Jeremiah 21

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

21The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah^o sent to him Pashhur^p son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah^q son of Maaseiah. They said: ²“Inquire^r now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar^as king of Babylon^t is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders^u for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

³But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah, ⁴‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn^v against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians^b who are outside the wall besieging^w you. And I will gather them inside this city. ⁵I myself will fight^x against you with an outstretched hand^y and a mighty arm^z in furious anger and in great wrath. ⁶I will strike^a down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.^{b 7}After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah^c king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,^d sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^e and to their enemies^f who want to kill them.^g He will put them to the sword;^h he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’ⁱ

⁸“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life^j and the way of death. ⁹Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.^k But whoever goes out and surrenders^l to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.^{m 10}I have determined to do this city harmⁿ and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands^o of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’^p

¹¹“Moreover, say to the royal house^q of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. ¹²This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:

“ ‘Administer justice^r every morning;

rescue from the hand of the oppressor^s

the one who has been robbed,

or my wrath will break out and burn like fire^t

because of the evil^u you have done—

burn with no one to quench^v it.

¹³I am against^w you, Jerusalem,

you who live above this valley^x

on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord—

you who say, “Who can come against us?

Who can enter our refuge?”^y

¹⁴I will punish you as your deeds^z deserve,

declares the Lord.

I will kindle a fire^a in your forests^b

that will consume everything around you.’ ”