Cities of Judah Warned

26 In the beginning of the reign of (A)Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying, “This is what the Lord says: ‘(B)Stand in the courtyard of the Lords house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have (C)come to worship in the Lords house (D)all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. (E)Do not omit a word! (F)Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, and (G)I will relent of the disaster which I am planning to inflict on them because of the evil of their deeds.’ And you shall say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “(H)If you do not listen to Me, to (I)walk in My Law which I have set before you, to listen to the words of (J)My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened; then I will make this house like (K)Shiloh, and I will make this city a (L)curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

A Plot to Murder Jeremiah

The (M)priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. Yet when Jeremiah finished speaking everything that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “(N)You must die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be (O)in ruins, without inhabitant’?” And (P)all the people gathered to Jeremiah at the house of the Lord.

10 When the (Q)officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat at the (R)entrance of the New Gate of the Lords house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets (S)spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A (T)death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied (U)against this city, just as you have heard with your own ears!”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “(V)The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Now then, (W)reform your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will relent of the disaster which He has pronounced against you. 14 But as for me, behold, (X)I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring (Y)innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words [a]so that you hear them.”

Jeremiah Is Spared

16 Then the officials and all the people (Z)said to the priests and the prophets, “No (AA)death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” 17 Then (AB)some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18 [b](AC)Micah of Moresheth used to prophesy in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies has said:

(AD)Zion will be plowed like a field,
And Jerusalem will become heaps of ruins,
And the (AE)mountain of the house like the [c]high places of a forest.”’

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah actually put him to death? Did he not (AF)fear the Lord and plead for the favor of the Lord, and (AG)the Lord relented of the disaster which He had pronounced against them? But we are (AH)committing a great evil against our own lives!”

20 Indeed, there was also a man who used to prophesy in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from (AI)Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah. 21 When King Jehoiakim and all his warriors and all the officials heard his words, then the (AJ)king sought to put him to death; but Uriah heard about it, and he was afraid, so he (AK)fled and went to Egypt. 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: (AL)Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him, to Egypt. 23 And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who (AM)killed him with a sword and threw his dead body into the [d]burial place of the [e]common people.

24 But the hand of (AN)Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was (AO)not handed over to the people to put him to death.

The Nations to Submit to Nebuchadnezzar

27 In the beginning of the reign of [f](AP)Zedekiah the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying— this is what the Lord has said to me: “Make for yourself (AQ)restraints and (AR)yokes and put them on your neck, and send [g]word to the king of (AS)Edom, the king of (AT)Moab, the king of the sons of (AU)Ammon, the king of (AV)Tyre, and to the king of (AW)Sidon [h]by the messengers who come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. Order them to go to their masters, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel says: “This is what you shall say to your masters: (AX)I have made the earth, mankind, and the animals which are on the face of the earth (AY)by My great power and by My outstretched arm, and I will (AZ)give it to the one who is [i]pleasing in My sight. And now I (BA)have handed all these lands over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, (BB)My servant, and I have also given him the (BC)animals of the field to serve him. (BD)All the nations shall serve him and his son and his grandson (BE)until the time of his own land comes; then (BF)many nations and great kings will [j]make him their servant.

‘And it will be that the nation or the kingdom which (BG)will not serve him, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and will not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation with the (BH)sword, with famine, and with plague,’ declares the Lord, ‘until I have eliminated [k]it by his hand. And as for you, (BI)do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your [l]dreamers, your soothsayers, or your sorcerers who talk to you, saying, “You will not serve the king of Babylon.” 10 For they are prophesying a (BJ)lie to you in order to (BK)remove you far from your land; and I will drive you away and you will perish. 11 But the nation that will (BL)bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will (BM)let remain on its land,’ declares the Lord, ‘and they will cultivate it and live in it.’”’”

12 I spoke words like all these to (BN)Zedekiah king of Judah, saying, “Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him and his people, and live! 13 Why should you (BO)die, you and your people, by the sword, famine, and plague, as the Lord has spoken to the nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 So (BP)do not listen to the words of the prophets who talk to you, saying, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying a (BQ)lie to you; 15 for (BR)I have not sent them,” declares the Lord, “but they are (BS)prophesying falsely in My name, so that I will (BT)drive you away and that you will perish, (BU)you and the prophets who prophesy to you.”

16 Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Do not listen to the words of your prophets who prophesy to you, saying, “Behold, the (BV)vessels of the Lords house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon”; for they are prophesying a (BW)lie to you. 17 Do not listen to them; serve the king of Babylon, and live! Why should this city (BX)become a place of ruins? 18 But (BY)if they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, have them now (BZ)plead with the Lord of armies that the vessels which are left in the house of the Lord and the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem do not go to Babylon. 19 For this is what the Lord of armies says concerning the (CA)pillars, concerning the [m]sea, concerning the kettle stands, and concerning the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take when he (CB)led into exile Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, from Jerusalem to Babylon, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 Yes, this is what the Lord of armies, the God of Israel, says concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord and in the house of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem: 22 “They will be (CC)brought to Babylon and will be there until the (CD)day I visit them,” declares the Lord. “Then I will (CE)bring them [n]back and restore them to this place.”’”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:15 Lit in your ears and the ears of all
  2. Jeremiah 26:18 Lit Micaiah the Morasthite
  3. Jeremiah 26:18 Or wooded heights
  4. Jeremiah 26:23 Lit graves
  5. Jeremiah 26:23 Lit sons of the people
  6. Jeremiah 27:1 Many mss Jehoiakim
  7. Jeremiah 27:3 Lit them
  8. Jeremiah 27:3 Lit by the hand of
  9. Jeremiah 27:5 Or upright
  10. Jeremiah 27:7 Or enslave him
  11. Jeremiah 27:8 Lit them
  12. Jeremiah 27:9 Lit dreams
  13. Jeremiah 27:19 I.e., the bronze basin or laver from the temple
  14. Jeremiah 27:22 Lit up

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(A) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard(B) 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.(C) Tell(D) them everything I command you; do not omit(E) a word. Perhaps they will listen and each will turn(F) from their evil ways. Then I will relent(G) 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(H) to me and follow my law,(I) 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(J)), then I will make this house like Shiloh(K) and this city a curse[a](L) 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(M) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(N) him and said, “You must die!(O) Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”(P) And all the people crowded(Q) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the officials(R) 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(S) 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(T) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(U)

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(V) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(W) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(X) 13 Now reform(Y) your ways and your actions and obey(Z) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(AA) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(AB) 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(AC) 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(AD) in your hearing.”

16 Then the officials(AE) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(AF) 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(AG) 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(AH) will be plowed like a field,
    Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(AI)
    the temple hill(AJ) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[b](AK)

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

20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim(AQ) 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(AR) and all his officers and officials(AS) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.(AT) But Uriah heard of it and fled(AU) in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan(AV) 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(AW) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)(AX)

24 Furthermore, Ahikam(AY) 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[c](AZ) 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(BA) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. Then send(BB) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,(BC) Tyre and Sidon(BD) 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(BE) I made(BF) the earth and its people and the animals(BG) that are on it, and I give(BH) it to anyone I please. Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant(BI) Nebuchadnezzar(BJ) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.(BK) All nations will serve(BL) him and his son and his grandson until the time(BM) for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate(BN) him.

“‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish(BO) that nation with the sword,(BP) famine(BQ) and plague,(BR) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. So do not listen to your prophets,(BS) your diviners,(BT) your interpreters of dreams,(BU) your mediums(BV) or your sorcerers(BW) who tell you, ‘You will not serve(BX) the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies(BY) to you that will only serve to remove(BZ) 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(CA) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live(CB) there, declares the Lord.”’”

12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke(CC) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.(CD) 13 Why will you and your people die(CE) by the sword, famine and plague(CF) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen(CG) to the words of the prophets(CH) who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies(CI) to you. 15 ‘I have not sent(CJ) them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.(CK) Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,(CL) 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(CM) from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Do not listen(CN) to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.(CO) Why should this city become a ruin? 18 If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead(CP) 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,(CQ) the movable stands and the other articles(CR) that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried(CS) Jehoiachin[d](CT) 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(CU) to Babylon and there they will remain until the day(CV) I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring(CW) them back and restore them to this place.’”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  2. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12
  3. 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.)
  4. Jeremiah 27:20 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin