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 reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, hath this word been from Jehovah, 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.

`Thus said Jehovah, Stand thou in the court of the house of Jehovah, and thou hast spoken unto all the cities of Judah who are coming in to bow themselves in the house of Jehovah, all the words that I have commanded thee to speak unto them, thou dost not diminish a 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.

If so be they hearken, and turn back each from his evil way, then I have repented concerning the evil that I am thinking of doing to them, because of the evil of their doings.

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 thou hast said unto them: Thus said Jehovah, If ye do not hearken unto Me, to walk in My law, that I 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—

To hearken to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I am sending unto you, yea, rising early and sending, and ye have not hearkened,

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 have given up this house as Shiloh, and this city I give up for a reviling to all 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.

And the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, hear Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of Jehovah,

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 it cometh to pass, at the completion of Jeremiah's speaking all that Jehovah hath commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests, and the prophets, and all the people catch him, saying, Thou dost surely 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.

Wherefore hast thou prophesied in the name of Jehovah, saying, `As Shiloh this house shall be, and this city is wasted, without inhabitant?' and all the people are assembled unto Jeremiah in the house of Jehovah.

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.

And the heads of Judah hear these things, and they go up from the house of the king the house of Jehovah, and sit in the opening of the new gate of Jehovah.

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.

And the priests and the prophets speak unto the heads, and unto all the people, saying, `Judgment of death for this man, for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your 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.

And Jeremiah speaketh unto all the heads, and unto all the people, saying, `Jehovah sent me to prophesy concerning this house, and concerning this city, all the words that ye 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.

And now, amend your ways, and your doings, and hearken to the voice of Jehovah your God, and Jehovah doth repent concerning the evil that He hath spoken against you.

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

`And I, lo, I in your hand, do to me as is good and as is 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 ye certainly, that if ye are putting me to death, surely innocent blood ye are putting on yourselves, and on this city, and on its inhabitants; for truly hath Jehovah sent me unto you to speak in your ears all these words.'

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.

And the heads and all the people say unto the priests and unto the prophets, `There is not for this man a judgment of death, for in the name of Jehovah our God he hath spoken unto us.'

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

And certain of the elders of the land rise up, and speak unto all the assembly of the people, saying,

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 the Morashtite hath been prophesying in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and he saith unto all the people of Judah, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Zion is a plowed field, and Jerusalem is heaps, And the mountain of the house is for high places of a forest.

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.

`Put him at all to death did Hezekiah king of Judah, and all Judah? Did he not fear Jehovah? yea, he appeaseth the face of Jehovah, and Jehovah repenteth concerning the evil that He spake against them; and we are doing great evil against our souls.

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.

`And also there hath been a man prophesying in the name of Jehovah, Urijah son of Shemaiah, of Kirjath-Jearim, and he prophesieth against this city, and against this land according to all the words 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.

And the king Jehoiakim, and all his mighty ones, and all the heads, hear his words, and the king seeketh to put him to death, and Urijah heareth, and feareth, and fleeth, and goeth in 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.

And the king Jehoiakim sendeth men to Egypt -- Elnathan son of Achbor, and men with him unto 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 bring out Urijah from Egypt, and bring him in unto the king Jehoiakim, and he smiteth him with a sword, and casteth his corpse unto the graves of the sons of the people.'

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.

Only, the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan hath been with Jeremiah so as not to give him up into the hand of the people to put him to death.