Jeremiah 26
International Standard Version
Jeremiah is Arrested
26 In the beginning of the reign of Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, this message came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple and tell those from all the cities[a] of Judah who are coming to worship at the Lord’s Temple everything that I’ve commanded you to say to them. Don’t leave out a word! 3 Perhaps they’ll listen, and each of them will repent from his evil way. Then I’ll change my mind about the disaster I’m planning to bring on[b] them because of their evil deeds. 4 Say to them, “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you don’t listen to me to follow my Law which I’ve set before you, 5 and listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I’ve sent to you over and over[c]—but you wouldn’t listen— 6 then I’ll make this house like Shiloh and make this city into a curse to all the nations of the earth.’”’”
Jeremiah Threatened with Death
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened as Jeremiah spoke these words at the Lord’s Temple. 8 As soon as Jeremiah finished saying everything that the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people, the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him, telling him as they did: “You must certainly die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord that this house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be without an inhabitant?” Then all the people gathered around Jeremiah at the Lord’s Temple.
10 When the Judean officials[d] heard all these things, they came up from the king’s house to the Lord’s Temple and sat in the doorway of the New Gate of the Lord’s Temple.[e] 11 The priests and prophets told the officials and all the people, “A death sentence for this man, because he prophesied against this city, as you heard with your own ears!”
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people: “The Lord has sent me to prophesy all the things you heard against this house and against this city. 13 Now, change your habits[f] and your deeds and obey the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he told you about. 14 Look, I’m in your hands, so do with me what you think is good and right. 15 But know for certain that if you kill me, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and its residents because the Lord really did send me to you to say all these things for you to hear.”
The Elders Remember Micah’s Similar Message
16 The officials and all the people told the priests and the prophets, “No death sentence for this man because he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
17 Some of the elders of the land got up and told all the assembled people, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign[g] of Hezekiah king of Judah to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
“Zion will be a plowed field,
and Jerusalem a ruin.
The Temple Mount will be a wooded hill.”’[h]
19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone in Judah kill him? Didn’t he fear the Lord and seek the Lord’s favor, and so the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he had spoken to them about. We’re bringing great disaster on ourselves. 20 There was also a man named Uriah, Shemaiah’s son from Kiriath-jearim, who prophesied in the Lord’s name. He prophesied about this city and this land in words similar to those of Jeremiah. 21 King Jehoiakim, all his troops, and all the officials heard his words, and the king sought to kill him. Uriah heard about this and was afraid, so he fled and went to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt. He sent[i] Achbor’s son Elnathan, along with a contingent of men[j] into Egypt. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with a sword. Then they threw his body into a common grave.[k]”
24 Yet because Shaphan’s son Ahikam supported Jeremiah,[l] he was not handed over to the people for them to kill.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 26:2 Lit. speak to all the cities
- Jeremiah 26:3 Lit. do to
- Jeremiah 26:5 Lit. getting up early to send
- Jeremiah 26:10 Or princes
- Jeremiah 26:10 The Heb. lacks temple
- Jeremiah 26:13 Lit. ways
- Jeremiah 26:18 Lit. time
- Jeremiah 26:18 Or a wooded high place
- Jeremiah 26:22 The Heb. lacks He sent
- Jeremiah 26:22 Lit. Achbor and men with him
- Jeremiah 26:23 Lit. a grave of the sons of the people
- Jeremiah 26:24 Lit. the hand of Shaphan’s son Ahikam was with Jeremiah
Jeremiah 26
World English Bible
26 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from Yahweh: 2 “Yahweh says: ‘Stand in the court of Yahweh’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah which come to worship in Yahweh’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Don’t omit a word. 3 It may be they will listen, and every man turn from his evil way, that I may relent from the evil which I intend to do to them because of the evil of their doings.’” 4 You shall tell them, “Yahweh says: ‘If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law which I have set before you, 5 to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you, even rising up early and sending them—but you have not listened— 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.’”
7 The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in Yahweh’s house. 8 When Jeremiah had finished speaking all that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “You shall surely die! 9 Why have you prophesied in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” All the people were crowded around Jeremiah in Yahweh’s house.
10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to Yahweh’s house; and they sat in the entry of the new gate of Yahweh’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.”
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying, “Yahweh sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey Yahweh your God’s voice; then Yahweh will relent from the evil that he has pronounced against you. 14 But as for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, on this city, and on its inhabitants; for in truth Yahweh has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”
16 Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets: “This man is not worthy of death; for he has spoken to us in the name of Yahweh our God.”
17 Then certain of the elders of the land rose up, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18 “Micah the Morashtite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Yahweh of Armies says:
“‘Zion will be plowed as a field,
and Jerusalem will become heaps,
and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.’
19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Didn’t he fear Yahweh, and entreat the favor of Yahweh, and Yahweh relented of the disaster which he had pronounced against them? We would commit great evil against our own souls that way!”
20 There was also a man who prophesied in Yahweh’s name, Uriah the son of Shemaiah of Kiriath Jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. 21 When Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but when Uriah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt. 22 Then Jehoiakim the king sent Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him into Egypt. 23 They fetched Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.
24 But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that they didn’t give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.
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