Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem^(A)(B)

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod^(C) wants to kill you.”

³² He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’^{(D) 33} In any case, I must press on today and tomorrow and the next day—for surely no prophet^(E) can die outside Jerusalem!

³⁴ “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings,^(F) and you were not willing. ³⁵ Look, your house is left to you desolate.^(G) I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’^[a]”^(H)

⁸ 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) 9} 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.”

¹⁷ Join together in following my example,^(A) brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.^{(B) 18} For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears,^(C) many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.^{(D) 19} Their destiny^(E) is destruction, their god is their stomach,^(F) and their glory is in their shame.^(G) Their mind is set on earthly things.^{(H) 20} But our citizenship^(I) is in heaven.^(J) And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,^{(K) 21} who, by the power^(L) that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies^(M) so that they will be like his glorious body.^(N)

Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity

4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for,^(O) my joy and crown, stand firm^(P) in the Lord in this way, dear friends!