²⁵ The king of Israel then ordered, “Take Micaiah and send him back to Amon the ruler of the city and to Joash the king’s son,

⁸ So the king of Israel called one of his officials and said, “Bring Micaiah son of Imlah at once.”

²⁵ As Paul talked about righteousness, self-control^(A) and the judgment^(B) to come, Felix was afraid^(C) and said, “That’s enough for now! You may leave. When I find it convenient, I will send for you.” ²⁶ At the same time he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe, so he sent for him frequently and talked with him.

²⁷ When two years had passed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus,^(D) but because Felix wanted to grant a favor to the Jews,^(E) he left Paul in prison.^(F)

⁶ So they took Jeremiah and put him into the cistern of Malkijah, the king’s son, which was in the courtyard of the guard.^(A) They lowered Jeremiah by ropes^(B) into the cistern; it had no water in it,^(C) only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud.^(D)

⁷ But Ebed-Melek,^(E) a Cushite,^[a] an official^[b](F) in the royal palace, heard that they had put Jeremiah into the cistern. While the king was sitting in the Benjamin Gate,^(G)

¹⁵ They were angry with Jeremiah and had him beaten^(A) and imprisoned^(B) in the house^(C) of Jonathan the secretary, which they had made into a prison.

¹⁶ Jeremiah was put into a vaulted cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time. ¹⁷ Then King Zedekiah sent^(D) for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked^(E) him privately,^(F) “Is there any word from the Lord?”

“Yes,” Jeremiah replied, “you will be delivered^(G) into the hands of the king of Babylon.”

¹⁸ Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, “What crime^(H) have I committed against you or your attendants or this people, that you have put me in prison? ¹⁹ Where are your prophets^(I) who prophesied to you, ‘The king of Babylon will not attack you or this land’? ²⁰ But now, my lord the king, please listen. Let me bring my petition before you: Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan the secretary, or I will die there.”^(J)

²¹ King Zedekiah then gave orders for Jeremiah to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread^(K) in the city was gone.^(L) So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.^(M)

⁸ In the eighteenth year of Josiah’s reign, to purify the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan son of Azaliah and Maaseiah the ruler of the city, with Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the temple of the Lord his God.