Christian Standard Bible

Hebrew Study Bible

1Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchijah heard the words Jeremiah was speaking to all the people:

1וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע שְׁפַטְיָ֣ה בֶן־ מַתָּ֗ן וּגְדַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ בֶּן־ פַּשְׁח֔וּר וְיוּכַל֙ בֶּן־ שֶׁ֣לֶמְיָ֔הוּ וּפַשְׁח֖וּר בֶּן־ מַלְכִּיָּ֑ה אֶ֨ת־ הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ מְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־ כָּל־ הָעָ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃ ס

2"This is what the LORD says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live. He will retain his life like the spoils of war and will live.'

2כֹּה֮ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָה֒ הַיֹּשֵׁב֙ בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את יָמ֕וּת בַּחֶ֖רֶב בָּרָעָ֣ב וּבַדָּ֑בֶר וְהַיֹּצֵ֤א אֶל־ הַכַּשְׂדִּים֙ [יחיה] (וְחָיָ֔ה) וְהָיְתָה־ לּ֥וֹ נַפְשׁ֛וֹ לְשָׁלָ֖ל וָחָֽי׃ ס

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

3כֹּ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה הִנָּתֹ֨ן תִּנָּתֵ֜ן הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֗את בְּיַ֛ד חֵ֥יל מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶ֖ל וּלְכָדָֽהּ׃

4The officials then said to the king, "This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not pursuing the welfare of this people, but their harm."

4וַיֹּאמְר֨וּ הַשָּׂרִ֜ים אֶל־ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ י֣וּמַת נָא֮ אֶת־ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּה֒ כִּֽי־ עַל־ כֵּ֡ן הֽוּא־ מְרַפֵּ֡א אֶת־ יְדֵי֩ אַנְשֵׁ֨י הַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה הַֽנִּשְׁאָרִ֣ים ׀ בָּעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֗את וְאֵת֙ יְדֵ֣י כָל־ הָעָ֔ם לְדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם כַּדְּבָרִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה כִּ֣י ׀ הָאִ֣ישׁ הַזֶּ֗ה אֵינֶ֨נּוּ דֹרֵ֧שׁ לְשָׁל֛וֹם לָעָ֥ם הַזֶּ֖ה כִּ֥י אִם־ לְרָעָֽה׃

5King Zedekiah said, "Here he is; he's in your hands since the king can't do anything against you."

5וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ הִנֵּה־ ה֖וּא בְּיֶדְכֶ֑ם כִּֽי־ אֵ֣ין הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ יוּכַ֥ל אֶתְכֶ֖ם דָּבָֽר׃

6So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king's son, which was in the guard's courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.

6וַיִּקְח֣וּ אֶֽת־ יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֨כוּ אֹת֜וֹ אֶל־ הַבּ֣וֹר ׀ מַלְכִּיָּ֣הוּ בֶן־ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ אֲשֶׁר֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה וַיְשַׁלְּח֥וּ אֶֽת־ יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּחֲבָלִ֑ים וּבַבּ֤וֹר אֵֽין־ מַ֙יִם֙ כִּ֣י אִם־ טִ֔יט וַיִּטְבַּ֥ע יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּטִּֽיט׃ ס

7But Ebed-melech, a Cushite court official in the king's palace, heard Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,

7וַיִּשְׁמַ֡ע עֶֽבֶד־ מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אִ֣ישׁ סָרִ֗יס וְהוּא֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ כִּֽי־ נָתְנ֥וּ אֶֽת־ יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ אֶל־ הַבּ֑וֹר וְהַמֶּ֥לֶךְ יוֹשֵׁ֖ב בְּשַׁ֥עַר בִּנְיָמִֽן׃

8Ebed-melech went from the king's palace and spoke to the king:

8וַיֵּצֵ֥א עֶֽבֶד־ מֶ֖לֶךְ מִבֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר אֶל־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ לֵאמֹֽר׃

9"My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city."

9אֲדֹנִ֣י הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הֵרֵ֜עוּ הָאֲנָשִׁ֤ים הָאֵ֙לֶּה֙ אֵ֣ת כָּל־ אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ לְיִרְמְיָ֣הוּ הַנָּבִ֔יא אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ הִשְׁלִ֖יכוּ אֶל־ הַבּ֑וֹר וַיָּ֤מָת תַּחְתָּיו֙ מִפְּנֵ֣י הָֽרָעָ֔ב כִּ֣י אֵ֥ין הַלֶּ֛חֶם ע֖וֹד בָּעִֽיר׃

10So the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Cushite, "Take from here thirty men under your authority and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies."

10וַיְצַוֶּ֣ה הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ אֵ֛ת עֶֽבֶד־ מֶ֥לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֖י לֵאמֹ֑ר קַ֣ח בְּיָדְךָ֤ מִזֶּה֙ שְׁלֹשִׁ֣ים אֲנָשִׁ֔ים וְֽהַעֲלִ֜יתָ אֶֽת־ יִרְמְיָ֧הוּ הַנָּבִ֛יא מִן־ הַבּ֖וֹר בְּטֶ֥רֶם יָמֽוּת׃

11So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority and went to the king's palace to a place below the storehouse. From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

11וַיִּקַּ֣ח ׀ עֶֽבֶד־ מֶ֨לֶךְ אֶת־ הָאֲנָשִׁ֜ים בְּיָד֗וֹ וַיָּבֹ֤א בֵית־ הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ אֶל־ תַּ֣חַת הָאוֹצָ֔ר וַיִּקַּ֤ח מִשָּׁם֙ בְּלוֹיֵ֣ [הסחבות] (סְחָב֔וֹת) וּבְלוֹיֵ֖ מְלָחִ֑ים וַיְשַׁלְּחֵ֧ם אֶֽל־ יִרְמְיָ֛הוּ אֶל־ הַבּ֖וֹר בַּחֲבָלִֽים׃

12Ebed-melech the Cushite called down to Jeremiah, "Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes." Jeremiah did this.

12וַיֹּ֡אמֶר עֶבֶד־ מֶ֨לֶךְ הַכּוּשִׁ֜י אֶֽל־ יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ שִׂ֣ים נָ֠א בְּלוֹאֵ֨י הַסְּחָב֤וֹת וְהַמְּלָחִים֙ תַּ֚חַת אַצִּל֣וֹת יָדֶ֔יךָ מִתַּ֖חַת לַחֲבָלִ֑ים וַיַּ֥עַשׂ יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ כֵּֽן׃

13They pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he remained in the guard's courtyard.

13וַיִּמְשְׁכ֤וּ אֶֽת־ יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּֽחֲבָלִ֔ים וַיַּעֲל֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ מִן־ הַבּ֑וֹר וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יִרְמְיָ֔הוּ בַּחֲצַ֖ר הַמַּטָּרָֽה׃ ס

14King Zedekiah sent for the prophet Jeremiah and received him at the third entrance of the LORD's temple. The king said to Jeremiah, "I am going to ask you something; don't hide anything from me."

14וַיִּשְׁלַ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֗הוּ וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶֽת־ יִרְמְיָ֤הוּ הַנָּבִיא֙ אֵלָ֔יו אֶל־ מָבוֹא֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וַיֹּ֨אמֶר הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ אֶֽל־ יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ שֹׁאֵ֨ל אֲנִ֤י אֹֽתְךָ֙ דָּבָ֔ר אַל־ תְּכַחֵ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נִּי דָּבָֽר׃

15Jeremiah replied to Zedekiah, "If I tell you, you will kill me, won't you? Besides, if I give you advice, you won't listen to me anyway."

15וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־ צִדְקִיָּ֔הוּ כִּ֚י אַגִּ֣יד לְךָ֔ הֲל֖וֹא הָמֵ֣ת תְּמִיתֵ֑נִי וְכִי֙ אִיעָ֣צְךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִשְׁמַ֖ע אֵלָֽי׃

16King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private, "As the LORD lives, who has given us this life, I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who intend to take your life."

16וַיִּשָּׁבַ֞ע הַמֶּ֧לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֛הוּ אֶֽל־ יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ בַּסֵּ֣תֶר לֵאמֹ֑ר חַי־ יְהוָ֞ה [את] אֲשֶׁר֩ עָשָׂה־ לָ֨נוּ אֶת־ הַנֶּ֤פֶשׁ הַזֹּאת֙ אִם־ אֲמִיתֶ֔ךָ וְאִם־ אֶתֶּנְךָ֗ בְּיַד֙ הָאֲנָשִׁ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר מְבַקְשִׁ֖ים אֶת־ נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃ ס

17Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, "This is what the LORD, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: 'If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then you will live, this city will not be burned, and you and your household will survive.

17וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֣הוּ אֶל־ צִדְקִיָּ֡הוּ כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָה֩ אֱלֹהֵ֨י צְבָא֜וֹת אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אִם־ יָצֹ֨א תֵצֵ֜א אֶל־ שָׂרֵ֤י מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶל֙ וְחָיְתָ֣ה נַפְשֶׁ֔ךָ וְהָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את לֹ֥א תִשָּׂרֵ֖ף בָּאֵ֑שׁ וְחָיִ֖תָה אַתָּ֥ה וּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃

18But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans. They will burn it, and you yourself will not escape from them.'"

18וְאִ֣ם לֹֽא־ תֵצֵ֗א אֶל־ שָׂרֵי֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֔ל וְנִתְּנָ֞ה הָעִ֤יר הַזֹּאת֙ בְּיַ֣ד הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וּשְׂרָפ֖וּהָ בָּאֵ֑שׁ וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹֽא־ תִמָּלֵ֥ט מִיָּדָֽם׃ ס

19But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I am worried about the Judeans who have defected to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to the Judeans to abuse me."

19וַיֹּ֛אמֶר הַמֶּ֥לֶךְ צִדְקִיָּ֖הוּ אֶֽל־ יִרְמְיָ֑הוּ אֲנִ֧י דֹאֵ֣ג אֶת־ הַיְּהוּדִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר נָֽפְלוּ֙ אֶל־ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים פֶּֽן־ יִתְּנ֥וּ אֹתִ֛י בְּיָדָ֖ם וְהִתְעַלְּלוּ־ בִֽי׃ פ

20"They will not hand you over," Jeremiah replied. "Obey the LORD in what I am telling you, so it may go well for you and you can live.

20וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֹ֣א יִתֵּ֑נוּ שְֽׁמַֽע־ נָ֣א ׀ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֗ה לַאֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ דֹּבֵ֣ר אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיִ֥יטַב לְךָ֖ וּתְחִ֥י נַפְשֶֽׁךָ׃

21But if you refuse to surrender, this is the verdict that the LORD has shown me:

21וְאִם־ מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לָצֵ֑את זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁ֥ר הִרְאַ֖נִי יְהוָֽה׃

22'All the women who remain in the palace of Judah's king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say to you, "Your trusted friends misled you and overcame you. Your feet sank into the mire, and they deserted you."

22וְהִנֵּ֣ה כָל־ הַנָּשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִשְׁאֲרוּ֙ בְּבֵ֣ית מֶֽלֶךְ־ יְהוּדָ֔ה מוּצָא֕וֹת אֶל־ שָׂרֵ֖י מֶ֣לֶךְ בָּבֶ֑ל וְהֵ֣נָּה אֹמְר֗וֹת הִסִּית֜וּךָ וְיָכְל֤וּ לְךָ֙ אַנְשֵׁ֣י שְׁלֹמֶ֔ךָ הָטְבְּע֥וּ בַבֹּ֛ץ רַגְלֶ֖ךָ נָסֹ֥גוּ אָחֽוֹר׃

23All your wives and children will be brought out to the Chaldeans. You yourself will not escape from them, for you will be seized by the king of Babylon and this city will burn.'"

23וְאֶת־ כָּל־ נָשֶׁ֣יךָ וְאֶת־ בָּנֶ֗יךָ מֽוֹצִאִים֙ אֶל־ הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וְאַתָּ֖ה לֹא־ תִמָּלֵ֣ט מִיָּדָ֑ם כִּ֣י בְיַ֤ד מֶֽלֶךְ־ בָּבֶל֙ תִּתָּפֵ֔שׂ וְאֶת־ הָעִ֥יר הַזֹּ֖את תִּשְׂרֹ֥ף בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ פ

24Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, "Don't let anyone know about this conversation or you will die.

24וַיֹּ֨אמֶר צִדְקִיָּ֜הוּ אֶֽל־ יִרְמְיָ֗הוּ אִ֛ישׁ אַל־ יֵדַ֥ע בַּדְּבָֽרִים־ הָאֵ֖לֶּה וְלֹ֥א תָמֽוּת׃

25The officials may hear that I have spoken with you and come and demand of you, 'Tell us what you said to the king; don't hide anything from us and we won't kill you. Also, what did the king say to you?'

25וְכִֽי־ יִשְׁמְע֣וּ הַשָּׂרִים֮ כִּֽי־ דִבַּ֣רְתִּי אִתָּךְ֒ וּבָ֣אוּ אֵלֶ֣יךָ וְֽאָמְר֪וּ אֵלֶ֟יךָ הַגִּֽידָה־ נָּ֨א לָ֜נוּ מַה־ דִּבַּ֧רְתָּ אֶל־ הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ אַל־ תְּכַחֵ֥ד מִמֶּ֖נּוּ וְלֹ֣א נְמִיתֶ֑ךָ וּמַה־ דִּבֶּ֥ר אֵלֶ֖יךָ הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃

26If they do, tell them, 'I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.'"

26וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם מַפִּיל־ אֲנִ֥י תְחִנָּתִ֖י לִפְנֵ֣י הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לְבִלְתִּ֧י הֲשִׁיבֵ֛נִי בֵּ֥ית יְהוֹנָתָ֖ן לָמ֥וּת שָֽׁם׃ פ

27All the officials did come to Jeremiah, and they questioned him. He reported the exact words to them the king had commanded, and they quit speaking with him because the conversation had not been overheard.

27וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ כָל־ הַשָּׂרִ֤ים אֶֽל־ יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ וַיִּשְׁאֲל֣וּ אֹת֔וֹ וַיַּגֵּ֤ד לָהֶם֙ כְּכָל־ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוָּ֖ה הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיַּחֲרִ֣שׁוּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ כִּ֥י לֹֽא־ נִשְׁמַ֖ע הַדָּבָֽר׃ פ

28Jeremiah remained in the guard's courtyard until the day Jerusalem was captured, and he was there when it happened.

28וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב יִרְמְיָ֙הוּ֙ בַּחֲצַ֣ר הַמַּטָּרָ֔ה עַד־ י֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־ נִלְכְּדָ֣ה יְרוּשָׁלִָ֑ם ס וְהָיָ֕ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר נִלְכְּדָ֖ה יְרוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ פ

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

Greek and Hebrew Study Bible courtesy Bible Hub and the Discovery Bible team.