Jeremiah Warns Zedekiah

1Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) made Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) son of Josiah (whom YHWH heals) the king of Judah (praised), and he reigned in place of Coniah (Jehoiachin)a son of Jehoiakim (YHWH raises up). 2But he and his officers and the people of the land refused to obey the words that the LORD {YHWH} had spoken through Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet.

3Yet King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) sent Jehucal (Jucal)b son of Shelemiah (repaid by YHWH) and Zephaniah (YHWH has treasured) the priest, the son of Maaseiah (work of YHWH), to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet with the message, “Please pray to the LORD our God {YHWH Elohenu} for us!”

4Now Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) was free to come and go among the people, for they had not yet put him in prison. 5Pharaoh’s (great house) army had left Egypt (land of bondage), and when the Chaldeans (the Babylonians)c who were besieging Jerusalem (city of peace) heard the report, they withdrew from Jerusalem.

6Then the word of the LORD {YHWH} came to Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) the prophet: 7“This is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says that you⁺ are to tell the king of Judah (praised), who sent you⁺ to Me: Behold, Pharaoh’s (great house) army, which has marched out to help you⁺, will go back to its own land of Egypt (land of bondage). 8Then the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) will return and fight against this city. They will capture it and burn it down.

9This is what the LORD {YHWH} says: Do not deceive yourselves by saying, ‘The Chaldeans (clod-breakers) will go away for good,’ for they will not! 10Indeed, if you⁺ were to strike down the entire army of the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) that is fighting against you⁺, and only wounded men remained in their tents, they would still get up and burn this city down.”

Jeremiah Imprisoned

11When the Chaldean (clod-breakers) army withdrew from Jerusalem (city of peace) for fear of Pharaoh’s (great house) army, 12Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) started to leave Jerusalem (city of peace) to go to the land of Benjamin (son of the right hand) to claim his portion there \to divide from there/d among the people. 13But when he reached the Gate of Benjamin (son of the right hand), the captain of the guard, whose name was Irijah (YHWH sees me) son of Shelemiah (repaid by YHWH), the son of Hananiah (God has favored), seized him (whom YHWH has appointed) and said, “You are deserting to the Chaldeans (clod-breakers)!”

14“That is a lie,” Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) replied. “I am not deserting to the Chaldeans (clod-breakers)!”

But Irijah (YHWH sees me) would not listen to him; instead, he arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.

15The officials were angry with Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed), and they beat him and placed him in jail in the house of Jonathan (YHWH has given) the scribe, for it had been made into a prison.

16So Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) went into a cell in the dungeon and remained there a long time.

17Later, King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) sent for Jeremiah and received him in his palace, where he asked him privately, “Is there a word from the LORD {YHWH}?”

“There is,” Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) replied. “You will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing).”

18Then Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) asked King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous), “How have I sinned against you or your servants or these people, that you⁺ have put me in prison? 19Where are your⁺ prophets who prophesied to you⁺, claiming, ‘The king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) will not come against you⁺ or this land’? 20But now please listen, O my lord the king. May my petition come before you. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan (YHWH has given) the scribe, or I will die there.”

21So King Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) gave orders for Jeremiah (whom YHWH has appointed) to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given a loaf of bread daily from the street of the bakers, until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah remained in the courtyard of the guard.