¹⁴ all the officials sent Jehudi^(A) son of Nethaniah, the son of Shelemiah, the son of Cushi, to say to Baruch, “Bring the scroll^(B) from which you have read to the people and come.” So Baruch son of Neriah went to them with the scroll in his hand.

² “Take a scroll^(A) and write on it all the words^(B) I have spoken to you concerning Israel, Judah and all the other nations from the time I began speaking to you in the reign of Josiah^(C) till now.

²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One^(A) who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

¹⁶ “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves.^(A) Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.^(B)

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

⁶ And you, son of man, do not be afraid^(A) of them or their words. Do not be afraid, though briers and thorns^(B) are all around you and you live among scorpions. Do not be afraid of what they say or be terrified by them, though they are a rebellious people.^{(C) 7} You must speak^(D) my words to them, whether they listen or fail to listen, for they are rebellious.^(E)

¹⁸ to escape the Babylonians.^[a] They were afraid^(A) of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah^(B) son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.

Flight to Egypt

¹⁶ Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers^(A) who were with him led away all the people of Mizpah who had survived,^(B) whom Johanan had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam—the soldiers, women, children and court officials he had recovered from Gibeon.

41 In the seventh month Ishmael^(A) son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king’s officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there, ² Ishmael^(B) son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword,^(C) killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed^(D) as governor over the land.^(E)