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

In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the Lord:

2 “ Thus says the Lord, ‘ Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord’s house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word!

Thus 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.

3 P erhaps they will listen and everyone will turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the calamity which I am planning to do to them because of the evil of their deeds.’

It 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.

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

And 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,

5 t o listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not listened;

And 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—

6 t hen I will make this house like Shiloh, and this city I will make a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’” A Plot to Murder Jeremiah

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

7 T he 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 heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord.

8 W hen 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, “ You must die!

Now 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!

9 W hy have you prophesied in the name of the Lord saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.

Why 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.

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

When 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.

11 T hen the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “A death sentence for this man! For he has prophesied against this city as you have heard in your hearing.”

Then 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.

12 T hen Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “ 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 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.

13 N ow therefore amend your ways and your deeds and obey the voice of the Lord your God; and the Lord will change His mind about the misfortune which He has pronounced against you.

Therefore 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.

14 B ut as for me, behold, I am in your hands; do with me as is good and right in your sight.

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

15 O nly know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent 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

But 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.

16 T hen the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “No death sentence for this man! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”

Then 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.

17 T hen some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,

Then certain of the elders of the land arose and said to all the assembly of the people,

18 “ Micah 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, “ Zion will be plowed as a field, And Jerusalem will become ruins, And the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.”’

Micah 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.

19 D id Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, and the Lord changed His mind about the misfortune which He had pronounced against them? But we are committing a great evil against ourselves.”

Did 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.

20 I ndeed, there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim; and he prophesied against this city and against this land words similar to all those of Jeremiah.

And 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.

21 W hen King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the officials heard his words, then the king sought to put him to death; but Uriah heard it, and he was afraid and fled and went to Egypt.

And 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.

22 T hen King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan the son of Achbor and certain men with him went into Egypt.

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

23 A nd they brought Uriah from Egypt and led him to King Jehoiakim, who slew him with a sword and cast his dead body into the burial place of the common people.

And 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.

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

But 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.