1 I n the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came and gathered around Jerusalem.

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it.

2 A nd on the ninth day of the fourth month of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the city wall was broken open.

And in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, on the ninth day of the month, they broke into the city.

3 T hen all the captains of the king of Babylon came in and sat down at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu, Sarsekim, the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the captains of the king of Babylon.

'> When Jerusalem was taken] all the princes of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim a chief of the eunuchs, and Nergal-sharezer a chief of the magicians, with all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.

4 W hen King Zedekiah of Judah and all his men of war saw them, they ran out of the city at night by way of the king’s garden through the gate between the two walls. They went out toward the Jordan Valley.

And when Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and went forth out of the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and went out toward the Arabah (the Jordan Valley).

5 B ut the Babylonian army went after them and came to Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They took hold of him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath. And Nebuchadnezzar decided how he should be punished.

But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence upon him.

6 T he king of Babylon killed Zedekiah’s sons in front of his eyes at Riblah. He killed all the leaders of Judah also.

Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes; also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.

7 T hen he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and put him in chains of brass to take him to Babylon.

Moreover, he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with shackles to take him to Babylon.

8 T he Babylonians burned the king’s house and the houses of the people with fire. And they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

9 T hen Nebuzaradan, the captain of the soldiers, carried the rest of the people who were left in the city away to Babylon, those who went over with him, and the people who stayed.

Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, along with those who deserted to him, and the remainder of the people who were left.

10 B ut Nebuzaradan, the captain of the prison soldiers, left behind in the land of Judah some of the poorest people who had nothing. He gave them grape-fields and fields at the same time. Jeremiah Is Not Held

But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left in the land of Judah some of the poor of the people who had nothing, giving them vineyards and fields at the same time.

11 N ow Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon said what must be done about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the captain of the prison soldiers. He said,

Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,

12 “ Take him and watch over him. Do not hurt him, but do with him as he tells you.”

Take him and look after him well; do him no harm but deal with him as he may ask of you.

13 S o Nebuzaradan the captain of the prison soldiers, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the leading captains of the king of Babylon

So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushasban a chief of the eunuchs, Nergal-sharezer a chief of the magicians, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon

14 s ent for Jeremiah and took him out of the open space of the prison. And they put him in the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah stayed among the people. Ebed-melech’s Future

Sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard and entrusted him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So Jeremiah was released and dwelt among the people.

15 T he Word of the Lord had come to Jeremiah while he was being kept in the open space of the prison, saying,

Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying,

16 “ Go and tell Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, ‘This is what the Lord of All, the God of Israel says: “I will bring My words on this city for bad and not for good. And they will happen in front of you at that time.

Go and say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring to pass My words against this city for evil and not for good; and they will be accomplished before you on that day.

17 I will save you on that day,” says the Lord. “You will not be given over to the men you are afraid of.

But I will deliver you on that day, says the Lord, and you will not be given into the hands of the men of whom you are afraid.

18 F or I will be sure to take you away, and you will not be killed by the sword. You will have your life because you have trusted in Me,”’” says the Lord.

For I will surely deliver you; and you will not fall by the sword, but your life will be as a reward of battle to you, because you have put your trust in Me, says the Lord.