But here is what the Lord says about the king who now sits on David’s throne. He also says it about all the people who remain in this city. And he says it about all those who did not go with you to Babylon.

所以耶和华论到坐大卫宝座的王和住在这城里的一切百姓，就是未曾与你们一同被掳的弟兄，

所以耶和华如此论坐大卫宝座的君王和住在这城里所有的百姓，就是未曾与你们一同被掳的弟兄，

所以耶和华如此论坐大卫宝座的君王和住在这城里所有的百姓，就是未曾与你们一同被掳的弟兄，

但论到坐在大卫宝座上的君王和这城里的百姓，就是没有与你们一同被掳的同胞，

所以耶和华论到那坐大卫王位的君王和住在这城里的众民，就是没有和你们一同被掳去的众兄弟，这样说：

所以耶和華論到坐大衛寶座的王和住在這城裏的一切百姓，就是未曾與你們一同被擄的弟兄，

所以耶和華如此論坐大衛寶座的君王和住在這城裏所有的百姓，就是未曾與你們一同被擄的弟兄，

所以耶和華如此論坐大衛寶座的君王和住在這城裏所有的百姓，就是未曾與你們一同被擄的弟兄，

但論到坐在大衛寶座上的君王和這城裡的百姓，就是沒有與你們一同被擄的同胞，

所以耶和華論到那坐大衛王位的君王和住在這城裡的眾民，就是沒有和你們一同被擄去的眾兄弟，這樣說：

那麼永恆主論到那坐大衛寶座的王和那住這城裏的眾民，就是未曾跟你們一同出降而流亡的族弟兄，

故耶和華論踐大衛位之王、與居斯邑之民、即爾昆弟未被虜而出者、

凡繼大闢為王、與斯邑之居民、未被俘囚者、

今坐大衛位之王、與居斯邑之民、爾兄弟未曾與爾同被擄者、主有言論及之、

but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile—

thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile:

But this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all those still living here in Jerusalem— your relatives who were not exiled to Babylon.

But this is what the LORD says concerning the king sitting on David’s throne and concerning all the people living in this city— that is, concerning your brothers who did not go with you into exile.

for this is what the Lord says concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who live in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile—

therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, concerning all the people who dwell in this city, and concerning your brethren who have not gone out with you into captivity—

thus saith Jehovah concerning the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and concerning all the people that dwell in this city, your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;

But this is what the Lord says concerning the king sitting on David’s throne and concerning all the people living in this city— that is, concerning your brothers who did not go with you into exile.

[ Know] that thus saith the LORD of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city,[ and] of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;

But just listen to what the LORD has to say about the king who occupies David’s throne and all your fellow countrymen who are still living in this city of Jerusalem and were not carried off into exile with you.

Yahweh says concerning the king who sits on David’s throne, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who haven’t gone with you into captivity;

So Jeremiah said to Zedekiah,“ The Lord God who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says,‘ Give yourself up to the officers of the king of Babylon. Then your life will be spared. And this city will not be burned down. You and your family will remain alive.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.’ ”King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah,“ I’m afraid of some of the Jews. They are the ones who have gone over to the side of the Babylonians. The Babylonians might hand me over to them. And those Jews will treat me badly.”“ They won’t hand you over to them,” Jeremiah replied.“ Obey the Lord. Do what I tell you to do. Then things will go well with you. Your life will be spared.Don’t refuse to give yourself up. The Lord has shown me what will happen if you do.All the women who are left in your palace will be brought out. They’ll be given to the officials of the king of Babylon. Those women will say to you,“‘ Your trusted friends have tricked you. They have gotten the best of you. Your feet are sunk down in the mud. Your friends have deserted you.’“ All your wives and children will be brought out to the Babylonians. You yourself won’t escape from them. You will be captured by the king of Babylon. And this city will be burned down.”

“ 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 also says,‘ This city will certainly be handed over to the armies of the king of Babylon. They will capture it.’ ”

One basket had very good figs in it. They were like figs that ripen early. The other basket had very bad figs in it. In fact, they were so bad they couldn’t even be eaten.

“ Son of man, prophesy. Say,‘ The Lord says,“‘ “A sword! A sword! A sharp and shiny sword is coming from Babylon!It is sharpened to kill people. It flashes like lightning.” ’ ” The people say,“ Should we take delight in the scepter of the Lord’ s royal son? The sword looks down on every scepter like this.”The Lord says,“ I have told Nebuchadnezzar to shine his sword. It is in his hand. It has been sharpened and shined. It is ready for the killer’s hand.Son of man, cry out and weep. The sword is against my people. It is against all the princes of Israel. It will kill them along with the rest of my people. So beat your chest in sorrow.“ You can be sure that testing will come. Why does the sword look down on the scepter? Because even the scepter will not continue to rule,” announces the Lord and King.“ Son of man, prophesy. Clap your hands. Let the sword strike twice. Let it strike even three times. It is a sword to kill people. It is a sword to kill many people. It is closing in on them from every side.People’s hearts will melt away in fear. Many will be wounded or killed. I have prepared the sword to kill people at all their city gates. Look! It strikes like lightning. It is in the killer’s hand.Sword, cut to the right. Then cut to the left. Strike down people everywhere your blade is turned.I too will clap my hands. I won’t be so angry anymore. I have spoken. I am the Lord.”A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, mark out on a map two roads for the sword to take. The sword belongs to the king of Babylon. Both roads start from the same country. Put up a sign where the road turns off to the city of Rabbah.Mark out one road for the sword to take against Rabbah in Ammon. Mark out another against Judah and the walls of Jerusalem.The king of Babylon will stop at the place where the two roads meet. He will look for a special sign. He will cast lots by pulling arrows out of a bag. He will ask his gods for advice. And he will look carefully at the liver of a sheep.His right hand will pull out the arrow for Jerusalem. There he will get huge logs ready to knock down its gates. He will give the command to kill its people. He will sound the battle cry. He will build a ramp up to the city wall. He will bring in his war machines.The decision to attack Jerusalem will seem like the wrong advice to those who made a treaty with Nebuchadnezzar. But he will remind them that they are guilty. And he will take them away as prisoners.”So the Lord and King says,“ You people have reminded everyone of how guilty you are. You have done it by refusing to obey me or any other authority. Everything you do clearly shows how sinful you are. So you will be taken away as prisoners.”King Zedekiah, your day has come. You are an unholy and evil prince in Israel. The day for you to be punished is here.The Lord and King says,“ Take off your turban. Remove your crown. Things will not be as they were in the past. Those who are considered not important will be honored. And those who are honored will be considered not important.Jerusalem will fall. I will destroy it. It will not be rebuilt until the true king comes. After all, the kingdom belongs to him. I will give it to him.

Jeremiah gave the letter to Elasah and Gemariah. Elasah was the son of Shaphan. Gemariah was the son of Hilkiah. Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had sent Elasah and Gemariah to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. Here is what the letter said.

“ These people refuse to obey me. Ask them,‘ Don’t you know what these things mean?’ Tell them,‘ Nebuchadnezzar went to Jerusalem. He was the king of Babylon. He carried off King Jehoiachin and the nobles. He brought them back with him to the city of Babylon.Then Nebuchadnezzar made a peace treaty with Zedekiah. He was a member of Jerusalem’s royal family. Nebuchadnezzar made him promise he would keep the treaty. He also took away the leading men of the land as prisoners.He did it to bring down their kingdom. It would not rise again. In fact, it would be able to last only by keeping his treaty.But Zedekiah turned against him. He sent messengers to Egypt. They went there to get horses and a large army. Will he succeed? Will he who does things like that escape? Can he break the peace treaty and still escape?“‘ Zedekiah will die in Babylon,’ announces the Lord and King.‘ And that is just as sure as I am alive. He will die in the land of King Nebuchadnezzar, who put him on the throne. Zedekiah didn’t keep his promise to Nebuchadnezzar and broke his treaty.So Nebuchadnezzar will build ramps against the walls of Jerusalem. He will set up war machines to destroy many lives. Pharaoh will not be able to help Zedekiah during the war. The huge and mighty army of Egypt will not be of any help.Zedekiah didn’t keep his promise to Nebuchadnezzar and broke his treaty. Zedekiah had made a firm promise to keep it. But he broke it anyway. So he will not escape.“‘ The Lord and King says,“ Zedekiah didn’t keep the promise he made in my name. He broke the treaty. So I will pay him back. And that is just as sure as I am alive.I will spread out my net to catch him. He will be caught in my trap. I will bring him to Babylon. I will judge him there because he was not faithful to me.All Zedekiah’s best troops will be killed by swords. Those who are left alive will be scattered to the winds. Then you will know that I have spoken. I am the Lord.”

It was the ninth year since King Jehoiachin had been brought to Babylon as a prisoner. On the tenth day of the tenth month, a message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, write down today’s date. The king of Babylon has surrounded Jerusalem and attacked it today.Your people refuse to obey me. So tell them a story. Say to them,‘ The Lord and King told me,“‘ “Put a cooking pot on the fire. Pour water into it.Put pieces of meat in it. Use all the best pieces. Use the leg and shoulder. Fill it with the best bones.Pick the finest animal in the flock. Pile wood under the pot to cook the bones. Bring the water to a boil. Cook the bones in it.” ’ ”The Lord and King says,“ How terrible it will be for this city! It has so many murderers in it. How terrible for the pot that is coated with scum! The scum on it will not go away. Take the meat out of the pot piece by piece. Take it out in whatever order it comes.“ The blood Jerusalem’s people spilled is inside its walls. They poured it out on a bare rock. They did not pour it on the ground. If they had, dust would have covered it up.So I put their blood on the bare rock. I did not want it to be covered up. I poured out my great anger on them. I paid them back.”So the Lord and King said to me,“ How terrible it will be for this city! It has so many murderers in it. I too will pile the wood high.So pile on the wood. Light the fire. Cook the meat well. Mix in the spices. Let the bones be blackened.Then set the empty pot on the coals. Let it get hot. Let its copper glow. Then what is not pure in it will melt. Its scum will be burned away.But it can’t be cleaned up. Its thick scum has not been removed. Even fire can’t burn it off.“ Jerusalem, you are really impure. I tried to clean you up. But you would not let me make you pure. So you will not be clean again until I am no longer so angry with you.“ I have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back. I will not feel sorry for you. I will do what I said I would do. You will be judged for your conduct and actions. I am the Lord,” announces the Lord and King.

So I will pour out my anger on its people. I will destroy them because of my great anger against them. And anything that happens to them will be their own fault,” announces the Lord and King.

A message from the Lord came to me. The Lord said,“ Son of man, turn your attention to the mountains of Israel. Prophesy against them.Say,‘ Mountains of Israel, listen to the message of the Lord and King. Here is what he says to the mountains and hills. And here is what he says to the canyons and valleys. He tells them,“ I will send swords to kill your people. I will destroy the high places where you worship other gods.Your altars will be torn down. Your incense altars will be smashed. And I will kill your people in front of the statues of your gods.I will put the dead bodies of Israelites in front of those statues. I will scatter your bones around your altars.No matter where you live, the towns will be destroyed. The high places will be torn down. So your altars will be completely destroyed. The statues of your gods will be smashed to pieces. Your incense altars will be broken down. And everything you have made will be wiped out.Your people will fall down dead among you. Then you will know that I am the Lord.“‘ “But I will spare some of you. Some will escape from being killed by swords. You will be scattered among other lands and nations.You will be taken away to those nations as prisoners. Those of you who escape will remember me. You will recall how much pain your unfaithful hearts gave me. You turned away from me. Your eyes longed to see the statues of your gods. You will hate yourselves because of all the evil things you have done. I hate those things too.