The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded(A) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(B) him and said, “You must die!(C) Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”(D) And all the people crowded(E) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When the officials(F) of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate(G) of the Lord’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death(H) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(I)

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(J) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(K) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(L) 13 Now reform(M) your ways and your actions and obey(N) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(O) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(P) do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood(Q) on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words(R) in your hearing.”

16 Then the officials(S) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(T) He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah(U) of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:

“‘Zion(V) will be plowed like a field,
    Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(W)
    the temple hill(X) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[a](Y)

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah(Z) fear the Lord and seek(AA) his favor? And did not the Lord relent,(AB) so that he did not bring the disaster(AC) he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster(AD) on ourselves!”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12

And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the temple of Yahweh. And then[a] as Jeremiah finished speaking all that Yahweh had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying,[b] “You will die! Why have you prophesied in the name of Yahweh, saying,[c] ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be in ruins, without[d] inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the temple of Yahweh.

10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the house of the king to the temple of Yahweh, and they sat in the entrance of the New Gate of Yahweh’s temple. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, saying,[e]This man deserves the death sentence,[f] because he has prophesied against this city as that which you have heard with your ears.”

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and to all the people, saying,[g] “Yahweh sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Now therefore[h] amend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of Yahweh your God, and Yahweh will relent of the disaster that he has spoken over you. 14 But as for me, look, I am in your hand, do to me what is good and right in your eyes. 15 Only you must certainly know that if you put me to death, you will bring on yourselves innocent blood, and on this city and on its inhabitants, for truly[i] Yahweh sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “This man does not deserve[j] a sentence of death, for in the name of Yahweh our God, he has spoken to us.” 17 Then men from the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembly of the people, saying,[k] 18 “Micah the Morashtite was prophesying in the days of Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and he said to all the people of Judah, saying:[l]

‘Thus says Yahweh of hosts,
“Zion will be plowed,
and Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the temple[m] as high places of wood.”’

19 Did Hezekiah, the king of Judah, and all Judah actually put him to death? Was he not in fear of Yahweh? And he entreated the face of Yahweh, and Yahweh relented of the disaster that he had spoken against them. But we are about to do great disaster to ourselves.”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:8 Literally “And it happened”
  2. Jeremiah 26:8 Literally “to say”
  3. Jeremiah 26:9 Literally “to say”
  4. Jeremiah 26:9 Literally “from there is not”
  5. Jeremiah 26:11 Literally “to say”
  6. Jeremiah 26:11 Literally “A sentence of death is to this man”
  7. Jeremiah 26:12 Literally “to say”
  8. Jeremiah 26:13 Literally “so then”
  9. Jeremiah 26:15 Literally “in truth”
  10. Jeremiah 26:16 Literally “Not to this man”
  11. Jeremiah 26:17 Literally “to say”
  12. Jeremiah 26:18 Literally “to say”
  13. Jeremiah 26:18 Literally “house”