Top of Page
Page Style
the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s House, and speak to the people of the cities of Judah who come to worship in the House of the Lord. Speak to them all the words that I have commanded you to speak. Do not hold back a word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn back, each from his evil way. Then I shall relent and not bring the disaster on them that I purposed because of their evil deeds’.
4 “You must say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: “If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law that I have set before you, 5 and to heed the words of My servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again, though you did not listen, 6 then I will make this House like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth” ’.”
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the House of the Lord. 8 But when Jeremiah had finished speaking everything that the Lord had commanded him to speak to the people, the priests, prophets and all the people seized him, yeling, “You must die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This temple will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, without an inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered around Jeremiah in the House of the Lord.
10 When the officials of Judah heard these things, they went up from the king’s palace to the House of the Lord and sat at the entrance of the New Gate to the Lord’s temple. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man deserves to die, for he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this House and against this city, using all the words that you have heard. 13 So reform your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent concerning the disaster that He has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, look, I am in your hands; do with me whatever seems good and proper to you. 15 But know for certain that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on its residents, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”
16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
17 Then some of the elders of the land stood up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of Hosts says:
“Zion will be ploughed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,
and the temple mount an overgrown thicket” ’.
19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and seek the Lord’s favour? And did not the Lord relent concerning the disaster He had pronounced against them? So we are about to bring great harm upon ourselves!
20 “Now there was also another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land with the same words that Jeremiah used. 21 When King Jehoiakim, his warriors, and all the officials heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled to Egypt. 22 But King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt: Elnathan son of Achbor, and other men who went with him to Egypt. 23 They captured Uriah in Egypt, and brought him back to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with the sword and threw his dead body into the burial place of the common people.”
24 However, Ahikam son of Shaphan helped Jeremiah, so that he was not given over into the hands of the people to be put to death.