But Jeremiah said to them, “You shall say to Zedekiah as follows: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel says: “Behold, I am going to (A)turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you are making war against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall; and I will (B)gather them into the middle of this city. And I (C)Myself will make war against you with an (D)outstretched hand and a mighty arm, and in (E)anger, wrath, and great indignation. I will also strike the inhabitants of this city, both the people and the animals; they will die of a great (F)plague. Then afterward,” declares the Lord, “(G)I will hand Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, that is, those who survive in this city from the plague, the sword, and the famine, over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to their enemies, and to those who seek their lives; and he will strike and kill them with the edge of the sword. He (H)will not spare them nor have pity nor compassion.”’

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Jeremiah answered them: This is what you should tell Zedekiah: The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I’m going to turn your own weapons against you, yes, the weapons you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians[a] who have surrounded you! I will round them up in the center of the city. Then I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and strong arm in fierce anger and rage. I will strike down those within this city—both people and animals—and they will die of a terrible plague. Afterward, declares the Lord, I will deliver Judah’s King Zedekiah, his servants, and those in this city who have survived plague, war, and famine to Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar[b] and to their enemies who seek to do them harm. He will put them to the sword without pity, mercy, or compassion.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 21:4 Heb Chaldeans
  2. Jeremiah 21:7 Heb Nebuchadrezzar