A Warning to the Cities of Judah 1 WBS In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying, BSB BSB: At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:
2 WBS Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD'S house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD'S house, all the words that I command thee to speak to them; diminish not a word: BSB BSB: “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all the cities of Judah who come to worship there. Do not omit a word.
3 WBS It may be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil, which I purpose to do to them because of the evil of their doings. BSB BSB: Perhaps they will listen and turn—each from his evil way of life—so that I may relent of the disaster I am planning to bring upon them because of the evil of their deeds.
4 WBS And thou shalt say to them, Thus saith the LORD, If ye will not hearken to me to walk in my law, which I have set before you, BSB BSB: And you are to tell them that this is what the LORD says: ‘If you do not listen to Me and walk in My law, which I have set before you,
5 WBS To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you, both rising early, and sending them , but ye have not hearkened; BSB BSB: and if you do not listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent you again and again even though you did not listen,
6 WBS Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth. BSB BSB: then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city an object of cursing among all the nations of the earth.’”
Jeremiah Threatened with Death 7 WBS So the priests and the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. BSB BSB: Now the priests and prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD,
8 WBS Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die. BSB BSB: and as soon as he had finished telling all the people everything the LORD had commanded him to say, the priests and prophets and all the people seized him, shouting, “You must surely die!
9 WBS Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah, in the house of the LORD. BSB BSB: How dare you prophesy in the name of the LORD that this house will become like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted!” And all the people assembled against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
10 WBS When the princes of Judah heard these things, then 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 LORD'S house . BSB BSB: When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went up from the king’s palace to the house of the LORD and sat there at the entrance of the New Gate.
11 WBS Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears. BSB BSB: Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man is worthy of death, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears!”
12 WBS Then Jeremiah spoke to all the princes, and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard. BSB BSB: But Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.
13 WBS Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent of the evil that he hath pronounced against you. BSB BSB: So now, correct your ways and deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, so that He might relent of the disaster He has pronounced against you.
14 WBS As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as it seemeth good and meet to you. BSB BSB: As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right.
15 WBS But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye will surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its inhabitants: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears. BSB BSB: But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its residents; for truly the LORD has sent me to speak all these words in your hearing.”
Jeremiah Spared from Death 16 WBS Then said the princes and all the people to the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God. BSB BSB: Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man is not worthy of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God!”
17 WBS Then arose certain of the elders of the land, and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, BSB BSB: Some of the elders of the land stood up and said to the whole assembly of the people,
18 WBS Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of the forest. BSB BSB: “Micah the Moreshite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and told all the people of Judah that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount a wooded ridge.’
19 WBS Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? did he not fear the LORD, and beseech the LORD, and the LORD repented of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls. BSB BSB: Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did Hezekiah not fear the LORD and seek His favor, and did not the LORD relent of the disaster He had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great harm on ourselves!”
The Prophet Uriah 20 WBS And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath-jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah: BSB BSB: Now there was another man prophesying in the name of the LORD, Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land the same things that Jeremiah did.
21 WBS And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt; BSB BSB: King Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and officials heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah found out about it, he fled in fear and went to Egypt.
22 WBS And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely , Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt. BSB BSB: Then King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor along with some other men.
23 WBS And they brought forth Urijah from Egypt, and brought him to Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. BSB BSB: They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him put to the sword and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.
24 WBS Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death. BSB BSB: Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.