Idolaters Condemned

14 Some of the elders of Israel came to me and sat down in front of me.^(A)

Rebellious Israel Purged

20 In the seventh year, in the fifth month on the tenth day, some of the elders of Israel came to inquire^(A) of the Lord, and they sat down in front of me.^(B)

² Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³ “Son of man, speak to the elders^(C) of Israel and say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Have you come to inquire^(D) of me? As surely as I live, I will not let you inquire of me, declares the Sovereign Lord.^(E)’

¹⁷ Then King Zedekiah sent^(A) for him and had him brought to the palace, where he asked^(B) him privately,^(C) “Is there any word from the Lord?”

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

² “Inquire^(A) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar^[a](B) king of Babylon^(C) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders^(D) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

¹⁸ They said, “Come, let’s make plans^(A) against Jeremiah; for the teaching of the law by the priest^(B) will not cease, nor will counsel from the wise,^(C) nor the word from the prophets.^(D) So come, let’s attack him with our tongues^(E) and pay no attention to anything he says.”