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God Rejects Zedekiah's Request

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah^(a) sent to him Pashhur^(b) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah^(c) son of Maaseiah. They said:

"Inquire^(d) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar^[a](e) king of Babylon^(f) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders^(g) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."

But Jeremiah answered them, "Tell Zedekiah,

‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn^(h) 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⁽ⁱ⁾ you. And I will gather them inside this city.

I myself will fight^(j) against you with an outstretched hand^(k) and a mighty arm^(l) in furious anger and in great wrath.

I will strike^(m) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.⁽ⁿ⁾

After that, declares the Lord , I will give Zedekiah^(o) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,^(p) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^(q) and to their enemies^(r) who want to kill them.^(s) He will put them to the sword;^(t) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.'^(u)

"Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life^(v) and the way of death.

Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.^(w) But whoever goes out and surrenders^(x) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.^(y)

I have determined to do this city harm^(z) and not good, declares the Lord . It will be given into the hands^(aa) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.'^(ab)

"Moreover, say to the royal house^(ac) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord .

This is what the Lord says to you, house of David: "‘Administer justice^(ad) every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor^(ae) the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire^(af) because of the evil^(ag) you have done— burn with no one to quench^(ah) it.

I am against^(ai) you, Jerusalem, you who live above this valley^(aj) on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord — you who say, "Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge?"^(ak)

I will punish you as your deeds^(al) deserve, declares the Lord . I will kindle a fire^(am) in your forests^(an) that will consume everything around you.'"

Judgment Against Wicked Kings

This is what the Lord says: "Go down to the palace of the king^(a) of Judah and proclaim this message there:

‘Hear^(b) the word of the Lord to you, king of Judah, you who sit on David's throne^(c)—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates.^(d)

This is what the Lord says: Do what is just^(e) and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor^(f) the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow,^(g) and do not shed innocent blood^(h) in this place.

For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings⁽ⁱ⁾ who sit on David's throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people.

But if you do not obey^(j) these commands, declares the Lord , I swear^(k) by myself that this palace will become a ruin.'"

For this is what the Lord says about the palace of the king of Judah: "Though you are like Gilead^(l) to me, like the summit of Lebanon,^(m) I will surely make you like a wasteland,⁽ⁿ⁾ like towns not inhabited.

I will send destroyers^(o) against you, each man with his weapons, and they will cut^(p) up your fine cedar beams and throw them into the fire.^(q)

"People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?'^(r)

And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have worshiped and served other gods.^(s)'"

Do not weep for the dead^(t) king or mourn^(u) his loss; rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled, because he will never return^(v) nor see his native land again.

For this is what the Lord says about Shallum^[a](w) son of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: "He will never return.

He will die^(x) in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again."

"Woe^(y) to him who builds^(z) his palace by unrighteousness, his upper rooms by injustice, making his own people work for nothing, not paying^(aa) them for their labor.

He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace^(ab) with spacious upper rooms.' So he makes large windows in it, panels it with cedar^(ac) and decorates it in red.^(ad)

"Does it make you a king to have more and more cedar? Did not your father have food and drink? He did what was right and just,^(ae) so all went well^(af) with him.

He defended the cause of the poor and needy,^(ag) and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know^(ah) me?" declares the Lord .

"But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain,^(ai) on shedding innocent blood^(aj) and on oppression and extortion."^(ak)

Therefore this is what the Lord says about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah: "They will not mourn^(al) for him: ‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!' They will not mourn for him: ‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!'

He will have the burial^(am) of a donkey— dragged away and thrown^(an) outside the gates of Jerusalem."

"Go up to Lebanon and cry out,^(ao) let your voice be heard in Bashan,^(ap) cry out from Abarim,^(aq) for all your allies^(ar) are crushed.

I warned you when you felt secure,^(as) but you said, ‘I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth;^(at) you have not obeyed^(au) me.

The wind^(av) will drive all your shepherds^(aw) away, and your allies^(ax) will go into exile. Then you will be ashamed and disgraced^(ay) because of all your wickedness.

You who live in ‘Lebanon,^[b](az)' who are nestled in cedar buildings, how you will groan when pangs come upon you, pain^(ba) like that of a woman in labor!

"As surely as I live," declares the Lord , "even if you, Jehoiachin^[c](bb) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring^(bc) on my right hand, I would still pull you off.

I will deliver^(bd) you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.^[d]

I will hurl^(be) you and the mother^(bf) who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die.

You will never come back to the land you long to return^(bg) to."

Is this man Jehoiachin^(bh) a despised, broken pot,^(bi) an object no one wants? Why will he and his children be hurled^(bj) out, cast into a land^(bk) they do not know?

O land,^(bl) land, land, hear the word of the Lord !

This is what the Lord says: "Record this man as if childless,^(bm) a man who will not prosper^(bn) in his lifetime, for none of his offspring^(bo) will prosper, none will sit on the throne^(bp) of David or rule anymore in Judah."

The Righteous Branch

"Woe to the shepherds^(a) who are destroying and scattering^(b) the sheep of my pasture!"^(c) declares the Lord .

Therefore this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says to the shepherds^(d) who tend my people: "Because you have scattered my flock^(e) and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil^(f) you have done," declares the Lord .

"I myself will gather the remnant^(g) of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture,^(h) where they will be fruitful and increase in number.

I will place shepherds⁽ⁱ⁾ over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid^(j) or terrified, nor will any be missing,^(k)" declares the Lord .

"The days are coming," declares the Lord , "when I will raise up for David^[a] a righteous Branch,^(l) a King^(m) who will reign⁽ⁿ⁾ wisely and do what is just and right^(o) in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.^(p) This is the name^(q) by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.^(r)

"So then, the days are coming,"^(s) declares the Lord , "when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,'^(t)

but they will say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.' Then they will live in their own land."^(u)

Concerning the prophets: My heart^(v) is broken within me; all my bones tremble.^(w) I am like a drunken man, like a strong man overcome by wine, because of the Lord and his holy words.^(x)

The land is full of adulterers;^(y) because of the curse^[b](z) the land lies parched and the pastures^(aa) in the wilderness are withered.^(ab) The prophets follow an evil course and use their power unjustly.

"Both prophet and priest are godless;^(ac) even in my temple^(ad) I find their wickedness," declares the Lord .

"Therefore their path will become slippery;^(ae) they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,^(af)" declares the Lord .

"Among the prophets of Samaria I saw this repulsive thing: They prophesied by Baal^(ag) and led my people Israel astray.^(ah)

And among the prophets of Jerusalem I have seen something horrible:^(ai) They commit adultery and live a lie.^(aj) They strengthen the hands of evildoers,^(ak) so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.^(al) They are all like Sodom^(am) to me; the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah."^(an)

Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets: "I will make them eat bitter food and drink poisoned water,^(ao) because from the prophets of Jerusalem ungodliness^(ap) has spread throughout the land."

This is what the Lord Almighty says: "Do not listen^(aq) to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions^(ar) from their own minds, not from the mouth^(as) of the Lord .

They keep saying^(at) to those who despise me, ‘The Lord says: You will have peace.'^(au) And to all who follow the stubbornness^(av) of their hearts they say, ‘No harm^(aw) will come to you.'

But which of them has stood in the council^(ax) of the Lord to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word?

See, the storm^(ay) of the Lord will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind^(az) swirling down on the heads of the wicked.

The anger^(ba) of the Lord will not turn back^(bb) until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In days to come you will understand it clearly.

I did not send^(bc) these prophets, yet they have run with their message; I did not speak to them, yet they have prophesied.

But if they had stood in my council,^(bd) they would have proclaimed^(be) my words to my people and would have turned^(bf) them from their evil ways and from their evil deeds.^(bg)

"Am I only a God nearby,^(bh)" declares the Lord , "and not a God far away?

Who can hide^(bi) in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the Lord . "Do not I fill heaven and earth?"^(bj) declares the Lord .

"I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies^(bk) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!^(bl) I had a dream!'

How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions^(bm) of their own minds?^(bn)

They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget^(bo) my name, just as their ancestors forgot^(bp) my name through Baal worship.^(bq)

Let the prophet who has a dream^(br) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word^(bs) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?" declares the Lord .

"Is not my word like fire,"^(bt) declares the Lord , "and like a hammer^(bu) that breaks a rock in pieces?

"Therefore," declares the Lord , "I am against^(bv) the prophets^(bw) who steal from one another words supposedly from me.

Yes," declares the Lord , "I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.'^(bx)

Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,^(by)" declares the Lord . "They tell them and lead my people astray^(bz) with their reckless lies,^(ca) yet I did not send^(cb) or appoint them. They do not benefit^(cc) these people in the least," declares the Lord .

"When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message^(cd) from the Lord ?' say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake^(ce) you, declares the Lord .'

If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message^(cf) from the Lord ,' I will punish^(cg) them and their household.

This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord 's answer?'^(ch) or ‘What has the Lord spoken?'

But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord ' again, because each one's word becomes their own message. So you distort^(ci) the words of the living God,^(cj) the Lord Almighty, our God.

This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the Lord 's answer to you?' or ‘What has the Lord spoken?'

Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord ,' this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord ,' even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord .'

Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast^(ck) you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors.

I will bring on you everlasting disgrace^(cl)—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten."

Two Baskets of Figs

After Jehoiachin^[a](a) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs^(b) placed in front of the temple of the Lord .

One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early;^(c) the other basket had very bad^(d) figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

Then the Lord asked me, "What do you see,^(e) Jeremiah?" "Figs," I answered. "The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten."

Then the word of the Lord came to me:

"This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent^(f) away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.^[b]

My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back^(g) to this land. I will build^(h) them up and not tear them down; I will plant⁽ⁱ⁾ them and not uproot them.

I will give them a heart to know^(j) me, that I am the Lord . They will be my people,^(k) and I will be their God, for they will return^(l) to me with all their heart.^(m)

"‘But like the bad⁽ⁿ⁾ figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,' says the Lord , ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah^(o) king of Judah, his officials^(p) and the survivors^(q) from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.^(r)

I will make them abhorrent^(s) and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword,^(t) a curse^[c](u) and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish^(v) them.

I will send the sword,^(w) famine^(x) and plague^(y) against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.^(z)'"