Today I have made you like a city that has a high wall around it. I have made you like an iron pillar and a bronze wall. Now you can stand up against the whole land. You can stand against the kings and officials of Judah. You can stand against its priests and its people.

看哪，我今日使你成为坚城、铁柱、铜墙，与全地和犹大的君王、首领、祭司，并地上的众民反对。

看哪，我今日使你成为坚城、铁柱、铜墙，对抗全地和犹大的君王、官长、祭司，并这地的百姓。

看哪，我今日使你成为坚城、铁柱、铜墙，对抗全地和犹大的君王、官长、祭司，并这地的百姓。

看啊，今天我已使你成为坚城、铁柱、铜墙，来对抗整个犹大，对抗犹大的君王、首领、祭司和境内的众民。

看哪！今日我使你成为坚城、铁柱、铜墙，抵挡全地，就是抵挡犹大的君王、首领、祭司和这地的众民。

看哪，我今日使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆，與全地和猶大的君王、首領、祭司，並地上的眾民反對。

看哪，我今日使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆，對抗全地和猶大的君王、官長、祭司，並這地的百姓。

看哪，我今日使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆，對抗全地和猶大的君王、官長、祭司，並這地的百姓。

看啊，今天我已使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆，來對抗整個猶大，對抗猶大的君王、首領、祭司和境內的眾民。

看哪！今日我使你成為堅城、鐵柱、銅牆，抵擋全地，就是抵擋猶大的君王、首領、祭司和這地的眾民。

而我呢，看哪，我今日乃是使你成為堡壘城，成為鐵柱、銅牆、以抵禦全地，敵擋猶大的列王和首領、她的祭司、和國內的眾民。

我是日使爾對於猶大通國、君王牧伯、祭司庶民、為堅城鐵柱銅垣、

猶大王公、祭司庶民攻爾、我必使爾屹立、若鞏固之城、鐵柱銅垣。

我今日使爾在通國、在猶大王公祭司庶民前、若鞏固之城、若鐵柱銅垣、

Today I have made you a fortified city, an iron pillar and a bronze wall to stand against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and the people of the land.

And I, behold, I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the people of the land.

For see, today I have made you strong like a fortified city that cannot be captured, like an iron pillar or a bronze wall. You will stand against the whole land— the kings, officials, priests, and people of Judah.

Today, I am the one who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.

Now behold, I have made you today like a fortified city and like a pillar of iron and walls of bronze against the whole land, to the kings of Judah, to its leaders, to its priests, and to the people of the land.

For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land— Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land.

For, behold, I have made thee this day a fortified city, and an iron pillar, and brazen walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

Today, I am the One who has made you a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land— against the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests, and the population.

For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land.

I, the LORD, hereby promise to make you as strong as a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a bronze wall. You will be able to stand up against all who live in the land, including the kings of Judah, its officials, its priests and all the people of the land.

For, behold, I have made you today a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against its princes, against its priests, and against the people of the land.

The Lord and King helps me. He won’t let me be dishonored. So I’ve made up my mind to keep on serving him. I know he won’t let me be put to shame.

But I will make you just as stubborn as they are.I will make you very brave. So do not be afraid of them. Do not let them terrify you, even though they refuse to obey me.”

I will make you like a wall to them. I will make you like a strong bronze wall. The people will fight against you. But they will not overcome you. I am with you. I will save you,” announces the Lord.

The Lord says to me,“ I have made you like one who tests metals. My people are the ore. I want you to watch them and test the way they live.

The Spirit of the Lord has filled me with power. He helps me do what is fair. He makes me brave. Now I’m prepared to tell Jacob’s people what they’ve done wrong. I’m ready to tell Israel they’ve sinned.Listen to me, you leaders of Jacob’s people! Pay attention, you rulers of Israel! You hate to do what is fair. You twist everything that is right.

So here is something else you can be sure of. You will die of war, hunger and plague. You want to go and make your homes in Egypt. But you will die there.”

“ The Lord says,‘ Those who stay in this city will die of war, hunger or plague. But those who go over to the side of the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives. They will remain alive.’

The Lord is the God of Israel. He says,“ The king of Judah has sent you to ask me for advice. Tell him,‘ Pharaoh’s army has marched out to help you. But it will go back to its own land. It will return to Egypt.

A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. It came after the king burned the scroll. On the scroll were the words Baruch had written down. Jeremiah had told him to write them. The message said,“ Get another scroll. Write on it all the words that were on the first one. King Jehoiakim burned that one up.Also tell King Jehoiakim,‘ The Lord says,“ You burned that scroll. You said to Baruch,‘ Why did you write that the king of Babylon would certainly come? Why did you write that he would destroy this land? And why did you write that he would remove from it people and animals alike?’ ”So now the Lord has something to say about Jehoiakim, the king of Judah. He says,“ No one from Jehoiakim’s family line will sit on David’s throne. Jehoiakim’s body will be thrown out. It will lie outside in the heat by day and in the frost at night.I will punish him and his children and his attendants. I will punish them for their sinful ways. I will bring on them all the trouble I said I would. And I will bring it on the people of Jerusalem and Judah. They have not listened to me.” ’ ”So Jeremiah got another scroll. He gave it to Baruch the secretary. He was the son of Neriah. Jeremiah told Baruch what to write on it. Baruch wrote down all the words that were on the scroll King Jehoiakim had burned up in the fire. And many more words were written on it. They were similar to those that had already been written.

So I will hand over all those people to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.“ I will hand over King Zedekiah and his officials to their enemies. I will hand them over to those who want to kill them. I will hand them over to the armies of the king of Babylon. They have now pulled back from you.But I am going to give an order,” announces the Lord.“ I will bring them back to this city. They will fight against it. They will capture it and burn it down. And I will completely destroy the towns of Judah. No one will be able to live there.”

‘ The Lord is the God of Israel. He says,“ The king of Babylon and his armies are all around this city. They are getting ready to attack you. You have weapons of war in your hands to fight against them. But I am about to turn your weapons against you. And I will bring your enemies inside this city.I myself will fight against you. I will reach out my powerful hand and mighty arm. I will come against you with all my great anger.I will strike down those who live in this city. I will kill people and animals alike. They will die of a terrible plague.After that, I will hand you over to your enemies. They want to kill you,” announces the Lord.“ I will hand over Zedekiah, the king of Judah, and his officials. I will also hand over the people in this city who live through the plague, war and hunger. All of them will be handed over to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. He will kill them with swords. He will show them no mercy. He will not feel sorry for them. In fact, he will not have any concern for them at all.” ’“ Tell the people,‘ The Lord says,“ I am offering you a choice. You can choose the way that leads to life. Or you can choose the way that leads to death.Those who stay in this city will die of war, hunger or plague. But suppose some go out and give themselves up to the Babylonians attacking you. They will live. They will escape with their lives.I have decided to do this city harm and not good,” announces the Lord.“ It will be handed over to the king of Babylon. And he will destroy it with fire.” ’“ Also speak to Judah’s royal family. Tell them,‘ Listen to the Lord’ s message.Here is what the Lord says to you who belong to David’s royal house.“‘ “Every morning do what is right and fair. Save those who have been robbed. Set them free from the people who have treated them badly. If you do not, my anger will blaze out against you. It will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done. No one will be able to put it out.Jerusalem, I am against you,” announces the Lord.“ You live above this valley. You are on a high, rocky plain. And you say,‘ Who can come against us? Who can enter our place of safety?’But I will punish you in keeping with what you have done,” announces the Lord.“ I will start a fire in your forests. It will burn down everything around you.” ’ ”The Lord said to Jeremiah,“ Go down to the palace of the king of Judah. Announce my message there. Tell him,‘ King of Judah, listen to the Lord’ s message. You are sitting on David’s throne. You and your officials and your people come through these gates.The Lord says,“ Do what is fair and right. Save those who have been robbed. Set them free from the people who have treated them badly. Do not do anything wrong to outsiders or widows in this place. Do not harm children whose fathers have died. Do not kill those who are not guilty of doing anything wrong.Be careful to obey these commands. Then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace. They will come riding in chariots and on horses. Their officials and their people will come along with them.But suppose you do not obey these commands,” announces the Lord.“ Then I promise you that this palace will be destroyed. You can be as sure of this promise as you are sure that I live.” ’ ”The Lord speaks about the palace of the king of Judah. He says,“ You are like the land of Gilead to me. You are like the highest mountain in Lebanon. But I will make you like a desert. You will become like towns that no one lives in.I will send destroyers against you. All of them will come with their weapons. They will cut up your fine cedar beams. They will throw them into the fire.“ People from many nations will pass by this city. They will ask one another,‘ Why has the Lord done such a thing to this great city?’And the answer will be,‘ This happened because of what its people have done. They have turned away from the covenant the Lord their God made with them. They have worshiped other gods. And they have served them.’ ”Don’t weep over dead King Josiah. Don’t be sad because he’s gone. Instead, weep bitterly over King Jehoahaz. He was forced to leave his country. He will never return. He’ll never see his own land again.Jehoahaz became king of Judah after his father Josiah. But he has gone away from this place. That’s because the Lord says about him,“ He will never return.He will die in Egypt. That is where he was taken as a prisoner. He will not see this land again.”The Lord says,“ How terrible it will be for King Jehoiakim! He builds his palace by mistreating his people. He builds its upstairs rooms with money gained by sinning. He makes his own people work for nothing. He does not pay them for what they do.He says,‘ I will build myself a great palace. It will have large rooms upstairs.’ So he makes big windows in it. He covers its walls with cedar boards. He decorates it with red paint.“ Jehoiakim, does having more and more cedar boards make you a king? Your father Josiah had enough to eat and drink. He did what was right and fair. So everything went well with him.He stood up for those who were poor or needy. So everything went well with him. That is what it means to know me,” announces the Lord.“ Jehoiakim, the only thing on your mind is to get rich by cheating others. You would even kill people who are not guilty of doing anything wrong. You would mistreat them. You would take everything they own.”So the Lord speaks about King Jehoiakim, the son of Josiah. He says,“ His people will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor brother! My poor sister!’ They will not mourn for him. They will not say,‘ My poor master! How sad that his glory is gone!’In fact, he will be buried like a donkey. His body will be dragged away and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”The Lord says,“ People of Jerusalem, go up to Lebanon. Cry out for help. Let your voice be heard in the land of Bashan. Cry out from the mountains of Abarim. All those who were going to help you are crushed.When you felt secure, I warned you. But you said,‘ I won’t listen!’ You have acted like that ever since you were young. You have not obeyed me.The wind will drive away all your shepherds. All those who were going to help you will be carried off as prisoners. Then you will be dishonored and put to shame. That will happen because you have been so sinful.Some of you live in Jerusalem in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. You are comfortable in your cedar buildings. But you will groan when pain comes on you. It will be like the pain of a woman having a baby.“ King Jehoiachin, you are the son of Jehoiakim,” announces the Lord.“ Suppose you were a ring on my right hand. And suppose the ring even had my royal mark on it. Then I would still pull you off my finger. And that is just as sure as I am alive.I will hand you over to those who want to kill you. I will hand you over to people you are afraid of. I will give you to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. I will hand you over to his armies.I will throw you out into another country. I will throw your mother out. Neither of you was born in that country. But both of you will die there.You will never come back to the land you long to return to.”This man Jehoiachin is like a broken pot. Everyone hates him. No one wants him. Why will he and his children be thrown out of this land? Why will they be sent to a land they don’t know about?Land, land, land, listen to the Lord’ s message!The Lord says,“ Let the record say that this man did not have any children. Let it report that he did not have any success in life. None of his children will have success either. None of them will sit on David’s throne. None of them will ever rule over Judah.

Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and people. He said,“ The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city. He told me to say everything you have heard.So change the way you live and act. Obey the Lord your God. Then he won’t do what he said he would. He won’t bring on you the trouble he said he would bring.As for me, I’m in your hands. Do to me what you think is good and right.But you can be sure of one thing. If you put me to death, you will be held responsible for spilling my blood. And I haven’t even done anything wrong. You will bring guilt on yourselves and this city and those who live in it. The Lord has sent me to you. He wanted me to say all these things so you could hear them. And that’s the truth.”

You will not escape from his power. You will certainly be captured. You will be handed over to him. You will see the king of Babylon with your own eyes. He will speak with you face to face. And you will go to Babylon.

But what if you do not give yourself up to them? Then this city will be handed over to the Babylonians. They will burn it down. And you yourself will not escape from them.’ ”

And he brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said,“ You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas.” Cephas means Peter, or Rock.