1   The word which came from the Lord to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchiah and Zephaniah the priest, son of Maaseiah, with this request: 2   ‘Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon is making war on us; inquire of the Lord on our behalf. Perhaps the Lord will perform a miracle as he has done in past times, so that Nebuchadrezzar may raise the siege.’ 3   But Jeremiah answered them, 4   Tell Zedekiah, these are the words of the Lord the God of Israel: I will turn back upon you your own weapons with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldaeans besieging you outside the wall; and I will bring them into the heart of this city. 5   I myself will fight against you in burning rage and great fury, with an outstretched hand and a strong arm. 6   I will strike down those who live in this city, men and cattle alike; they shall die of a great pestilence. 7   After that, says the Lord, I will take Zedekiah king of Judah, his courtiers and the people, all in this city who survive pestilence, sword, and famine, and hand them over to Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, to their enemies and those who would kill them. He shall put them to the sword and shall show no pity, no mercy or compassion.

8   You shall say further to this people, These are the words of the Lord: I offer you now a choice between the way of life and the way of death. 9   Whoever remains in this city shall die by sword, by famine, or by pestilence, but whoever goes out to surrender to the Chaldaeans, who are now besieging you, shall survive; he shall take home his life, and nothing more. ^note 10   I have set my face against this city, meaning to do them harm, not good, says the Lord. It shall be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it to the ground.

   11   To the royal house of Judah.
    Listen to the word of the Lord:
   12   O house of David, these are the words of the Lord:
    Administer justice betimes,
    rescue the victim from his oppressor,

Kings and prophets denounced
lest the fire of my fury blaze up and burn unquenched
    because of your evil doings.


     13   The Lord says,
  I am against you who lie in the valley,
    you, the rock in the plain,
  you who say, ‘Who can come down upon us?
    Who can penetrate our lairs?’
   14   I will punish you as you deserve,
    says the Lord,
  I will kindle fire on the heathland around you,
  and it shall consume everything round about.

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