³ It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah,^(A) and in the end he thrust them from his presence.^(B)

Now Zedekiah rebelled^(C) against the king of Babylon.

¹³ He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had made him take an oath^(A) in God’s name. He became stiff-necked^(B) and hardened his heart and would not turn to the Lord, the God of Israel.

¹² “Say to this rebellious people, ‘Do you not know what these things mean?^(A)’ Say to them: ‘The king of Babylon went to Jerusalem and carried off her king and her nobles,^(B) bringing them back with him to Babylon.^{(C) 13} Then he took a member of the royal family and made a treaty^(D) with him, putting him under oath.^(E) He also carried away the leading men^(F) of the land, ¹⁴ so that the kingdom would be brought low,^(G) unable to rise again, surviving only by keeping his treaty. ¹⁵ But the king rebelled^(H) against him by sending his envoys to Egypt^(I) to get horses and a large army.^(J) Will he succeed? Will he who does such things escape? Will he break the treaty and yet escape?^(K)

¹⁶ “‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, he shall die^(L) in Babylon, in the land of the king who put him on the throne, whose oath he despised and whose treaty he broke.^{(M) 17} Pharaoh^(N) with his mighty army and great horde will be of no help to him in war, when ramps^(O) are built and siege works erected to destroy many lives.^{(P) 18} He despised the oath by breaking the covenant. Because he had given his hand in pledge^(Q) and yet did all these things, he shall not escape.

¹⁹ “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: As surely as I live, I will repay him for despising my oath and breaking my covenant.^{(R) 20} I will spread my net^(S) for him, and he will be caught in my snare. I will bring him to Babylon and execute judgment^(T) on him there because he was unfaithful^(U) to me. ²¹ All his choice troops will fall by the sword,^(V) and the survivors^(W) will be scattered to the winds.^(X) Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken.^(Y)

Judgment on Jerusalem and Judah

⁹ Praise^(A) be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love^(B) for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice^(C) and righteousness.”