Jeremiah 37

1NebuchadnezzarH5019 kingH4428 of BabylonH894 made ZedekiahH6667 sonH1121 of JosiahH2977 the kingH4427 of JudahH3063, and he reignedH4427H4428 in placeH8478 of ConiahH36591 sonH1121 of JehoiakimH3079. 2But heH1931 and his officersH5650 and the peopleH5971 of the landH776 refusedH3808 to obeyH8085 the wordsH1697 that the LORDH3068 had spokenH1696 throughH3027 JeremiahH3414 the prophetH5030.

3Yet KingH4428 ZedekiahH6667 sentH7971 JehucalH30812 sonH1121 of ShelemiahH8018 and ZephaniahH6846 the priestH3548, the sonH1121 of MaaseiahH4641, toH413 JeremiahH3414 the prophetH5030 with the messageH559, “PleaseH4994 prayH6419 toH413 the LORDH3068 our GodH430 for usH1157!”

4Now JeremiahH3414 was free to comeH935 and goH3318 amongH8432 the peopleH5971, for they had notH3808 yet putH5414 himH853 in prisonH1004H3628. 5Pharaoh’sH6547 armyH2428 had leftH3318 EgyptH4714, and when the ChaldeansH37783 who were besiegingH6696 JerusalemH3389 heardH8085 the reportH8088, they withdrewH5927 fromH5921 JerusalemH3389.

6Then the wordH1697 of the LORDH3068 cameH1961 toH413 JeremiahH3414 the prophetH5030: 7“This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068, the GodH430 of IsraelH3478, saysH559 thatH3541 you are to tellH559H413 the kingH4428 of JudahH3063, who sentH7971 youH853 toH1875 MeH413: BeholdH2009, Pharaoh’sH6547 armyH2428, which has marched outH3318 to helpH5833 you, will go backH7725 to its own landH776 of EgyptH4714. 8Then the ChaldeansH3778 will returnH7725 and fightH3898 againstH5921 thisH2063 cityH5892. They will captureH3920 it and burn it downH8313H784.

9This is whatH3541 the LORDH3068 saysH559: Do notH408 deceiveH5377 yourselvesH5315 by sayingH559, ‘The ChaldeansH3778 will go away for goodH1980H5921,’ forH3588 they will notH3808! 10IndeedH3588, ifH518 you were to strike downH5221 the entireH3605 armyH2428 of the ChaldeansH3778 that is fightingH3898 against youH854, and only woundedH1856 menH582 remainedH7604 in their tentsH376H168, they would still get upH6965 and burn thisH2063 cityH5892 downH8313.”

11

Jeremiah Imprisoned

When the ChaldeanH3778 armyH2428 withdrewH5927 fromH5921 JerusalemH3389 for fearH6440 of Pharaoh’sH6547 armyH2428, 12JeremiahH3414 started to leaveH3318 JerusalemH3389 to goH1980 to the landH776 of BenjaminH1144 to claim his portionH2505 thereH80334 amongH8432 the peopleH5971. 13But when heH1931 reachedH1961 the GateH8179 of BenjaminH1144, the captainH1167 of the guardH6488, whose nameH8034 was IrijahH3376 sonH1121 of ShelemiahH8018, the sonH1121 of HananiahH2608, seizedH8610 him and saidH559, “YouH859 are desertingH5307 toH413 the ChaldeansH3778!”

14“That is a lieH8267,” JeremiahH3414 repliedH559. “I am notH369 desertingH5307 toH5921 the ChaldeansH3778!”

But IrijahH3376 would notH3808 listenH8085 to himH413; instead, he arrestedH8610 JeremiahH3414 and took himH935 toH413 the officialsH8269.

15The officialsH8269 were angryH7107 withH5921 JeremiahH3414, and they beatH5221 himH853 and placedH5414 himH853 in jailH1004H612 in the houseH1004 of JonathanH3083 the scribeH5608, forH3588 it had been madeH6213 into a prisonH1004H3608.

16SoH3588 JeremiahH3414 wentH935 intoH413 a cellH1004H953 inH413 the dungeonH2588 and remainedH3427 thereH8033H3414 a long timeH7227H3117.

17Later, KingH4428 ZedekiahH6667 sent forH7971 Jeremiah and received himH3947 in his palaceH1004, where he asked himH7592 privatelyH5643, “Is thereH3426 a wordH1697 from the LORDH3068?”

“There isH3426H559,” JeremiahH3414 repliedH559. “You will be deliveredH5414 into the handH3027 of the kingH4428 of BabylonH894.”

18Then JeremiahH3414 askedH559H413 KingH4428 ZedekiahH6667, “HowH4100 have I sinnedH2398 against you or your servantsH5650 or theseH2088 peopleH5971, thatH3588 you have putH5414 meH853 inH413 prisonH1004H3608? 19WhereH335 are your prophetsH5030 whoH834 prophesiedH5012 to you, claimingH559, ‘The kingH4428 of BabylonH894 will notH3808 comeH935 against youH5921 or thisH2063 landH776’? 20But nowH6258 pleaseH4994 listenH8085, O my lordH113 the kingH4428. May my petitionH8467 comeH5307H4994 before youH6440. Do notH408 send me backH7725 to the houseH1004 of JonathanH3083 the scribeH5608, orH3808 I will dieH4191 thereH8033.”

21So KingH4428 ZedekiahH6667 gave ordersH6680 for JeremiahH3414 to be placedH6485 in the courtyardH2691 of the guardH4307 and givenH5414 a loafH3603 of breadH3899 dailyH3117 fromH4480 the streetH2351 of the bakersH644, untilH5704 allH3605 the breadH3899 in the cityH5892 was goneH8552. So JeremiahH3414 remainedH3427 in the courtyardH2691 of the guardH4307.