Jeremiah 21-29

New International Version

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

21 The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah^(A) sent to him Pashhur^(B) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah^(C) son of Maaseiah. They said: ²“Inquire^(D) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar^[a]^(E) king of Babylon^(F) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders^(G) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

³But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, ⁴‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn^(H) against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians^[b] who are outside the wall besieging^(I) you. And I will gather them inside this city. ⁵I myself will fight^(J) against you with an outstretched hand^(K) and a mighty arm^(L) in furious anger and in great wrath. ⁶I will strike^(M) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.^(N) ⁷After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah^(O) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,^(P) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^(Q) and to their enemies^(R) who want to kill them.^(S) He will put them to the sword;^(T) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’^(U)

⁸“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life^(V) and the way of death. ⁹Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.^(W) But whoever goes out and surrenders^(X) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.^(Y) ¹⁰I have determined to do this city harm^(Z) and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands^(AA) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’^(AB)

¹¹“Moreover, say to the royal house^(AC) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. ¹²This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:

“‘Administer justice^(AD) every morning;
    rescue from the hand of the oppressor^(AE)
    the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire^(AF)
    because of the evil^(AG) you have done—
    burn with no one to quench^(AH) it.
¹³I am against^(AI) you, Jerusalem,
    you who live above this valley^(AJ)
    on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord—
you who say, “Who can come against us?
    Who can enter our refuge?”^(AK)
¹⁴I will punish you as your deeds^(AL) deserve,
    declares the Lord.
I will kindle a fire^(AM) in your forests^(AN)
    that will consume everything around you.’”

Judgment Against Wicked Kings

22 This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the palace of the king^(AO) of Judah and proclaim this message there: ²‘Hear^(AP) the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne^(AQ)—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates.^(AR) ³This is what the Lord says: Do what is just^(AS) and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor^(AT) the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow,^(AU) and do not shed innocent blood^(AV) in this place. ⁴For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings^(AW) who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people. ⁵But if you do not obey^(AX) these commands, declares the Lord, I swear^(AY) by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’”

⁶For this is what the Lord says about the palace of the king of Judah:

“Though you are like Gilead^(AZ) to me,
    like the summit of Lebanon,^(BA)
I will surely make you like a wasteland,^(BB)
    like towns not inhabited.
⁷I will send destroyers^(BC) against you,
    each man with his weapons,
and they will cut^(BD) up your fine cedar beams
    and throw them into the fire.^(BE)

⁸“People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?’^(BF) ⁹And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods.^(BG)’”

¹⁰Do not weep for the dead^(BH) king or mourn^(BI) his loss;
rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,
because he will never return^(BJ)
nor see his native land again.

¹¹For this is what the Lord says about Shallum^[c]^(BK) son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: “He will never return. ¹²He will die^(BL) in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again.”

¹³“Woe^(BM) to him who builds^(BN) his palace by unrighteousness,
    his upper rooms by injustice,
making his own people work for nothing,
    not paying^(BO) them for their labor.
¹⁴He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace^(BP)
    with spacious upper rooms.’
So he makes large windows in it,
    panels it with cedar^(BQ)
    and decorates it in red.^(BR)

¹⁵“Does it make you a king
    to have more and more cedar?
Did not your father have food and drink?
    He did what was right and just,^(BS)
    so all went well^(BT) with him.
¹⁶He defended the cause of the poor and needy,^(BU)
    and so all went well.
Is that not what it means to know^(BV) me?”
    declares the Lord.
¹⁷“But your eyes and your heart
    are set only on dishonest gain,^(BW)
on shedding innocent blood^(BX)
    and on oppression and extortion.”^(BY)

¹⁸Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

“They will not mourn^(BZ) for him:
    ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’
They will not mourn for him:
    ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’
¹⁹He will have the burial^(CA) of a donkey—
    dragged away and thrown^(CB)
    outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

²⁰“Go up to Lebanon and cry out,^(CC)
    let your voice be heard in Bashan,^(CD)
cry out from Abarim,^(CE)
    for all your allies^(CF) are crushed.
²¹I warned you when you felt secure,^(CG)
    but you said, ‘I will not listen!’
This has been your way from your youth;^(CH)
    you have not obeyed^(CI) me.
²²The wind^(CJ) will drive all your shepherds^(CK) away,
    and your allies^(CL) will go into exile.
Then you will be ashamed and disgraced^(CM)
    because of all your wickedness.
²³You who live in ‘Lebanon,^[d]^(CN)’
    who are nestled in cedar buildings,
how you will groan when pangs come upon you,
    pain^(CO) like that of a woman in labor!

²⁴“As surely as I live,” declares the Lord, “even if you, Jehoiachin^[e]^(CP) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring^(CQ) on my right hand, I would still pull you off. ²⁵I will deliver^(CR) you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.^[f] ²⁶I will hurl^(CS) you and the mother^(CT) who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. ²⁷You will never come back to the land you long to return^(CU) to.”

²⁸Is this man Jehoiachin^(CV) a despised, broken pot,^(CW)
    an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled^(CX) out,
    cast into a land^(CY) they do not know?
²⁹O land,^(CZ) land, land,
    hear the word of the Lord!
³⁰This is what the Lord says:
“Record this man as if childless,^(DA)
    a man who will not prosper^(DB) in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring^(DC) will prosper,
    none will sit on the throne^(DD) of David
    or rule anymore in Judah.”

The Righteous Branch

23 “Woe to the shepherds^(DE) who are destroying and scattering^(DF) the sheep of my pasture!”^(DG) declares the Lord. ²Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds^(DH) who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock^(DI) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil^(DJ) you have done,” declares the Lord. ³“I myself will gather the remnant^(DK) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,^(DL) where they will be fruitful and increase in number. ⁴I will place shepherds^(DM) over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid^(DN) or terrified, nor will any be missing,^(DO)” declares the Lord.

⁵“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will raise up for David^[g] a righteous Branch,^(DP)
a King^(DQ) who will reign^(DR) wisely
    and do what is just and right^(DS) in the land.
⁶In his days Judah will be saved
    and Israel will live in safety.^(DT)
This is the name^(DU) by which he will be called:
    The Lord Our Righteous Savior.^(DV)

⁷“So then, the days are coming,”^(DW) declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’^(DX) ⁸but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”^(DY)

Lying Prophets

⁹Concerning the prophets:

My heart^(DZ) is broken within me;
    all my bones tremble.^(EA)
I am like a drunken man,
    like a strong man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord
    and his holy words.^(EB)
¹⁰The land is full of adulterers;^(EC)
    because of the curse^[h]^(ED) the land lies parched
    and the pastures^(EE) in the wilderness are withered.^(EF)
The prophets follow an evil course
    and use their power unjustly.

¹¹“Both prophet and priest are godless;^(EG)
    even in my temple^(EH) I find their wickedness,”
declares the Lord.
¹²“Therefore their path will become slippery;^(EI)
    they will be banished to darkness
    and there they will fall.
I will bring disaster on them
    in the year they are punished,^(EJ)”
declares the Lord.

¹³“Among the prophets of Samaria
    I saw this repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal^(EK)
    and led my people Israel astray.^(EL)
¹⁴And among the prophets of Jerusalem
    I have seen something horrible:^(EM)
    They commit adultery and live a lie.^(EN)
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,^(EO)
    so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.^(EP)
They are all like Sodom^(EQ) to me;
    the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”^(ER)

¹⁵Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets:

“I will make them eat bitter food
and drink poisoned water,^(ES)
because from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness^(ET) has spread throughout the land.”

¹⁶This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Do not listen^(EU) to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
    they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions^(EV) from their own minds,
    not from the mouth^(EW) of the Lord.
¹⁷They keep saying^(EX) to those who despise me,
    ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’^(EY)
And to all who follow the stubbornness^(EZ) of their hearts
    they say, ‘No harm^(FA) will come to you.’
¹⁸But which of them has stood in the council^(FB) of the Lord
    to see or to hear his word?
    Who has listened and heard his word?
¹⁹See, the storm^(FC) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind^(FD) swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
²⁰The anger^(FE) of the Lord will not turn back^(FF)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand it clearly.
²¹I did not send^(FG) these prophets,
    yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
    yet they have prophesied.
²²But if they had stood in my council,^(FH)
    they would have proclaimed^(FI) my words to my people
and would have turned^(FJ) them from their evil ways
    and from their evil deeds.^(FK)

²³“Am I only a God nearby,^(FL)”
declares the Lord,
    “and not a God far away?
²⁴Who can hide^(FM) in secret places
    so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
    “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”^(FN)
declares the Lord.

²⁵“I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies^(FO) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!^(FP) I had a dream!’ ²⁶How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions^(FQ) of their own minds?^(FR) ²⁷They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget^(FS) my name, just as their ancestors forgot^(FT) my name through Baal worship.^(FU) ²⁸Let the prophet who has a dream^(FV) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word^(FW) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. ²⁹“Is not my word like fire,”^(FX) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer^(FY) that breaks a rock in pieces?

³⁰“Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against^(FZ) the prophets^(GA) who steal from one another words supposedly from me. ³¹Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’^(GB) ³²Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,^(GC)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray^(GD) with their reckless lies,^(GE) yet I did not send^(GF) or appoint them. They do not benefit^(GG) these people in the least,” declares the Lord.

False Prophecy

³³“When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message^(GH) from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake^(GI) you, declares the Lord.’ ³⁴If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message^(GJ) from the Lord,’ I will punish^(GK) them and their household. ³⁵This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’^(GL) or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁶But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort^(GM) the words of the living God,^(GN) the Lord Almighty, our God. ³⁷This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ ³⁸Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ ³⁹Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast^(GO) you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. ⁴⁰I will bring on you everlasting disgrace^(GP)—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”

Two Baskets of Figs

24 After Jehoiachin^[i]^(GQ) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs^(GR) placed in front of the temple of the Lord. ²One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early;^(GS) the other basket had very bad^(GT) figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

³Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see,^(GU) Jeremiah?”

“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”

⁴Then the word of the Lord came to me: ⁵“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent^(GV) away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.^[j] ⁶My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back^(GW) to this land. I will build^(GX) them up and not tear them down; I will plant^(GY) them and not uproot them. ⁷I will give them a heart to know^(GZ) me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people,^(HA) and I will be their God, for they will return^(HB) to me with all their heart.^(HC)

⁸“‘But like the bad^(HD) figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah^(HE) king of Judah, his officials^(HF) and the survivors^(HG) from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.^(HH) ⁹I will make them abhorrent^(HI) and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword,^(HJ) a curse^[k]^(HK) and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish^(HL) them. ¹⁰I will send the sword,^(HM) famine^(HN) and plague^(HO) against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.^(HP)’”

Seventy Years of Captivity

25 The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim^(HQ) son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar^(HR) king of Babylon. ²So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah^(HS) and to all those living in Jerusalem: ³For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah^(HT) 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,^(HU) but you have not listened.^(HV)

⁴And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets^(HW) to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.^(HX) ⁵They said, “Turn^(HY) now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land^(HZ) the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. ⁶Do not follow other gods^(IA) to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”

⁷“But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused^(IB) my anger with what your hands have made,^(IC) and you have brought harm^(ID) to yourselves.”

⁸Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, ⁹I will summon^(IE) all the peoples of the north^(IF) and my servant^(IG) Nebuchadnezzar^(IH) 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^[l]^(II) them and make them an object of horror and scorn,^(IJ) and an everlasting ruin.^(IK) ¹⁰I will banish from them the sounds^(IL) of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom,^(IM) the sound of millstones^(IN) and the light of the lamp.^(IO) ¹¹This whole country will become a desolate wasteland,^(IP) and these nations will serve^(IQ) the king of Babylon seventy years.^(IR)

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

The Cup of God’s Wrath

¹⁵This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup^(IZ) filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send^(JA) you drink it. ¹⁶When they drink^(JB) it, they will stagger^(JC) and go mad^(JD) because of the sword^(JE) I will send among them.”

¹⁷So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent^(JF) me drink it: ¹⁸Jerusalem^(JG) and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin^(JH) and an object of horror and scorn,^(JI) a curse^[n]^(JJ)—as they are today;^(JK) ¹⁹Pharaoh king^(JL) of Egypt,^(JM) his attendants, his officials and all his people, ²⁰and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz;^(JN) all the kings of the Philistines^(JO) (those of Ashkelon,^(JP) Gaza,^(JQ) Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); ²¹Edom,^(JR) Moab^(JS) and Ammon;^(JT) ²²all the kings of Tyre^(JU) and Sidon;^(JV) the kings of the coastlands^(JW) across the sea; ²³Dedan,^(JX) Tema,^(JY) Buz^(JZ) and all who are in distant places^[o];^(KA) ²⁴all the kings of Arabia^(KB) and all the kings of the foreign people^(KC) who live in the wilderness; ²⁵all the kings of Zimri,^(KD) Elam^(KE) and Media;^(KF) ²⁶and all the kings of the north,^(KG) near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms^(KH) on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak^[p]^(KI) will drink it too.

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

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

“‘The Lord will roar^(KS) from on high;
    he will thunder^(KT) from his holy dwelling^(KU)
    and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread^(KV) the grapes,
    shout against all who live on the earth.
³¹The tumult^(KW) will resound to the ends of the earth,
    for the Lord will bring charges^(KX) against the nations;
he will bring judgment^(KY) on all^(KZ) mankind
    and put the wicked to the sword,^(LA)’”
declares the Lord.

³²This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“Look! Disaster^(LB) is spreading
from nation to nation;^(LC)
a mighty storm^(LD) is rising
from the ends of the earth.”^(LE)

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

³⁴Weep and wail, you shepherds;^(LI)
    roll^(LJ) in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered^(LK) has come;
    you will fall like the best of the rams.^[q]^(LL)
³⁵The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
    the leaders of the flock no place to escape.^(LM)
³⁶Hear the cry^(LN) of the shepherds,^(LO)
    the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
    for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
³⁷The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
    because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
³⁸Like a lion^(LP) he will leave his lair,
    and their land will become desolate^(LQ)
because of the sword^[r] of the oppressor^(LR)
    and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.^(LS)

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim^(LT) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: ²“This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard^(LU) 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.^(LV) Tell^(LW) them everything I command you; do not omit^(LX) a word. ³Perhaps they will listen and each will turn^(LY) from their evil ways. Then I will relent^(LZ) and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. ⁴Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen^(MA) to me and follow my law,^(MB) which I have set before you, ⁵and 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^(MC)), ⁶then I will make this house like Shiloh^(MD) and this city a curse^[s]^(ME) among all the nations of the earth.’”

⁷The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. ⁸But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded^(MF) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized^(MG) him and said, “You must die!^(MH) ⁹Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”^(MI) And all the people crowded^(MJ) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

¹⁰When the officials^(MK) 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^(ML) of the Lord’s house. ¹¹Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death^(MM) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”^(MN)

¹²Then Jeremiah said to all the officials^(MO) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy^(MP) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.^(MQ) ¹³Now reform^(MR) your ways and your actions and obey^(MS) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent^(MT) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. ¹⁴As for me, I am in your hands;^(MU) do with me whatever you think is good and right. ¹⁵Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood^(MV) 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^(MW) in your hearing.”

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

¹⁷Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, ¹⁸“Micah^(MZ) 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^(NA) will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,^(NB)
the temple hill^(NC) a mound overgrown with thickets.’^[t]^(ND)

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

²⁰(Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim^(NJ) 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. ²¹When King Jehoiakim^(NK) and all his officers and officials^(NL) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.^(NM) But Uriah heard of it and fled^(NN) in fear to Egypt. ²²King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan^(NO) son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. ²³They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword^(NP) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)^(NQ)

²⁴Furthermore, Ahikam^(NR) 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^[u]^(NS) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ²This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke^(NT) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. ³Then send^(NU) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,^(NV) Tyre and Sidon^(NW) through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. ⁴Give them a message for their masters and say, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters: ⁵With my great power and outstretched arm^(NX) I made^(NY) the earth and its people and the animals^(NZ) that are on it, and I give^(OA) it to anyone I please. ⁶Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant^(OB) Nebuchadnezzar^(OC) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.^(OD) ⁷All nations will serve^(OE) him and his son and his grandson until the time^(OF) for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate^(OG) him.

⁸“‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish^(OH) that nation with the sword,^(OI) famine^(OJ) and plague,^(OK) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. ⁹So do not listen to your prophets,^(OL) your diviners,^(OM) your interpreters of dreams,^(ON) your mediums^(OO) or your sorcerers^(OP) who tell you, ‘You will not serve^(OQ) the king of Babylon.’ ¹⁰They prophesy lies^(OR) to you that will only serve to remove^(OS) you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. ¹¹But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke^(OT) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live^(OU) there, declares the Lord.”’”

¹²I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke^(OV) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.^(OW) ¹³Why will you and your people die^(OX) by the sword, famine and plague^(OY) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? ¹⁴Do not listen^(OZ) to the words of the prophets^(PA) who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies^(PB) to you. ¹⁵‘I have not sent^(PC) them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.^(PD) Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,^(PE) both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’”

¹⁶Then 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^(PF) from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. ¹⁷Do not listen^(PG) to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.^(PH) Why should this city become a ruin? ¹⁸If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead^(PI) 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. ¹⁹For this is what the Lord Almighty says about the pillars, the bronze Sea,^(PJ) the movable stands and the other articles^(PK) that are left in this city, ²⁰which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried^(PL) Jehoiachin^[v]^(PM) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— ²¹yes, 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^(PN) to Babylon and there they will remain until the day^(PO) I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring^(PP) them back and restore them to this place.’”

The False Prophet Hananiah

28 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah^(PQ) king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon,^(PR) said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people: ²“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke^(PS) of the king of Babylon. ³Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles^(PT) of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. ⁴I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin^[w]^(PU) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”^(PV)

⁵Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord. ⁶He said, “Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.^(PW) ⁷Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: ⁸From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague^(PX) against many countries and great kingdoms. ⁹But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.^(PY)”

¹⁰Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke^(PZ) off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, ¹¹and he said^(QA) before all the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.’” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.

¹²After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ¹³“Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. ¹⁴This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke^(QB) on the necks of all these nations to make them serve^(QC) Nebuchadnezzar^(QD) king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.^(QE)’”

¹⁵Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent^(QF) you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.^(QG) ¹⁶Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth.^(QH) This very year you are going to die,^(QI) because you have preached rebellion^(QJ) against the Lord.’”

¹⁷In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.^(QK)

A Letter to the Exiles

29 This is the text of the letter^(QL) that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.^(QM) ²(This was after King Jehoiachin^[x]^(QN) and the queen mother,^(QO) the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) ³He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:

⁴This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried^(QP) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵“Build^(QQ) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. ⁶Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.^(QR) ⁷Also, seek^(QS) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray^(QT) to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” ⁸Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets^(QU) and diviners among you deceive^(QV) you. Do not listen to the dreams^(QW) you encourage them to have.^(QX) ⁹They are prophesying lies^(QY) to you in my name. I have not sent^(QZ) them,” declares the Lord.

¹⁰This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years^(RA) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you^(RB) and fulfill my good promise^(RC) to bring you back^(RD) to this place. ¹¹For I know the plans^(RE) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper^(RF) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.^(RG) ¹²Then you will call^(RH) on me and come and pray^(RI) to me, and I will listen^(RJ) to you. ¹³You will seek^(RK) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.^(RL) ¹⁴I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back^(RM) from captivity.^[y] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”^(RN)

¹⁵You may say, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,” ¹⁶but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile— ¹⁷yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague^(RO) against them and I will make them like figs^(RP) that are so bad they cannot be eaten. ¹⁸I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent^(RQ) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse^[z]^(RR) and an object of horror,^(RS) of scorn^(RT) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. ¹⁹For they have not listened to my words,”^(RU) declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again^(RV) by my servants the prophets.^(RW) And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.

²⁰Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I have sent^(RX) away from Jerusalem to Babylon. ²¹This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies^(RY) to you in my name: “I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes. ²²Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned^(RZ) in the fire.’ ²³For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery^(SA) with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know^(SB) it and am a witness^(SC) to it,” declares the Lord.

Message to Shemaiah

²⁴Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, ²⁵“This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah^(SD) son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah, ²⁶‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any maniac^(SE) who acts like a prophet into the stocks^(SF) and neck-irons. ²⁷So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? ²⁸He has sent this message^(SG) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.^(SH) Therefore build^(SI) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”

²⁹Zephaniah^(SJ) the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. ³⁰Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: ³¹“Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah^(SK) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send^(SL) him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, ³²this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.^(SM) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good^(SN) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion^(SO) against me.’”

Footnotes

Jeremiah 21:2 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, of which Nebuchadnezzar is a variant; here and often in Jeremiah and Ezekiel
Jeremiah 21:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 9
Jeremiah 22:11 Also called Jehoahaz
Jeremiah 22:23 That is, the palace in Jerusalem (see 1 Kings 7:2)
Jeremiah 22:24 Hebrew Koniah, a variant of Jehoiachin; also in verse 28
Jeremiah 22:25 Or Chaldeans
Jeremiah 23:5 Or up from David’s line
Jeremiah 23:10 Or because of these things
Jeremiah 24:1 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
Jeremiah 24:5 Or Chaldeans
Jeremiah 24:9 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that they are cursed.
Jeremiah 25:9 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
Jeremiah 25:12 Or Chaldeans
Jeremiah 25:18 That is, their names to be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, to be seen by others as cursed
Jeremiah 25:23 Or who clip the hair by their foreheads
Jeremiah 25:26 Sheshak is a cryptogram for Babylon.
Jeremiah 25:34 Septuagint; Hebrew fall and be shattered like fine pottery
Jeremiah 25:38 Some Hebrew manuscripts and Septuagint (see also 46:16 and 50:16); most Hebrew manuscripts anger
Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12
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.)
Jeremiah 27:20 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
Jeremiah 28:4 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes
Jeremiah 29:18 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see verse 22); or, others will see that they are cursed.