Jeremiah 21:1-10

1This is the wordH1697 thatH834 cameH1961 toH413 JeremiahH3414 fromH854 the LORDH3068 when KingH4428 ZedekiahH6667 sentH7971 to himH413 PashhurH6583 sonH1121 of MalchijahH4441 and the priestH3548 ZephaniahH6846 sonH1121 of MaaseiahH4641. They saidH559, 2“PleaseH4994 inquireH1875 of the LORDH3068 on our behalfH1157, sinceH3588 NebuchadnezzarH50191 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 is waging warH3898 against usH5921. PerhapsH194 the LORDH3068 will performH6213 for usH854 something like allH3605 His past wondersH6381, so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdrawH5927 from usH5921.”

3But JeremiahH3414 answeredH559, “You are to tellH559H413 ZedekiahH6667 thatH3541 4this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478H2005, saysH559: ‘I will turnH5437 against youH853 the weaponsH3627 of warH4421 in your handsH3027, with whichH834 youH859 are fightingH3898 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894H854 and the ChaldeansH37782 who besiegeH6696 youH5921 outsideH2351 the wallH2346, and I will assembleH622 their forces inH413 the centerH8432 of thisH2063 cityH5892. 5And I MyselfH589 will fightH3898 against youH854 with an outstretchedH5186 handH3027 and a mightyH2389 armH2220, with angerH639, furyH2534, and greatH1419 wrathH7110. 6I will strike downH5221 the residentsH3427 of thisH2063 cityH5892, both manH120 and beastH929. They will dieH4191 in a terribleH1419 plagueH1698.’

7‘After thatH310H3651,’ declaresH5002 the LORDH3068, ‘I will hand overH5414 ZedekiahH6667 kingH4428 of JudahH3063, his officersH5650, and the peopleH5971 in thisH2063H4480 cityH5892 who surviveH7604 the plagueH1698H4480 and swordH2719H4480 and famineH7458, toH3027 NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 and toH3027 their enemiesH341H3027 who seekH1245 their livesH5315. He will put themH5221 to the swordH6310H2719; he will notH3808 spareH2347 themH5921 or show pityH2550 or compassionH7355.’

8Furthermore, you are to tellH559H413 thisH2088 peopleH5971 that this is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559: ‘BeholdH2005, I setH5414 beforeH6440 youH853 the wayH1870 of lifeH2416 and the wayH1870 of deathH4194. 9Whoever staysH3427 in thisH2063 cityH5892 will dieH4191 by swordH2719 and famineH7458 and plagueH1698, but whoever goes outH3318 and surrendersH5307 toH5921 the ChaldeansH3778 who besiegeH6696 youH5921 will liveH2421; he will retainH1961 his lifeH5315 like a spoil of warH7998. 10ForH3588 I have setH7760 My faceH6440 against thisH2063 cityH5892 to bring disasterH7451 and notH3808 goodH2896, declaresH5002 the LORDH3068. It will be deliveredH5414 into the handH3027 of the kingH4428 of BabylonH894, who will destroy itH8313 with fireH784.’