⁴ Zedekiah^(A) king of Judah will not escape^(B) the Babylonians^[a](C) but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes.

⁴ When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls,^(A) and headed toward the Arabah.^[a](B)

⁵ But the Babylonian^[b] army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah^(C) in the plains of Jericho. They captured^(D) him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah^(E) in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him. ⁶ There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles^(F) of Judah. ⁷ Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes^(G) and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.^(H)

²³ “All your wives and children^(A) will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape^(B) from their hands but will be captured^(C) by the king of Babylon; and this city will^[a] be burned down.”^(D)

¹⁸ But if you will not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be given into the hands^(A) of the Babylonians and they will burn^(B) it down; you yourself will not escape^(C) from them.’”

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.”