol melachim of the tzafon, far and near, one after another, and all the mamlechot ha’aretz, which are upon the face of adamah; and Melech Sheshach [Babylon] shall drink after them.

27 Therefore thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel; Drink ye, and become shikkor, and vomit, and fall, and rise no more, because of the cherev which I will send among you.

28 And it shall be, if they refuse to take the Kos at thine yad to drink, then shalt thou say unto them, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, Ye shall certainly drink.

29 For, hinei, I begin to bring ra’ah on the Ir which is called by My Shem, and should ye be utterly unpunished? Ye shall not be unpunished; for I will call for a cherev upon all the inhabitants of ha’aretz, saith Hashem Tzva’os.

30 Therefore prophesy thou against them all these Devarim, and say unto them, Hashem shall roar from on high, and utter His voice from His Ma’on Kodesh; He shall mightily roar upon His Naveh (Dwelling); He shall give a shout, as they that tread the grapes, against all the inhabitants of ha’aretz.

31 A noise shall come even to the ends of ha’aretz; for Hashem hath a legal controversy with the Goyim, He will plead His case with kol basar; He will give them that are wicked to the cherev, saith Hashem.

32 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os, Hinei, ra’ah shall go forth from Goy to Goy, and a sa’ar gadol (great whirlwind) shall be raised up from the farthest ends of Eretz.

33 And the slain of Hashem shall be at that day from one end of ha’aretz even unto the other end of ha’aretz; they shall not be lamented, neither gathered, nor buried; they shall be dung upon the adamah.

34 Wail, ye ro’im (shepherds), and weep; and wallow yourselves in the ashes, ye leaders of the tzon; for the days of your slaughter and of your dispersions are accomplished; and ye shall fall like a precious pottery vessel.

35 And the ro’im (shepherds) shall have no refuge for fleeing, nor the leader of the tzon to escape.

36 A voice of the cry of the ro’im and a wailing of the leaders of the tzon, shall be heard: for Hashem hath destroyed their pasture.

37 And the ne’ot hashalom (peaceful folds) are laid waste because of the Charon Af Hashem.

38 He hath left His hiding place, as the lion; for their land is desolate because of the charon (anger) of the oppressor, and because of His charon af.

26 In the beginning of the reign of Y’hoyakim (Jehoiakim) Ben Yoshiyah Melech Yehudah came this Davar from Hashem saying

Thus saith Hashem: Stand in the khatzer (courtyard) of the Bais Hashem, and speak unto all the towns of Yehudah, which come to worship in the Bais Hashem, all the Devarim that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word;

If so be they will pay heed, turn every man from his derech hara’ah, that I may relent of the ra’ah, which I purpose to do unto them for the evil of their doings.

And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith Hashem: If ye will not pay heed to Me, to walk in My torah, which I have set before you,

To pay heed to the Devarim of My Avadim the Nevi’im, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early and sending them, but ye have not paid heed;

Then will I make this Bais like Shiloh, and will make this city a kelalah (curse) to all the Goyim of Ha’Aretz.

So the kohanim and the nevi’im and kol HaAm heard Yirmeyah speaking these Devarim in the Bais Hashem.

Now it came to pass, when Yirmeyah had made an end of speaking all that Hashem had commanded him to speak unto kol HaAm, that the kohanim and the nevi’im and kol HaAm laid hold of him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

Why hast thou prophesied B’Shem Hashem, saying, This Bais shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And kol HaAm were gathered against Yirmeyah in the Bais Hashem.

10 When the sarim of Yehudah heard these things, then they came up from the Bais HaMelech to the Beis Hashem, and sat down in the petach Sha’ar HeChadash (entrance of the New Gate) of [the Beis] Hashem.

11 Then spoke the kohanim and the nevi’im unto the sarim and to kol HaAm, saying, Mishpat mavet for this ish! For he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your oznayim.

12 Then spoke Yirmeyah unto all the sarim and to kol HaAm, saying, Hashem sent me to prophesy against this Bais and against this city all the Devarim that ye have heard.

13 Therefore now reform your drakhim and your doings, and obey the voice of Hashem Eloheichem; and Hashem will relent of the ra’ah that He hath pronounced against you.

14 As for me, see, I am in your yad; do with me as seemeth tov and yashar unto you.

15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring dahm naki upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for b’emes Hashem hath sent me unto you to speak all these Devarim in your oznayim.

16 Then said the sarim and kol HaAm unto the kohanim and to the nevi’im; This ish is not mishpat mavet (worthy of death); for he hath spoken to us B’Shem Hashem Eloheinu.

17 Then rose up anashim zekenim ha’aretz, and spoke to kol kehal HaAm, saying,

18 Michah the Morashti prophesied in the days of Chizkiyah Melech Yehudah, and spoke to kol Am Yehudah, saying, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os: Tziyon shall be plowed like a sadeh, and Yerushalayim shall become rubble heaps, and the Har HaBais (Temple Mount) like the bare heights of a ya’ar (forest).

19 Did Chizkiyah Melech Yehudah and kol Yehudah put him to death? Did he not fear Hashem, and besought Hashem, and Hashem relented of the ra’ah which He had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure ra’ah gedolah against nafshoteinu.

20 And there was also an ish that prophesied B’Shem Hashem, Uriyah Ben Shema’yahu of Kiryat HaYearim, who prophesied against this city and against HaAretz Hazot according to all the devarim of Yirmeyah.

21 And when Y’hoyakim (Jehoiakim) HaMelech, with all his gibborim, and all the sarim, heard his words, HaMelech sought to put him to death; but when Uriyah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Mitzrayim;

22 And Y’hoyakim HaMelech sent anashim into Mitzrayim, namely, Elnatan Ben Achbor, and certain anashim with him into Mitzrayim.

23 And they brought Uriyah out of Mitzrayim, and brought him unto Y’hoyakim HaMelech; who slaughtered him with the cherev, and cast his nevelah (dead body) into the kevarim of the Bnei HaAm (common people).

24 Nevertheless the yad (hand, influence) of Achikam Ben Shaphan was with Yirmeyah, that they should not give him into the yad HaAm to put him to death.

27 In the beginning of the reign of Y’hoyakim Ben Yoshiyah Melech Yehudah came this davar unto Yirmeyah from Hashem, saying,

Thus saith Hashem to me: Make thee bonds and yokes, and put them upon thy tzavar (neck),

And send them to Melech Edom, and to Melech Moav, and to Melech Bnei Ammon, and to Melech Tzor, and to Melech Tzidon, by the yad of the malachim which come to Yerushalayim unto Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah;

And command them to say unto their adonim, Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel: Thus shall ye say unto your adonim;

I have made ha’aretz (the earth), ha’adam and habehemah that are upon the face of the earth, by My great ko’ach and by My outstretched zero’a, and have given it unto whom it seemed yashar unto Me.

And now have I given all these lands into the yad Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel, Avdi (My servant); and the beasts of the sadeh have I given him also to serve him.

And all Goyim shall serve him, and bno, and ben bno, until the very time of his land come; and then many Goyim and great melachim shall make him serve [in bondage to] them.

And it shall come to pass, that the goy (nation) and mamlachah (kingdom) which will not serve the same Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel, and that will not put their tzavar (neck) under the yoke of HaMelech Bavel, that nation will I punish, saith Hashem, with the cherev, and with the ra’av (famine), and with the dever, until I have consumed them by his yad.

Therefore do not pay heed to your nevi’im, nor to your diviners, nor to your dreamers, nor to your soothsayers, nor to your sorcerers, which speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve Melech Bavel;

10 For they prophesy sheker unto you, to remove you far from your land; and that I should drive you out, and ye should perish.

11 But the Goyim that bring their tzavar (neck) under the yoke of the Melech Bavel, and serve him, those will I let remain still in their own adamah, saith Hashem; and they shall till it, and dwell therein.

12 I spoke also to Tzidkiyah Melech Yehudah according to all these Devarim, saying, Bring your tzavarot (necks) under the yoke of Melech Bavel, and serve Him and his people, and live.

13 Why will ye die, thou and thy people, by the cherev, by the ra’av (famine), and by the dever, as Hashem hath spoken against the goy (nation) that will not serve Melech Bavel?

14 Therefore do not pay heed unto the devarim of the nevi’im that speak unto you, saying, Ye shall not serve Melech Bavel; for they prophesy sheker unto you.

15 For I have not sent them, saith Hashem, yet they prophesy sheker in My name; that I might drive you out, and that ye might perish, ye, and the nevi’im that prophesy unto you.

16 Also I spoke to the kohanim and to all this people, saying, Thus saith Hashem: Do not pay heed to the devarim of your nevi’im that prophesy unto you, saying, Hinei, the K’lei Beis Hashem shall now shortly be brought back from Bavel; for they prophesy sheker unto you.

17 Do not pay heed unto them; serve Melech Bavel, and live; why should this ir be laid waste?

18 But if they are nevi’im, and if the Devar Hashem be with them, let them now make intercession to Hashem Tzva’os, that the kelim (vessels) which are left in the Beis Hashem, and in the Bais HaMelech Yehudah, and at Yerushalayim, go not to Bavel.

19 For thus saith Hashem Tzva’os concerning the Ammudim (Pillars) and concerning the Yam (Sea), and concerning the Mekhonot (Stands [supporting the lavers]), and concerning the remainder of the kelim that remain in this ir.

20 Which Nevuchadretzar Melech Bavel took not, when he carried away captive Yechanyah Ben Y’hoyakim Melech Yehudah from Yerushalayim to Bavel, and all the nobles of Yehudah and Yerushalayim;

21 Thus saith Hashem Tzva’os Elohei Yisroel, concerning the kelim (vessels) that remain in the Beis Hashem, and in the Bais HaMelech Yehudah and Yerushalayim;

22 They shall be carried to Bavel, and there shall they be until the day that I visit them, saith Hashem; then will I bring them up, and restore them to this makon.

Seventy Years of Captivity

25 The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim(A) son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar(B) king of Babylon. So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah(C) and to all those living in Jerusalem: For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah(D) son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again,(E) but you have not listened.(F)

And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets(G) to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.(H) They said, “Turn(I) now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land(J) the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. Do not follow other gods(K) to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”

“But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused(L) my anger with what your hands have made,(M) and you have brought harm(N) to yourselves.”

Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon(O) all the peoples of the north(P) and my servant(Q) Nebuchadnezzar(R) king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy[a](S) them and make them an object of horror and scorn,(T) and an everlasting ruin.(U) 10 I will banish from them the sounds(V) of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom,(W) the sound of millstones(X) and the light of the lamp.(Y) 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland,(Z) and these nations will serve(AA) the king of Babylon seventy years.(AB)

12 “But when the seventy years(AC) are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon(AD) and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,[b] for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate(AE) forever. 13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written(AF) in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. 14 They themselves will be enslaved(AG) by many nations(AH) and great kings; I will repay(AI) them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”

The Cup of God’s Wrath

15 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup(AJ) filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send(AK) you drink it. 16 When they drink(AL) it, they will stagger(AM) and go mad(AN) because of the sword(AO) I will send among them.”

17 So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent(AP) me drink it: 18 Jerusalem(AQ) and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin(AR) and an object of horror and scorn,(AS) a curse[c](AT)—as they are today;(AU) 19 Pharaoh king(AV) of Egypt,(AW) his attendants, his officials and all his people, 20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz;(AX) all the kings of the Philistines(AY) (those of Ashkelon,(AZ) Gaza,(BA) Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); 21 Edom,(BB) Moab(BC) and Ammon;(BD) 22 all the kings of Tyre(BE) and Sidon;(BF) the kings of the coastlands(BG) across the sea; 23 Dedan,(BH) Tema,(BI) Buz(BJ) and all who are in distant places[d];(BK) 24 all the kings of Arabia(BL) and all the kings of the foreign people(BM) who live in the wilderness; 25 all the kings of Zimri,(BN) Elam(BO) and Media;(BP) 26 and all the kings of the north,(BQ) near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms(BR) on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak[e](BS) will drink it too.

27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk(BT) and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword(BU) I will send among you.’ 28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink(BV), tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster(BW) on the city that bears my Name,(BX) and will you indeed go unpunished?(BY) You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword(BZ) on all(CA) who live on the earth,(CB) declares the Lord Almighty.’

30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:

“‘The Lord will roar(CC) from on high;
    he will thunder(CD) from his holy dwelling(CE)
    and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread(CF) the grapes,
    shout against all who live on the earth.
31 The tumult(CG) will resound to the ends of the earth,
    for the Lord will bring charges(CH) against the nations;
he will bring judgment(CI) on all(CJ) mankind
    and put the wicked to the sword,(CK)’”
declares the Lord.

32 This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Look! Disaster(CL) is spreading
    from nation to nation;(CM)
a mighty storm(CN) is rising
    from the ends of the earth.”(CO)

33 At that time those slain(CP) by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered(CQ) up or buried,(CR) but will be like dung lying on the ground.

34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;(CS)
    roll(CT) in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered(CU) has come;
    you will fall like the best of the rams.[f](CV)
35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
    the leaders of the flock no place to escape.(CW)
36 Hear the cry(CX) of the shepherds,(CY)
    the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
    for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
    because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
38 Like a lion(CZ) he will leave his lair,
    and their land will become desolate(DA)
because of the sword[g] of the oppressor(DB)
    and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.(DC)

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(DD) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard(DE) of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord.(DF) Tell(DG) them everything I command you; do not omit(DH) a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn(DI) from their evil ways. Then I will relent(DJ) and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen(DK) to me and follow my law,(DL) which I have set before you, and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened(DM)), then I will make this house like Shiloh(DN) and this city a curse[h](DO) among all the nations of the earth.’”

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded(DP) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(DQ) him and said, “You must die!(DR) Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”(DS) And all the people crowded(DT) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the officials(DU) of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate(DV) of the Lord’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death(DW) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(DX)

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(DY) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(DZ) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(EA) 13 Now reform(EB) your ways and your actions and obey(EC) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(ED) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(EE) do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood(EF) on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words(EG) in your hearing.”

16 Then the officials(EH) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(EI) He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah(EJ) of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“‘Zion(EK) will be plowed like a field,
    Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(EL)
    the temple hill(EM) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[i](EN)

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah(EO) fear the Lord and seek(EP) his favor? And did not the Lord relent,(EQ) so that he did not bring the disaster(ER) he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster(ES) on ourselves!”

20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim(ET) was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim(EU) and all his officers and officials(EV) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.(EW) But Uriah heard of it and fled(EX) in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan(EY) son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword(EZ) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)(FA)

24 Furthermore, Ahikam(FB) son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

27 Early in the reign of Zedekiah[j](FC) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke(FD) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. Then send(FE) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,(FF) Tyre and Sidon(FG) through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. Give them a message for their masters and say, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters: With my great power and outstretched arm(FH) I made(FI) the earth and its people and the animals(FJ) that are on it, and I give(FK) it to anyone I please. Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant(FL) Nebuchadnezzar(FM) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.(FN) All nations will serve(FO) him and his son and his grandson until the time(FP) for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate(FQ) him.

“‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish(FR) that nation with the sword,(FS) famine(FT) and plague,(FU) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. So do not listen to your prophets,(FV) your diviners,(FW) your interpreters of dreams,(FX) your mediums(FY) or your sorcerers(FZ) who tell you, ‘You will not serve(GA) the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies(GB) to you that will only serve to remove(GC) you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. 11 But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke(GD) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live(GE) there, declares the Lord.”’”

12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke(GF) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.(GG) 13 Why will you and your people die(GH) by the sword, famine and plague(GI) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen(GJ) to the words of the prophets(GK) who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies(GL) to you. 15 ‘I have not sent(GM) them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.(GN) Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,(GO) both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’”

16 Then I said to the priests and all these people, “This is what the Lord says: Do not listen to the prophets who say, ‘Very soon now the articles(GP) from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Do not listen(GQ) to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.(GR) Why should this city become a ruin? 18 If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead(GS) with the Lord Almighty that the articles remaining in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon. 19 For this is what the Lord Almighty says about the pillars, the bronze Sea,(GT) the movable stands and the other articles(GU) that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried(GV) Jehoiachin[k](GW) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about the things that are left in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem: 22 ‘They will be taken(GX) to Babylon and there they will remain until the day(GY) I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring(GZ) them back and restore them to this place.’”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 25:9 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  2. Jeremiah 25:12 Or Chaldeans
  3. Jeremiah 25:18 That is, their names to be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, to be seen by others as cursed
  4. Jeremiah 25:23 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads
  5. Jeremiah 25:26 Sheshak is a cryptogram for Babylon.
  6. Jeremiah 25:34 Septuagint; Hebrew fall and be shattered like fine pottery
  7. Jeremiah 25:38 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 46:16 and 50:16); most Hebrew manuscripts anger
  8. Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  9. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12
  10. Jeremiah 27:1 A few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also 27:3,12 and 28:1); most Hebrew manuscripts Jehoiakim (Most Septuagint manuscripts do not have this verse.)
  11. Jeremiah 27:20 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin