1The word which came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah , when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashhur the son of Malchijah , and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah , the priest , saying , 2Inquire , I pray thee , of Jehovah for us ; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us : peradventure Jehovah will deal with us according to all his wondrous works , that he may go up from us . 3Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah : 4Thus saith Jehovah , the God of Israel , Behold , I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands , wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you , without the walls ; and I will gather them into the midst of this city . 5And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm , even in anger , and in wrath , and in great indignation . 6And I will smite the inhabitants of this city , both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence . 7And afterward, saith Jehovah , I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah , and his servants , and the people , even such as are left in this city from the pestilence , from the sword , and from the famine , into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies , and into the hand of those that seek their life : and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword ; he shall not spare them , neither have pity , nor have mercy .
The Consequences of Rebellion
8And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah : Behold , I set before you the way of life and the way of death . 9He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword , and by the famine , and by the pestilence ; but he that goeth out , and passeth over to the Chaldeans that besiege you , he shall live , and his life shall be unto him for a prey . 10For I have set my face upon this city for evil , and not for good , saith Jehovah : it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
A Call to Justice and Righteousness
11And touching the house of the king of Judah , hear ye the word of Jehovah : 12O house of David , thus saith Jehovah , Execute justice in the morning , and deliver him that is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor , lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it , because of the evil of your doings . 13Behold , I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley , and of the rock of the plain , saith Jehovah ; you that say, Who shall come down against us ? or who shall enter into our habitations ? 14And I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings , saith Jehovah ; and I will kindle a fire in her forest , and it shall devour all that is round about her .