Jeremiah 21:1–10

Zedekiah’s Request Denied

21This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur ^mson of Malchijah and the priest Zephaniah ⁿson of Maaseiah to Jeremiah, asking, ²“Ask the Lord on our behalf, since Nebuchadnezzar ^opking of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the Lord will perform for us something like all His past wonderful works so that Nebuchadnezzar will withdraw from us.”

³But Jeremiah answered, “This is what you are to say to Zedekiah: ⁴‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I will repel the weapons of war in your hands, ^qthose you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans ^rwho are besieging you outside the wall, and I will bring them into the center of this city. ^s5I will fight against you ^twith an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, ^uwith anger, rage, and great wrath. ⁶I will strike the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a great plague. ⁷Afterward’ ”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“ ‘King Zedekiah of Judah, his officers, and the people—those in this city who survive the plague, the sword, and the famine—I will hand over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, ^vto their enemies, yes, to those who want to take their lives. He will put them to the sword; he won’t spare them or show pity or compassion.’ ^w

A Warning for the People

⁸“But you must say to this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death. ^x9Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live and will retain his life like the spoils of war. ^y10For I have turned ^zagainst this city to bring disaster ^aand not good’ ”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “ ‘It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will burn it down.’ ^b