Judah’s King Jehoahaz

36 Then^(A) the common people^[a] took Jehoahaz son of Josiah and made him king in Jerusalem in place of his father.

² Jehoahaz^[b] was 23 years old when he became king and reigned three months in Jerusalem. ³ The king of Egypt deposed him in Jerusalem and fined the land 7,500 pounds^[c] of silver and 75 pounds^[d] of gold.

Judah’s King Jehoiakim

⁴ Then Neco king of Egypt made Jehoahaz’s brother Eliakim king over Judah and Jerusalem and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But Neco took his brother Jehoahaz^[e] and brought him to Egypt.^(B)

⁵ Jehoiakim was 25 years old when he became king and reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God.^{(C) 6} Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked him^(D) and bound him in bronze^(E) shackles to take him to Babylon.^{(F) 7} Also Nebuchadnezzar took some of the utensils of the Lord’s temple to Babylon and put them in his temple in Babylon.^(G)

⁸ The rest of the deeds of Jehoiakim,^(H) the detestable things he did, and what was found against him, are written in the Book of Israel’s Kings. His son Jehoiachin became king in his place.

Judah’s King Jehoiachin

⁹ Jehoiachin was 18^[f] years old^(I) when he became king and reigned three months and 10 days in Jerusalem. He did what was evil in the Lord’s sight. ¹⁰ In the spring^[g](J) Nebuchadnezzar sent for him and brought him to Babylon along with the valuable utensils of the Lord’s temple. Then he made Jehoiachin’s brother Zedekiah king over Judah and Jerusalem.^(K)

Judah’s King Zedekiah

¹¹ Zedekiah was 21 years old^(L) when he became king and reigned 11 years in Jerusalem. ¹² He did what was evil in the sight of the Lord his God and did not humble himself^(M) before Jeremiah the prophet at the Lord’s command.^{(N) 13} He also rebelled against^(O) King Nebuchadnezzar who had made him swear allegiance by God. He became obstinate^[h](P) and hardened his heart against returning to Yahweh, the God of Israel. ¹⁴ All the leaders of the priests and the people multiplied their unfaithful deeds, imitating all the detestable practices of the nations, and they defiled the Lord’s temple that He had consecrated in Jerusalem.

The Destruction of Jerusalem

¹⁵ But Yahweh, the God of their ancestors sent word against them by the hand of His messengers, sending them time and time again,^(Q) for He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place. ¹⁶ But they kept ridiculing God’s messengers,^(R) despising His words,^(S) and scoffing at His prophets, until the Lord’s wrath was so stirred up against His people that there was no remedy.^{(T) 17} So He brought up against them the king of the Chaldeans,^(U) who killed their choice young men with the sword in the house of their sanctuary. He had no pity on young men or young women, elderly or aged; He handed them all over to him. ¹⁸ He took everything to Babylon—all the articles of God’s temple, large and small, the treasures of the Lord’s temple, and the treasures of the king and his officials. ¹⁹ Then the Chaldeans burned God’s temple.^(V) They tore down Jerusalem’s wall, burned down all its palaces, and destroyed all its valuable articles.

²⁰ He deported those who escaped from the sword to Babylon, and they became servants to him and his sons until the rise of the Persian^[i] kingdom.^{(W) 21} This fulfilled the word of the Lord through Jeremiah^(X) and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation^(Y) until 70 years were fulfilled.

The Decree of Cyrus

²² In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,^(Z) the word of the Lord spoken through^[j] Jeremiah^(AA) was fulfilled. The Lord put it into the mind of King Cyrus^(AB) of Persia to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and also to put it in writing:

The Source of Life

22 Then he showed me the river^[a] of living water, sparkling like crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb^{(A) 2} down the middle of the broad street of the city. The tree of life^[b] was on both sides of the river, bearing 12 kinds of fruit, producing its fruit every month.^(B) The leaves of the tree are for healing the nations, ³ and there will no longer be any curse.^(C) The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,^[c] and His slaves will serve Him. ⁴ They will see His face,^(D) and His name will be on their foreheads.^{(E) 5} Night will no longer exist,^(F) and people will not need lamplight or sunlight, because the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

The Time Is Near

⁶ Then he said to me, “These words are faithful and true.^(G) And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets,^[d] has sent His angel to show His slaves what must quickly take place.”^[e](H)

⁷ “Look, I am coming quickly!^(I) The one who keeps the prophetic words of this book is blessed.”^(J)

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. When I heard and saw them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had shown them to me. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow slave with you, your brothers the prophets, and those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”^{(K) 10} He also said to me, “Don’t seal the prophetic words of this book, because the time is near.^{(L) 11} Let the unrighteous go on in unrighteousness; let the filthy go on being made filthy; let the righteous go on in righteousness; and let the holy go on being made holy.”^(M)

¹² “Look! I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me^(N) to repay each person according to what he has done.^{(O) 13} I am the Alpha and the Omega,^(P) the First and the Last,^(Q) the Beginning and the End.^(R)

¹⁴ “Blessed^(S) are those who wash their robes,^[f] so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by the gates. ¹⁵ Outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying.^(T)

¹⁶ “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to attest these things to you^[g] for the churches. I am the Root^(U) and the Offspring of David,^(V) the Bright Morning Star.”^(W)

¹⁷ Both the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Anyone who hears should say, “Come!” And the one who is thirsty should come. Whoever desires should take the living water as a gift.^(X)

¹⁸ I testify to everyone who hears the prophetic words of this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book. ¹⁹ And if anyone takes away from the words of this prophetic book, God will take away his share of the tree of life and the holy city, written in this book.^(Y)

²⁰ He who testifies about these things^(Z) says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.”

Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!^(AA)

²¹ The grace of the Lord Jesus^[h] be with all the saints.^[i] Amen.^[j]