¹⁴ Then all the officials sent Jehudi the son of Nethaniah, son of ^(A)Shelemiah, son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Take in your hand the scroll that you read in the hearing of the people, and come.” So Baruch the son of Neriah took the scroll in his hand and came to them.

² “Take ^(A)a scroll and ^(B)write on it all the words that I have spoken to you against Israel and ^(C)Judah ^(D)and all the nations, ^(E)from the day I spoke to you, from the days of Josiah until today.

²⁸ And ^(A)do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him ^(B)who can destroy both soul and body in hell.^[a]

Persecution Will Come

^16 (A)“Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be ^(B)wise as serpents and ^(C)innocent as doves.

1 The word of the Lord that came to Zephaniah the son of Cushi, son of Gedaliah, son of Amariah, son of Hezekiah, ^(A)in the days of ^(B)Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah.

⁶ And you, son of man, ^(A)be not afraid of them, nor be afraid of their words, ^(B)though briers and thorns are with you and you sit on ^(C)scorpions.^[a] Be not afraid of their words, nor be dismayed at their looks, for they are a rebellious house. ⁷ And you shall speak my words to them, ^(D)whether they hear or refuse to hear, for they are a rebellious house.

¹⁸ because of the Chaldeans. For they were afraid of them, because Ishmael the son of Nethaniah had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, ^(A)whom the king of Babylon had made governor over the land.

¹⁶ Then Johanan the son of Kareah and ^(A)all the leaders of the forces with him took from Mizpah all the rest of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, after he had struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam—soldiers, ^(B)women, children, and eunuchs, whom Johanan brought back from ^(C)Gibeon.

Gedaliah Murdered

41 ^(A)In the seventh month, Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the royal family, one of the chief officers of the king, came with ten men to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, at ^(B)Mizpah. As they ^(C)ate bread together there at Mizpah, ^2 (D)Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men with him rose up and struck down Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and killed him, ^(E)whom the king of Babylon had appointed governor in the land.