²⁰ For because of the anger of the Lord it came to the point in Jerusalem and Judah that he cast them out from his presence.

^(A)And Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

^13 (A)He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him swear by God. ^(B)He stiffened his neck and hardened his heart against turning to the Lord, the God of Israel.

⁹ The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan ^(A)with all power and false signs and wonders, ¹⁰ and with all wicked deception for ^(B)those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ¹¹ Therefore ^(C)God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe ^(D)what is false,

^20 (A)Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? ^(B)Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

^15 (A)But he rebelled against him by sending his ambassadors ^(B)to Egypt, that they might give him horses and a large army. ^(C)Will he thrive? Can one escape who does such things? Can he ^(D)break the covenant and yet escape?

^16 (E)“As I live, declares the Lord God, surely ^(F)in the place where the king dwells ^(G)who made him king, whose oath he despised, and whose covenant with him he broke, in Babylon he shall die. ^17 (H)Pharaoh with his mighty army and great company will not help him in war, ^(I)when mounds are cast up and siege walls built to cut off many lives. ¹⁸ He despised the oath in breaking the covenant, and behold, he gave his hand and did all these things; he shall not escape. ¹⁹ Therefore thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely it is my oath that he despised, and my covenant that he broke. I will return it upon his head. ^20 (J)I will spread my net over him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon ^(K)and enter into judgment with him there ^(L)for the treachery he has committed against me.

¹⁷ Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “Thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: ^(A)If you will surrender to ^(B)the officials of the king of Babylon, ^(C)then your life shall be spared, and this city shall not be burned with fire, and you and your house shall live. ¹⁸ But if you do not surrender to ^(D)the officials of the king of Babylon, ^(E)then this city shall be given into the hand of the Chaldeans, ^(F)and they shall burn it with fire, and you shall not escape from their hand.” ¹⁹ King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am afraid of the Judeans ^(G)who have deserted to the Chaldeans, lest I be handed over to them and they deal cruelly with me.” ²⁰ Jeremiah said, “You shall not be given to them. Obey now the voice of the Lord in what I say to you, ^(H)and it shall be well with you, and your life shall be spared. ²¹ But if you refuse to ^(I)surrender, this is the vision which the Lord has shown to me:

¹² To ^(A)Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: ^(B)“Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and ^(C)serve him and his people and live. ^13 (D)Why will you and your people die ^(E)by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, ^(F)as the Lord has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? ^14 (G)Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ ^(H)for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. ¹⁵ I have not sent them, declares the Lord, but ^(I)they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.”

^17 (A)Because they have forsaken me and have made offerings to other gods, that they might provoke me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore ^(B)my wrath will be kindled against this place, and it will not be quenched.