The Lord Will Hand Jerusalem over to Enemies

21:1 The Lord spoke to Jeremiah1 when King Zedekiah2 sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah.3 Zedekiah sent them to Jeremiah to ask,4 21:2 “Please ask the Lord to come and help us,5 because King Nebuchadnezzar6 of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe the Lord will perform one of his miracles as in times past and make him stop attacking us and leave.”7 21:3 Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah 21:4 that the Lord, the God of Israel, says,8 ‘The forces at your disposal9 are now outside the walls fighting against King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Babylonians10 who have you under siege. I will gather those forces back inside the city.11 21:5 In anger, in fury, and in wrath I myself will fight against you with my mighty power and great strength!12 21:6 I will kill everything living in Jerusalem,13 people and animals alike! They will die from terrible diseases. 21:7 Then14 I, the Lord, promise that15 I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and any of the people who survive the war, starvation, and disease. I will hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will slaughter them with the sword. He will not show them any mercy, compassion, or pity.’

21:8 “But16 tell the people of Jerusalem17 that the Lord says, ‘I will give you a choice between two courses of action. One will result in life; the other will result in death.18 21:9 Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging it will live. They will escape with their lives.19 21:10 For I, the Lord, say that20 I am determined not to deliver this city but to bring disaster on it.21 It will be handed over to the king of Babylon and he will destroy it with fire.’ ”22