38 "The days are coming," declares Yahweh, "when the city will be rebuilt for Yahweh from the Tower of Hananel to Corner Gate. 39 A measuring line will stretch from there straight to the Hill of Gareb, and then it will turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley, filled with its dead bodies and ashes, and the whole area to the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of Horse Gate in the east, will be holy to Yahweh . It will never be uprooted or torn down again."

Jeremiah Buys a Field 32 1 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah during Zedekiah's tenth year as king of Judah. (This was Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth year as king.) 2 At that time the army of the king of Babylon was blockading Jerusalem.

The prophet Jeremiah was locked up in the courtyard of the prison. This prison was in the palace of the king of Judah. 3 When King Zedekiah of Judah locked up Jeremiah, Zedekiah asked him, "Why are you prophesying? You are saying, 'This is what Yahweh says: I'm going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4 King Zedekiah of Judah will not escape from the Babylonians. He will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon. He will talk to Nebuchadnezzar in person and look him in the eye. 5 Nebuchadnezzar will take Zedekiah to Babylon, and Zedekiah will stay there until I deal with him, declares Yahweh. When you fight the Babylonians, you won't win.'"

6 Jeremiah said, "Yahweh spoke his word to me. He said, 7 'Jeremiah, your cousin Hanamel, son of Shallum, is going to come to you and say, "Buy my field that is in Anathoth, because as the closest relative it is your responsibility to buy it."'

8 "Then, as Yahweh had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the prison. He said to me, 'Please buy my field that is in Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. It is your responsibility to purchase it, because the rights of the closest relative belong to you. Buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that Yahweh had spoken to me.

9 "So I bought the field in Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and gave him the money. The field cost seven ounces of silver. 10 I signed the deed, sealed it, had people witness the signing of the deed, and paid out the silver. 11 Then I took the sealed copy of the deed, containing the terms and conditions, as well as an unsealed copy. 12 I gave the copies of the deeds to Baruch, son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah. I did this in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and the witnesses who had signed the deed and in the presence of all the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the prison. 13 Then I gave Baruch these orders: 14 'This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: Take both of these documents, both the sealed and the unsealed copies of the deed. Put them in a clay jar so that they will last a long time. 15 This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: My people will again buy houses, fields, and vineyards in this land.'

16 "After I had given the copies to Baruch, son of Neriah, I prayed to Yahweh. I prayed, 17 Adonay Yahweh , you made heaven and earth by your great strength and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show mercy to thousands of generations. However, you punish children for the wickedness of their parents. You, El, are great and mighty. Your name is Yahweh Tsebaoth . 19 You make wise plans and do mighty things. You see everything the descendants of Adam do. You reward them for the way they live and for what they do. 20 You performed miraculous signs and amazing things in Egypt. To this day you are still doing them in Israel. You made a name for yourself that continues to this day. 21 You brought your people from Egypt with miraculous signs and amazing things, with a mighty hand and a powerful arm, and with great terror. 22 You gave them the land that you swore with an oath to give their ancestors, the land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They entered and took possession of it. However, they refused to obey you or to follow your teachings. They didn't do anything you commanded them to do, so you brought all this disaster on them. 24 "'See how the dirt ramps have been built up around the city to capture it! Because of wars, famines, and plagues, the city will be handed over to the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you have threatened to do has happened, as you can see. 25 Yet you, Adonay Yahweh , told me to buy a field with money and get witnesses to confirm it, although the city was handed over to the Babylonians.'"

26 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 27 "I am Yahweh Elohim of all humanity. Nothing is too hard for me. 28 This is what Yahweh says: I'm going to hand this city over to the Babylonians and King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will capture it.29 "The Babylonians who are attacking this city will break in, set this city on fire, and burn it down. They will burn down the houses of people who made me furious by going up to the roofs to burn incense to Baal and to pour out wine offerings to other gods. 30 Ever since they were young, the people of Israel and Judah have done what I consider evil. The people of Israel have made me furious by what they've done," declares Yahweh. 31 "The people in this city have made me so angry and furious from the day they built it to this day. So now I must remove this city from my presence.

32 "The people of Israel and Judah have made me furious because they are evil. The people, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, and the Judeans and those who live in Jerusalem 33 have turned their backs, not their faces to me. I taught them again and again, but they refused to listen and learn. 34 They set up their detestable idols in the temple that is called by my name, and they dishonored it. 35 In the valley of Ben Hinnom they built worship sites for Baal to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molech. I didn't ask them to do this. It never entered my mind. I didn't make Judah sin.

36 "You have said this about the city, 'Because of wars, famines, and plagues it will be handed over to the king of Babylon.' Now this is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: 37 I am going to gather the people from all the lands where I scattered them in my anger, fury, and terrifying wrath. I will bring them back to this place and make them live here securely. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their Elohim . 39 I will give them the same attitude and the same purpose so that they will fear me as long as they live. This will be for their own good and for the good of their children. 40 I will make an eternal promisea to them that I will never stop blessing them. I will make them fear me so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will enjoy blessing them. With all my heart and soul I will faithfully plant them in this land.

42 "This is what Yahweh says: As I brought all these disasters on these people, so I will bring on them all these blessings that I have promised them. 43 You have said that this land is a wasteland, without people or animals living in it. You have also said that it has been handed over to the Babylonians. But people will once again buy fields in this land. 44 They will buy fields for money, sign deeds, seal them, and have people witness the signing of the deeds. This will happen in the territory of Benjamin, in the region of Jerusalem, in the cities of Judah, in the cities on the mountains, in the hill country, and in the Negev because I will bring them back from their captivity," declares Yahweh .

The LORD Will Restore and Heal Judah 33 1 While Jeremiah was still being held in the courtyard of the prison, Yahweh spoke his word to him a second time. Yahweh said, 2 "I made the earth, formed it, and set it in place. My name is Yahweh. This is what Yahweh says: 3 Call to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you great and mysterious things that you do not know. 4 The houses in this city and the palaces of the kings of Judah have been torn down to be used against the dirt ramps and weapons of the Babylonians. This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says about this: 5 The people of Israel fought the Babylonians. Now their houses are filled with the bodies of their own people I killed in my anger and my fury. I will hide my face from this city because of its wickedness.

6 "But I will heal this city and restore it to health. I will heal its people, and I will give them peace and security. 7 I will restore Judah and Israel and rebuild them as they were before. 8 I will cleanse them from all the sins that they have committed against me. I will forgive them for all the sins that they have committed against me and for rebelling against me. 9 Then Jerusalem will be my source of joy, praise, and honor. All the nations on earth will hear about all the blessings that I will give to Jerusalem. They will be afraid and tremble because of all the prosperity that I will provide for it.

10 "This is what Yahweh says: You have said that this place is ruined and that no people or animals live in it. It's true! The cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem are deserted. No people or animals live there. But once again you will hear 11 the sounds of joy and happiness and the sounds of brides and grooms. You will hear those who bring thank offerings to Yahweh's temple say, 'Give thanks to Yahweh Tsebaoth because Yahweh is good, because his mercy endures forever.'

I will restore the fortunes of the land to what they were before," says Yahweh.

12 "This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth says: In this deserted place, where no people or animals live, and in all its cities, there will once again be pastures where shepherds can rest their flocks. 13 In the cities on the mountains, in the foothills, in the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the area around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shepherds will once again count their sheep," says Yahweh.

14 "The days are coming," declares Yahweh, "when I will keep the promise that I made to Israel and Judah. 15 In those days and at that time, I will cause a righteous Tsemach to spring up for David. He will do what is fair and right in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live securely. Jerusalem will be called Yahweh Tsidqenu.

17 "This what Yahweh says: David will never fail to have a descendant sitting on the throne of Israel. 18 The Levitical priests will never fail to have a descendant in my presence to sacrifice burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to prepare daily sacrifices."

19 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 20 "This is what Yahweh says: Suppose you could break my arrangementa with day and night so that they wouldn't come at their proper time. 21 Then my arrangement with my servant David could be broken, and he would not have a descendant to rule on his throne. The arrangement with my servants the Levitical priests could also be broken. 22 I will multiply the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who serve me like the stars of heaven that cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore that cannot be measured."

23 Then Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 24 "Haven't you noticed what these people have said? They have said that Yahweh has rejected the two families he has chosen. They despise my people, and they no longer consider them a nation.

25 "This is what Yahweh says: Suppose I hadn't made an arrangement with day and night or made laws for heaven and earth. 26 Then I would reject the descendants of Jacob and of my servant David. I would not let any of David's descendants rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. However, I will restore their fortunes and love them."

King Zedekiah and the People Break Their Promise 34 1 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his entire army, and all the kingdoms and people that he ruled were attacking Jerusalem and all its cities. He said, 2 "This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: Go to King Zedekiah of Judah, and tell him, 'Yahweh says: I'm going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. 3 You will not escape from him. You will certainly be captured and handed over to him. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes, and he will talk to you face to face. Then you will go to Babylon.

4 "'Listen to the word of Yahweh, King Zedekiah of Judah. This is what Yahweh says about you: You will not die in war. 5 You will die peacefully. People will burn funeral fires for you as they did for your ancestors, the kings who lived before you. They will say, "Oh, master," as they mourn for you. I have spoken my word, declares Yahweh.'"

6 The prophet Jeremiah told all these things to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem. 7 He did this when the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. These were the only fortified cities of Judah that were left.

8 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah after King Zedekiah and all the people in Jerusalem promised to free their slaves. 9 Everyone was supposed to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female. No one was supposed to keep another Jew as a slave. 10 All the officials and all the people agreed and promised to free their male and female slaves and not to keep them as slaves anymore. So they set them free. 11 But afterwards, they changed their minds and took back the men and women they had freed and made them their slaves again.

12 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 13 "This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: I put a condition on the promisea I made to your ancestors when I broughtthem from Egypt, where they were slaves. I said, 14 'Every seven years each of you must free any Hebrews who sold themselves to you. When they have served you for six years, you must set them free.' But your ancestors refused to obey me or listen to me. 15 Recently, you changed and did what I consider right. You agreed to free your neighbors, and you made a promise in my presence, in the temple that is called by my name. 16 Now you have changed again and dishonored me. You brought back the male and female slaves that you had set free to live their own lives. You have forced them to be your male and female slaves again.

17 "This is what Yahweh says: You didn't obey me. You haven't freed your relatives and neighbors. Now I am going to free you," declares Yahweh. "I will free you to die in wars, plagues, and famines. I will make all the kingdoms of the world horrified at the thought of you. 18 I will hand over the people who have rejected my promise. They have not kept the terms of the promise which they made in my presence when they cut a calf in two and passed between its pieces. 19 I will hand over the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the palace officials, the priests, and all the common people who passed between the pieces of the calf. 20 I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them, and their corpses will be food for birds and wild animals. 21 I will hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who want to kill them and to the army of the king of Babylon, the army that has withdrawn from you. 22 I am going to give a command," declares Yahweh . "I will bring that army back to this city to attack it, capture it, and burn it down. I will destroy the cities of Judah so that no one will live there."

The Obedient Example of the Family of Rechab 35 1 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah during the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah. He said, 2 "Go to the family of Rechab and talk to them. Take them into one of the side rooms in Yahweh's temple, and offer them a drink of wine."

3 I took Jaazaniah, who was the son of Jeremiah and the grandson of Habazziniah, and I took Jaazaniah's brothers and all his sons-the whole family of Rechab. 4 I brought them into Yahweh's temple, into the side room of the sons of Hanan. (He was Igdaliah's son, the man of Elohim.) It was next to the room of the officials and above the side room of Maaseiah, Shallum's son, the doorkeeper. 5 Then I set cups and pitchers filled with wine in front of the family of Rechab. I said to them, "Drink some wine."

6 They answered, "We don't drink wine, because our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab's son, gave us this order: 'You and your descendants must never drink wine. 7 Never build any houses or plant any fields or vineyards. You must never have any of these things. You must always live in tents so that you may live for a long time in the land where you are staying.' 8 We, along with our wives, sons, and daughters, have obeyed our ancestor Jonadab, Rechab's son, in everything he ordered us to do. We have never drunk wine, 9 built houses to live in, or owned vineyards, pastures, or grainfields. 10 We live in tents, and we have obeyed everything our ancestor Jonadab ordered us to do. 11 But when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon invaded this land, we said, 'Let's go to Jerusalem to escape the Babylonian and Aramean armies.' That's why we are living in Jerusalem."

12 Then Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 13 "This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: Tell the people of Judah and those who live in Jerusalem, 'Won't you ever learn your lesson and obey my words? declares Yahweh . 14 Jonadab, Rechab's son, ordered his descendants not to drink wine. This order has been carried out. His descendants have not drunk any wine to this day, because they have obeyed their ancestor's order. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have refused to listen to me. 15 I have sent all my servants the prophets to you again and again. They said, "Turn from your evil ways, do what is right, and don't follow other gods in order to serve them. Then you will live in the land that I gave you and your ancestors." However, you refused to listen to me or obey me. 16 The descendants of Jonadab, Rechab's son, have carried out the orders of their ancestor, but you refuse to listen to me.

17 "'This is what Yahweh Elohim Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: I am going to bring on Judah and on all those who live in Jerusalem all the disasters that I threatened. I have spoken to them, but they didn't listen. I called to them, but they didn't answer.'"

18 Then Jeremiah said to the family of Rechab, "This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: You obeyed the order of your ancestor Jonadab, followed all his instructions, and did exactly what he told you to do. 19 So this is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: A descendant of Jonadab, Rechab's son, will always serve me."

Jeremiah's Prophecies Are Written, Read, and Burned 36 1 In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 2 "Take a scroll, and write on it everything that I have dictated to you about Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time I spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. 3 Maybe the nation of Judah will hear about all the disasters that I plan to bring on them, and they will turn from their wicked ways. Then I will forgive their wickedness and their sins."

4 Then Jeremiah called Baruch, son of Neriah. Jeremiah dictated everything that Yahweh had told him, and Baruch wrote it all down on a scroll. 5 Jeremiah told Baruch, "I'm no longer allowed to go to Yahweh's temple. 6 On a day of fasting, you must read from the scroll Yahweh's message that you wrote as I dictated. You must read it to the people in Yahweh's temple. You must also read it to all the people of Judah when they come from their cities. 7 Maybe their prayers will come into Yahweh's presence, and they will turn from their evil ways. Yahweh has threatened these people with his terrifying anger and fury."

8 Baruch, son of Neriah, did as the prophet Jeremiah commanded him. In Yahweh's temple he read from the scroll everything that Yahweh had said. 9 In the ninth month of the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, a time for fasting was called. It was a time for all the people in Jerusalem and for everyone who was coming from any city in Judah to Jerusalem to fast in Yahweh's presence. 10 Then Baruch read the scroll containing the words of Jeremiah. Baruch read it to all the people in Yahweh's temple in the room of the scribe Gemariah, son of Shaphan, in the upper courtyard at the entrance of New Gate of Yahweh's temple.

11 Micaiah, who was the son of Gemariah and the grandson of Shaphan, heard Baruch read from the scroll everything Yahweh had said. 12 Then he went down to the scribe's room in the king's palace where all the scribes were sitting. The scribe Elishama, Delaiah (son of Shemaiah), Elnathan (son of Achbor), Gemariah (son of Shaphan), Zedekiah (son of Hananiah), and all the other officials were there. 13 Micaiah told them everything he heard Baruch read from the scroll publicly. 14 Then all the officials sent Jehudi, who was the son of Nethaniah, the grandson of Shelemiah, and the greatgrandson of Cushi, to Baruch. Jehudi said to Baruch, "Bring the scroll that you read publicly, and come with me." Baruch, son of Neriah, took the scroll and went with him to see the officers. 15 They said to Baruch, "Please sit down, and read it to us."

So Baruch read it to them. 16 When they heard everything, they turned to each other in terror. They said to Baruch, "We must tell the king everything." 17 Then they asked Baruch, "Please tell us how you wrote all this. Did Jeremiah dictate it to you?"

18 Baruch answered, "He dictated everything to me, and I wrote it on the scroll in ink."

19 The officials said to Baruch, "You and Jeremiah must hide. Don't let anyone know where you are."

20 After they put the scroll in the side room of the scribe Elishama, they went to the king in the courtyard and told him everything. 21 Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He took the scroll from the side room of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials standing by the king. 22 It was the ninth month, and the king was in his winter house sitting in front of the fire in the fireplace. 23 As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe's knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up. 24 The king and all his attendants didn't show any fear or tear their clothes in fear when they heard everything being read. 25 Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he refused to listen to them. 26 The king commanded Jerahmeel (the king's son), Seraiah (son of Azriel), and Shelemiah (son of Abdeel) to arrest the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. But Yahweh had hidden Baruch and Jeremiah.

27 After the king burned up the scroll that Baruch had written and that Jeremiah had dictated, Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 28 "Take another scroll, and write on it everything that was written on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah burned. 29 Say about King Jehoiakim of Judah, 'This is what Yahweh says: You burned this scroll, and you asked Jeremiah, "Why did you write that the king of Babylon will certainly come to destroy this land and take away people and animals?" 30 This is what Yahweh says about King Jehoiakim of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David's throne, and his own corpse will be thrown out and exposed to the heat of day and the cold of night. 31 I will punish him, his descendants, and his attendants for their wickedness. They refused to listen. So I will bring on them, on those who live in Jerusalem, and on the people of Judah all the disasters that I have threatened.'"

32 Then Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch, son of Neriah. As Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it everything that was on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah had burned. They added many similar messages.

Jeremiah Advises Zedekiah 37 1 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Zedekiah, son of Josiah, to be king of Judah. Zedekiah succeeded Jehoiakin, son of Jehoiakim. 2 But Zedekiah, his administrators, and the common people didn't listen to what Yahweh had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah.

3 King Zedekiah sent Jehucal (son of Shelemiah) and the priest Zephaniah (son of Maaseiah) to the prophet Jeremiah. They asked him, "Please pray to Yahweh our Elohim for us."

4 Jeremiah was still free to come and go among the people. The people of Jerusalem hadn't put him in prison yet. 5 Pharaoh's army had come from Egypt, and when the Babylonians who were blockading Jerusalem heard this news, they retreated from Jerusalem.

6 Yahweh spoke his word to the prophet Jeremiah. He said, 7 "This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to get advice from me: 'Pharaoh's army has come out to help you. But it will go back to Egypt, its own land. 8 Then the Babylonians will return. They will attack the city, capture it, and burn it down.

9 "'This is what Yahweh says: Don't deceive yourselves by thinking that the Babylonians will leave you. They will not leave you. 10 Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city.'"

11 The Babylonian army had retreated from Jerusalem because Pharaoh's army was coming. 12 So Jeremiah wanted to leave Jerusalem and go to the territory of Benjamin to take possession of his property there among the people. 13 But when he came to Benjamin Gate, the captain of the guard there, whose name was Irijah, son of Shelemiah and grandson of Hananiah, arrested the prophet Jeremiah. He said, "You're deserting to the Babylonians!"

14 Jeremiah answered, "That's a lie! I'm not deserting to the Babylonians." But Irijah wouldn't listen to him. Irijah arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials. 15 The officials were so angry with Jeremiah that they beat him and put him in prison in the scribe Jonathan's house, which had been turned into a prison. 16 Jeremiah went into a prison cell, and he stayed there a long time.

17 Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, and the king asked him privately in the palace, "Is there any message from Yahweh?"

Jeremiah answered, "Yes! There is a message from Yahweh . You will be handed over to the king of Babylon." 18 Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah, "What crime have I committed against you, your administrators, or these people? Why have you put me in prison? 19 Where are the prophets who told you that the king of Babylon wouldn't attack you and this land? 20 But now, Your Majesty, please listen, and accept my plea for mercy. Don't return me to the scribe Jonathan's house, or I will die there."

21 King Zedekiah gave the command to have Jeremiah put in the courtyard of the prison. He gave him a loaf of bread every day from the bakers' street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.

Jeremiah Is Thrown into a Muddy Cistern 38 1 Shephatiah (son of Mattan), Gedaliah (son of Pashhur), Jucal (son of Shelemiah), and Pashhur (son of Malchiah) heard that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people. 2 They heard Jeremiah say, "This is what Yahweh says: Those who stay in this city will die in wars, famines, or plagues. But those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.

3 "This is what Yahweh says: This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon, and it will capture the city."

4 Then the officials said to the king, "Have this man put to death. He discourages the soldiers who are left in this city and all the people by telling them such things. This man is not trying to help these people; he's trying to hurt them."

5 King Zedekiah answered, "He's in your hands. I won't do anything to stop you."

6 So they took Jeremiah and threw him into the cistern of Malchiah, the king's son. It was in the courtyard of the prison. They used ropes to lower Jeremiah into the cistern. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

7 But an official in the royal palace, Ebed Melech from Sudan, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the cistern. The king happened to be sitting at Benjamin Gate. 8 Ebed Melech left the royal palace and spoke to the king at Benjamin Gate. 9 "Your Majesty, everything that these men have done to the prophet Jeremiah is wrong. They have thrown him into the cistern, where he'll starve to death, because there's no more bread in the city."

10 Then the king gave Ebed Melech from Sudan this command: "Take 30 men from here, and lift the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies."

11 So Ebed Melech took the men with him and went to the royal palace, to a room under the treasury. He took rags and torn clothes from there and lowered them with ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern. 12 Ebed Melech from Sudan said to Jeremiah, "Put these rags and torn clothes under your arms to protect you from the ropes." Jeremiah did. 13 They used the ropes to pull Jeremiah up and lift him out of the cistern. Then Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.

14 King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah and brought him to the third entrance in Yahweh's temple. "I'm going to ask you a question," the king said to Jeremiah. "Don't hide anything from me."

15 Jeremiah answered Zedekiah, "If I answer you, you'll kill me. If I give you advice, you won't listen to me."

16 So King Zedekiah secretly swore an oath to Jeremiah, "Yahweh gave us life. As Yahweh lives, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who want to kill you."

17 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "This is what Yahweh Elohim Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: If you surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, you will live, and this city will not be burned. You and your household will live. 18 But if you don't surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Babylonians. They will burn it down, and you will not escape from them."

19 King Zedekiah answered Jeremiah, "I'm afraid of the Jews who have deserted to the Babylonians. The Babylonians may hand me over to them, and they will torture me."

20 Jeremiah said, "You will not be handed over to them. Obey Yahweh by doing what I'm telling you. Then everything will go well for you, and you will live. 21 But if you refuse to surrender, this is what Yahweh has shown me. "All the women who are left in the palace of Judah's king will be brought out to the officers of the king of Babylon. These women will say: 'Your trusted friends have misled you and used you.

Your feet are stuck in the mud, and your friends have deserted you.'

23 "All your wives and children will be brought to the Babylonians. You will not escape from them. You will be captured by the king of Babylon, and this city will be burned down."

Jeremiah and Zedekiah Make an Agreement 24 Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Don't let anyone know about this conversation, or you will die. 25 The officials may find out that I've been talking with you. They may come to you and say, 'Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you. Don't hide anything from us, or we'll kill you.' 26 If they come to you, say to them, 'I asked the king not to send me back to Jonathan's house to die there.'"

27 All the officials came to Jeremiah and questioned him. He told them exactly what the king had told him to say. So they stopped questioning him, because they hadn't heard his conversation with the king. 28 Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison until the day Jerusalem was captured.

Jerusalem Is Captured-2 Kings 25:1-12; 2 Chronicles 36:19-21;Jeremiah 52:4-16 39 1 In the tenth month of Zedekiah's ninth year as king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon attacked Jerusalem with his entire army and blockaded it. 2 On the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year as king, they broke into the city.

3 Then all the officers of the king of Babylon came in and sat in Middle Gate: Nergal (the quartermaster), Samgar Nebo (the chief officer), Nergal (the quartermaster and the chief fortuneteller), and all the rest of the officers of the king of Babylon.

4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls, and they took the road to the plain of Jericho. 5 The Babylonian army pursued them and caught up with Zedekiah in the plain of Jericho. They arrested him and brought him to Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar at Riblah in the territory of Hamath. The king of Babylon passed sentence on him. 6 The king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons as Zedekiah watched at Riblah. He also slaughtered all the leaders of Judah. 7 Then he blinded Zedekiah, put him in bronze shackles, and took him to Babylon.

8 The Babylonians burned down the royal palace and the people's homes, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Nebuzaradan, Babylon's captain of the guard, captured the few people left in the city, those who surrendered to him, and the rest of the people. 10 But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left some poor people who had nothing in the land of Judah. At that time he gave them vineyards and farms.

11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave Nebuzaradan an order concerning Jeremiah. He said, 12 "Take him, and look after him. Don't harm him in any way, but do for him whatever he asks." 13 Nebuzaradan (the captain of the guard), Nebushazban (the chief official), Nergal (the quartermaster and the chief fortuneteller), and all the other leaders of the king of Babylon sent for Jeremiah. 14 They took Jeremiah out of the courtyard of the prison and handed him over to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to take him home. So he lived among the people.

15 While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the prison, Yahweh spoke his word to him. Yahweh said, 16 "Say to Ebed Melech from Sudan, 'This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: I'm going to carry out my threat against this city by bringing disaster on it instead of prosperity. At that time these things will happen as you watch. 17 But at that time I will rescue you, declares Yahweh. You will not be handed over to those you fear. 18 I will certainly rescue you. You will not die in war. You will escape with your life because you trusted me, declares Yahweh .'"

Jeremiah Is Freed-2 Kings 25:22-26 40 1 Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, let him go at Ramah. Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah in chains along with the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken to Babylon. 2 The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him, "Yahweh your Elohim threatened to bring this disaster on this place. 3 He has carried out his threat. Yahweh did as he promised because you Israelites have sinned against him and refused to obey him. That is why this has happened to you. 4 Today I'm removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I'll look after you. But if you don't want to come with me to Babylon, don't come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want.

5 "If you wish to remain,a then go back to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon appointed to govern the cities of Judah. Live among the people with him, or go anywhere you want." The captain of the guard gave Jeremiah some food and a present and let him go. 6 Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.

7 All the army commanders and their men who were in the field heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, to govern the country and some of the country's poorest men, women, and children who had not been taken away to Babylon. 8 These are the commanders who went with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Ishmael (son of Nethaniah), Johanan and Jonathan (sons of Kareah), Seraiah (son of Tanhumeth), the sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jezaniah, who was the son of a man from Maacah. 9 Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, swore an oath to them and their men. He said, "Don't be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Live in this country, serve the king of Babylon, and you will prosper. 10 I'm going to live in Mizpah and represent you when the Babylonians come to us. Gather grapes, summer fruit, and olive oil, and put them in storage jars. Live in the cities you have taken over."

11 Now, all the Jews who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and in all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a few survivors in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, to govern them. 12 So all the Jews returned from all the places where they had been scattered. They came to Judah and to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They gathered a large harvest of grapes and summer fruit.

13 Kareah's son Johanan and all the army commanders who were still in the country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. 14 They asked him, "Do you know that King Baalis of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, Nethaniah's son, to kill you?" However, Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, didn't believe them.

15 Then Johanan, Kareah's son, secretly asked Gedaliah at Mizpah, "Let me kill Ishmael, Nethaniah's son. No one will know about it. Why should he kill you? All the Jews who have gathered around you would scatter. What is left of Judah would disappear."

16 Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, told Johanan, Kareah's son, "Don't do that! What you are saying about Ishmael is a lie."

Gedaliah Is Assassinated by Ishmael-2 Kings 25:25-26 41 1 In the seventh month Ishmael (son of Nethaniah and grandson of Elishama, a descendant of the royal family and of the king's officers) went with ten men to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah. As they ate together at Mizpah, 2 Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and the ten men who were with him got up, drew their swords, and killed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan. So they assassinated the man whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land. 3 Ishmael also killed all the Jews who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah as well as the Babylonian soldiers that he found there.

4 The day after the murder of Gedaliah, before anyone knew about it, 5 80 men arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. Their beards were shaved off, their clothes were torn, and cuts were on their bodies. They brought grain offerings and incense to Yahweh's temple. 6 Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, left Mizpah to meet them, crying as he went. When he met them, he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam."

7 When they came into the city, Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, and his men slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern. 8 However, ten men from the group had said to Ishmael, "Don't kill us! We have wheat, barley, olive oil, and honey hidden in the country." So he left them alone and didn't kill them along with the others.

9 Now, the cistern where Ishmael threw all the bodies of the men he had killed was the same one that King Asa made as a part of his defense against King Baasha of Israel. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, filled it with the bodies.

10 Then Ishmael took captive the rest of the people who were at Mizpah. He captured the king's daughters and all the other people who had been left at Mizpah. They were the people whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had put under the control of Gedaliah, son of Ahikam. Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, took them captive and left for Ammon.

11 When Kareah's son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, had done, 12 they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael. They caught up with him at the large pool in Gibeon. 13 When all the people who were with Ishmael saw Kareah's son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him, they were glad. 14 Then all the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and ran to Kareah's son Johanan. 15 Ishmael and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to Ammon.

16 Then Kareah's son Johanan and all the army commanders who were with him brought back the rest of the people of Mizpah whom he had rescued from Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, after Ishmael had killed Gedaliah, son of Ahikam. Johanan brought back men, women, children, soldiers, and commanders from Gibeon. 17 When they left Gibeon, they stayed near Bethlehem at Geruth Kimham on their way to Egypt. 18 They were afraid of the Babylonians because Ishmael had killed Gedaliah whom the king of Babylon had appointed to govern the land.

Jeremiah Warns the People of Judah Not to Go to Egypt 42 1 Then all the army commanders along with Kareah's son Johanan and Hoshaiah's son Jezaniah and all the people, from the least important to the most important, came to the prophet Jeremiah. 2 They said to him, "Please listen to our request, and pray to Yahweh your Elohim for all of us who are left here. As you can see, there are only a few of us left. 3 Let Yahweh your Elohim tell us where we should go and what we should do."

4 The prophet Jeremiah answered them, "I have listened to your request. I will pray to Yahweh your Elohim as you have requested, and I will tell you everything Yahweh says. I won't keep anything from you."

5 They said to Jeremiah, "May Yahweh be a true and faithful witness against us if we don't do exactly what Yahweh your Elohim tells us to do. 6 We will obey Yahweh our Elohim to whom we are sending you, whether it's good or bad. Yes, we will obey Yahweh our Elohim so that everything will go well for us."

7 After ten days Yahweh spoke his word to Jeremiah. 8 So Jeremiah called Kareah's son Johanan, all the army commanders who were with him, and all the people from the least important to the most important. 9 Jeremiah said to them, "You sent me to plead your case humbly to Yahweh. This is what Yahweh Elohim of Israel says: 10 Suppose you stay in this land. Then I will build you up and not tear you down. I will plant you and not uproot you. I will change my plans about the disaster I've brought on you. 11 Don't be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Don't be afraid of him, declares Yahweh. I'm with you. I will save you and rescue you from his power. 12 I will have compassion on you. I will make him have compassion on you and return you to your land.

13 "But suppose you say, 'We won't stay in this land,' and you disobey Yahweh your Elohim. 14 Then you say, 'We'll go to Egypt, where we won't have to see war, hear the sound of a ram's horn, or be hungry. We'll stay there.'

15 "Now, listen to the word of Yahweh, you people who are left in Judah. This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: Suppose you're determined to go to Egypt, and you go and live there. 16 Then the wars you fear will catch up with you in Egypt. The famines you dread will follow you to Egypt, and you will die there. 17 So all the people who decide to go and live in Egypt will die in wars, famines, and plagues. No one will survive or escape the disasters I will bring on them.

18 "This is what Yahweh Tsebaoth , the Elohim of Israel, says: As my anger and my fury were poured out on those who live in Jerusalem, so my fury will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become a curse word. You will become something ridiculed, cursed, and disgraced. You won't see this place again.

19 "Yahweh has told you people who are left in Judah not to go to Egypt. You need to know that I am warning you today. 20 You only deceived yourselves when you sent me to Yahweh your Elohim and said, 'Pray to Yahweh our Elohim for us, and tell us everything that Yahweh our Elohim says, and we'll do it.' 21 I have told you today, but you won't obey anything Yahweh your Elohim sent me to tell you. 22 But now, you need to know that you will die in wars, famines, or plagues in the place where you want to go and live."

Jeremiah Is Forced to Go to Egypt 43 1 So Jeremiah finished telling all the people the message from Yahweh their Elohim. He told them everything Yahweh their Elohim sent him to tell them. 2 Azariah (son of Hoshaiah), Johanan (son of Kareah), and all the arrogant people said to Jeremiah, "You're lying! Yahweh our Elohim didn't send you to tell us that we must not go to live in Egypt. 3 But Baruch, son of Neriah, has turned you against us in order to hand us over to the Babylonians. Then they will kill us or take us as captives to Babylon."