Jeremiah Chapter 21

Jeremiah 21 — English translation

Translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition. Verse numbers match the Hebrew text below.

1. 1The word that came to Jeremiah from G OD —when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchiah and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, to say,
2. 2“Please inquire of G OD on our behalf, for King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps G OD will act for our sake in accordance with all the prior wonders, so that he will withdraw from us.”
3. 3Jeremiah answered them, “Thus shall you say to Zedekiah:
4. 4Thus said the E TERNAL , the God of Israel: I am going to turn around the weapons in your hands with which you are battling outside the wall against those who are besieging you—the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans—and I will take them into the midst of this city;
5. 5and I Myself will battle against you with an outstretched mighty arm, with anger and rage and great wrath.
6. 6I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both human and animal: they shall die by a terrible pestilence.
7. 7And then—declares G OD —I will deliver King Zedekiah of Judah and his courtiers and the people—those in this city who survive the pestilence, the sword, and the famine—into the hands of King Nebuchadrezzar of Babylon, into the hands of their enemies, into the hands of those who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword without pity, without compassion, without mercy.
8. 8“And to this people you shall say: Thus said G OD : I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
9. 9Whoever remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but whoever leaves and goes over to the Chaldeans who are besieging you shall live; he shall at least gain his life.
10. 10For I have set My face against this city for evil and not for good—declares G OD . It shall be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, who will destroy it by fire.”
11. 11To the House of the king of Judah: Hear the word of G OD !
12. 12O House of David, thus said G OD : Render just verdicts Morning by morning; Rescue from the defrauder Anyone who is robbed. Else My wrath will break forth like fire And burn, with none to quench it, Because of your wicked acts.
13. 13I will deal with you, O inhabitants of the valley, O rock of the plain —declares G OD — You who say, “Who can come down against us? Who can get into our lairs?”
14. 14I will punish you according to your deeds —declares G OD . I will set fire to its forest; It shall consume all that is around it.

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