A Plot to Murder Jeremiah

The (A)priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. Yet when Jeremiah finished speaking everything that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “(B)You must die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be (C)in ruins, without inhabitant’?” And (D)all the people gathered to Jeremiah at the house of the Lord.

10 When the (E)officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat at the (F)entrance of the New Gate of the Lords house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets (G)spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A (H)death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied (I)against this city, just as you have heard with your own ears!”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “(J)The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13 Now then, (K)reform your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will relent of the disaster which He has pronounced against you. 14 But as for me, behold, (L)I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring (M)innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words [a]so that you hear them.”

Jeremiah Is Spared

16 Then the officials and all the people (N)said to the priests and the prophets, “No (O)death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” 17 Then (P)some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18 [b](Q)Micah of Moresheth used to prophesy in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘This is what the Lord of armies has said:

(R)Zion will be plowed like a field,
And Jerusalem will become heaps of ruins,
And the (S)mountain of the house like the [c]high places of a forest.”’

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah actually put him to death? Did he not (T)fear the Lord and plead for the favor of the Lord, and (U)the Lord relented of the disaster which He had pronounced against them? But we are (V)committing a great evil against our own lives!”

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 26:15 Lit in your ears and the ears of all
  2. Jeremiah 26:18 Lit Micaiah the Morasthite
  3. Jeremiah 26:18 Or wooded heights

(A)The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then (B)the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be (C)like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, (D)without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 When (E)the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the (F)entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. 11 Then (G)the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, (H)“This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13 Now therefore (I)mend your ways and your deeds, (J)and obey the voice of the Lord your God, (K)and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14 (L)But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, (M)you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

Jeremiah Spared from Death

16 (N)Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, (O)“This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” 17 (P)And certain of (Q)the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, saying, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts,

(R)“‘Zion shall be plowed as a field;
    Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
    and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? (S)Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, (T)and did not the Lord relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? (U)But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves.”

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