Jeremiah 26

Cities of Judah Warned

1In the beginning of the reign of 1Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying, 2“Thus says the Lord, ‘2Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have 3come to worship in the Lord’s house 4all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. 5Do not omit a word! 36Perhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that 7I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.’ 4And you will say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord, “8If you will not listen to Me, to 9walk in My law which I have set before you, 5to listen to the words of 10My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you 11again and again, but you have not listened; 6then I will make this house like 12Shiloh, and this city I will make a 13curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

A Plot to Murder Jeremiah

7The 14priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. 8When Jeremiah finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, “15You must die! 9Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be 16desolate, without inhabitant’?” And 17all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10When the 18officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat in the 19entrance of the New Gate of the Lord’s house. 11Then the priests and the prophets 20spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A 21death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied 22against this city as you have heard in your hearing.”

12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “23The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard. 13Now therefore 24amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will 25change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you. 14But as for me, behold, 26I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight. 15Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring 27innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city and on its inhabitants; for truly the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

Jeremiah Is Spared

16Then the officials and all the people 28said to the priests and to the prophets, “No 29death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” 17Then 30some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18“3132Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus the Lord of hosts has said, “33Zion will be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem will become ruins, And the 34mountain of the house as the 35high places of a forest.”’ 19Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not 36fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and 37the Lord 38changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are 39committing a great evil against ourselves.”

20Indeed, there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from 40Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah. 21When King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the officials heard his words, then the 41king sought to put him to death; but Uriah heard it, and he was afraid and 42fled and went to Egypt. 22Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: 43Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him went into Egypt. 23And they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who 44slew him with a sword and cast his dead body into the 45burial place of the 46common people.

24But the hand of 47Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was 48not given into the hands of the people to put him to death.