Jeremiah 26:1–16

Jeremiah’s Speech in the Temple

26At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim ^fson of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: ²“This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all Judah’s cities that are coming to worship there. Do not hold back a word. ^g3Perhaps they will listen and return—each from his evil way of life—so that I might relent ^hconcerning the disaster that I plan to do to them because of the evil of their deeds. ⁴You are to say to them: This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to Me by living according to My instruction that I set before you ⁱ⁵and by listening to the words of My servants the prophets ^jI have been sending you time and time again, ^kthough you did not listen, ^l6I will make this temple like Shiloh. ^mI will make this city an object of cursing for all the nations of the earth.”

Jeremiah Seized

⁷The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the temple of the Lord. ⁸He finished the address the Lord had commanded him to deliver to all the people. Then the priests, the prophets, and all the people took hold of him, yelling, “You must surely die! ⁹How dare you prophesy in the name of Yahweh, ‘This temple will become like Shiloh and this city will become an uninhabited ruin’!” Then all the people assembled against Jeremiah at the Lord’s temple.

¹⁰When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went from the king’s palace to the Lord’s temple and sat at the entrance of the New Gate. ^no11Then the priests and prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man deserves the death sentence because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.” ^p

Jeremiah’s Defense

¹²Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and the people, “The Lord sent me to prophesy all the words that you have heard against this temple and city. ¹³So now, correct your ways and deeds ^qand obey the voice of the Lord your God so that He might relent concerning the disaster that He warned about. ¹⁴As for me, here I am in your hands; do to me what you think is good and right. ¹⁵But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood ^ron yourselves, on this city, and on its residents, for it is certain the Lord has sent me to speak all these things directly to you.”

Jeremiah Released

¹⁶Then the officials and all the people told the priests and prophets, “This man doesn’t deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of Yahweh our God!”