1 I n the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord:

In the beginning of the rule of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord, saying,

2 T hus says the Lord: Stand in the court of the Lord’s house and speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship in the Lord’s house all the words that I command you to speak to them; subtract not a word.

“This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand in the open space of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord’s house. Tell them all the words that I have told you to say to them. Do not leave out one word!

3 I t may be that they will listen and turn every man from his evil way, that I may relent and reverse My decision concerning the evil which I purpose to do to them because of their evil doings.

It may be they will listen and everyone will turn from his sinful way. Then I may change My mind about the trouble I plan to put on them because of the sinful things they have done.’

4 A nd you will say to them, Thus says the Lord: If you will not listen to and obey Me, to walk in My law, which I have set before you,

And tell them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “If you will not listen to Me and follow My Law which I have set before you,

5 A nd to hear and obey the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you urgently and persistently—though you have not listened and obeyed—

and if you do not listen to the words of My servants who speak for Me, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened,

6 T hen will I make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city subject to the curses of all nations of the earth.

then I will make this House of God like Shiloh. And I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

7 A nd the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.

The religious leaders and the men of God and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.

8 N ow when Jeremiah had 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, You shall surely die!

And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had told him to speak to all the people, the religious leaders and men of God and all the people took hold of him, saying, “You must die!

9 W hy have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant? And all the people were gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

Why have you spoken in the name of the Lord saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be laid waste with no one living in it’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

10 W hen the princes of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat down in the entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord.

When the leaders of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s house to the house of the Lord and sat beside the New Gate of the Lord’s house.

11 T hen the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people, This man is deserving of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.

Then the religious leaders and men of God said to the leaders and to all the people, “This man must die! For he has spoken against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”

12 T hen Jeremiah said to all the princes and to all the people: The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.

Then Jeremiah said to all the leaders and to all the people, “The Lord sent me to speak against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.

13 T herefore now amend your ways and your doings and obey the voice of the Lord your God; then the Lord will relent and reverse the decision concerning the evil which He has pronounced against you.

So now change your ways and your works, and obey the voice of the Lord your God. Then the Lord will change His mind about the trouble He has said would come to you.

14 A s for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as seems good and suitable to you.

But as for me, see, I am in your hands. Do with me what is good and right in your eyes.

15 B ut know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and upon its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.

Only know for sure that if you put me to death, you will bring the sin of killing a man who is not guilty on yourselves, on this city, and on its people. For it is true that the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words for you to hear.”

16 T hen said the princes and all the people to the priests and to the prophets: This man is not deserving of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.

Then the leaders and all the people said to the religious leaders and men of God, “No, this man should not be put to death! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

17 T hen certain of the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembly of the people,

Then some of the leaders of the land stood up and said to all the people who had gathered,

18 M icah 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: Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house like a densely wooded height.

“Micah of Moresheth spoke in God’s name in the days of King Hezekiah of Judah. He said to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of All has said: Zion will be plowed as a field, and Jerusalem will be destroyed. And trees will cover the mountain where the Lord’s house is.’

19 D id Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the Lord? And did not the Lord relent and reverse the decision concerning the evil which He had pronounced against them? But we are thinking of committing what will be a great evil against ourselves.

Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and pray for the Lord’s favor? And the Lord changed His mind about the trouble He had said would come to them. But we are about to bring a very bad thing on ourselves.”

20 A nd there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land in words similar to those of Jeremiah.

There was another man who spoke in the name of the Lord. He was Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He spoke against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah.

21 A nd when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put to death; but when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt.

When King Jehoiakim and all his powerful men and all his leaders heard his words, the king wanted to put Uriah to death. But Uriah heard about it, and he was afraid and ran away to Egypt.

22 A nd Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan son of Achbor and certain other men with him into Egypt.

Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him to Egypt.

23 A nd they fetched Uriah from Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who slew him with the sword and cast his dead body among the graves of the common people.

And they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with a sword. Then he threw his dead body where most people are buried.

24 B ut the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that he might not be given into the hands of the people to put him to death.

But Ahikam the son of Shaphan helped Jeremiah, so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.