A message from the Lord came to Jeremiah. King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem. He had told them to set their Hebrew slaves free.

西底家王与耶路撒冷的众民立约，要向他们宣告自由，叫各人任他希伯来的仆人和婢女自由出去，谁也不可使他的一个犹大弟兄作奴仆。（此后，有耶和华的话临到耶利米。）

西底家王与耶路撒冷的众百姓立约，要他们宣告自由，叫各人释放自己的仆人和婢女，使希伯来的男人和女人得自由，谁也不可使他的犹大弟兄作奴仆。这事以后，耶和华的话临到耶利米。

西底家王与耶路撒冷的众百姓立约，要他们宣告自由，叫各人释放自己的仆人和婢女，使希伯来的男人和女人得自由，谁也不可使他的犹大弟兄作奴仆。这事以后，耶和华的话临到耶利米。

西底迦王与耶路撒冷的居民立约让他们释放自己的奴隶之后，耶和华的话传给了耶利米。

西底家王和在耶路撒冷的众民立了约，要向奴仆宣告自由。人人都要释放自己的希伯来奴婢；谁也不可使自己的一位犹大兄弟作奴仆。（这事以后，从耶和华那里有话临到耶利米。）

西底家王與耶路撒冷的眾民立約，要向他們宣告自由，叫各人任他希伯來的僕人和婢女自由出去，誰也不可使他的一個猶大弟兄作奴僕。（此後，有耶和華的話臨到耶利米。）

西底家王與耶路撒冷的眾百姓立約，要他們宣告自由，叫各人釋放自己的僕人和婢女，使希伯來的男人和女人得自由，誰也不可使他的猶大弟兄作奴僕。這事以後，耶和華的話臨到耶利米。

西底家王與耶路撒冷的眾百姓立約，要他們宣告自由，叫各人釋放自己的僕人和婢女，使希伯來的男人和女人得自由，誰也不可使他的猶大弟兄作奴僕。這事以後，耶和華的話臨到耶利米。

西底迦王與耶路撒冷的居民立約讓他們釋放自己的奴隸之後，耶和華的話傳給了耶利米。

西底家王和在耶路撒冷的眾民立了約，要向奴僕宣告自由。人人都要釋放自己的希伯來奴婢；誰也不可使自己的一位猶大兄弟作奴僕。（這事以後，從耶和華那裡有話臨到耶利米。）

西底家王跟耶路撒冷的眾民立了約，要給他們宣告自由，叫各人送他的奴僕和婢女，希伯來男人和女人、自由出去，誰也不可使任何一個猶大的族弟兄做奴僕；（這事以後有話出於永恆主而傳與耶利米；）

西底家王與耶路撒冷民立約、宣告自由之後、耶和華諭耶利米之言、

西底家王與耶路撒冷民約勿使我猶大國百姓供其役事、凡得希百來男女為僕婢者、當釋之。

西底家王與耶路撒冷民眾立約、宣告釋放之例、厥後主有言諭耶利米、

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to make a proclamation of liberty to them,

This message came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah made a covenant with the people, proclaiming freedom for the slaves.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after King Zedekiah made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom to them.

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem, to proclaim release to them:

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim liberty to them:

The word that came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people that were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after King Zedekiah made a covenant with all the people who were in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom to them,

[ This is] the word that came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, after that the king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people which[ were] at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty unto them;

The LORD spoke to Jeremiah after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to grant their slaves their freedom.

The word came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, after king Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem, to proclaim liberty to them;

Set the 50th year apart. Announce freedom all over the land to everyone who lives there. The 50th year will be a Year of Jubilee for you. Each of you must return to your own family property. And each of you must return to your own tribe.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people. He had the king and people promise that they would be the Lord’ s people. Jehoiada also made a covenant between the king and the people.

So the Lord says,“ You have not obeyed me. You have not set your Hebrew slaves free. So now I will set you free,” announces the Lord.“ I will set you free to be destroyed by war, plague and hunger. I will make all the kingdoms on earth displeased with you.

The Spirit of the Lord and King is on me. The Lord has anointed me to announce good news to poor people. He has sent me to comfort those whose hearts have been broken. He has sent me to announce freedom for those who have been captured. He wants me to set prisoners free from their dark cells.

Some men and their wives cried out against their Jewish brothers and sisters.Some of them were saying,“ There are now many of us. We have many sons and daughters. We have to get some grain so we can eat and stay alive.”Others were saying,“ We’re being forced to sell our fields, vineyards and homes. We have to do it to buy grain. There isn’t enough food for everyone.”Still others were saying,“ We’ve had to borrow money. We needed it to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards.We belong to the same family lines as the rest of our people. Our children are as good as theirs. But we’ve had to sell them off as slaves. Some of our daughters have already been made slaves. But we can’t do anything about it. That’s because our fields and vineyards now belong to others.”I heard them when they cried out. And I was very angry when I heard what they were saying.I thought it over for a while. Then I accused the nobles and officials of breaking the law. I told them,“ You are charging your own people interest!” So I called together a large group of people to handle the matter.I said,“ Our Jewish brothers and sisters were sold to other nations. We’ve done everything we could to buy them back and bring them home. But look at what you are doing! You are actually selling your own people! Now we’ll have to buy them back too!” The people kept quiet. They couldn’t think of anything to say.So I continued,“ What you are doing isn’t right. Shouldn’t you show respect for our God? Shouldn’t you live in a way that will keep our enemies from saying bad things about us?I’m lending the people money and grain. So are my relatives and my men. But we must stop charging interest!Give the people’s fields back to them. Give them back their vineyards, olive groves and houses. Do it right away. Give everything back to them. Also give them back the one percent on the money, grain, fresh wine and olive oil you have charged them.”“ We’ll give it back,” they said.“ And we won’t require anything more from them. We’ll do exactly as you say.” Then I sent for the priests. I made the nobles and officials promise to do what they had said.I also shook out my pockets and emptied them. I said,“ Someone might decide not to keep this promise they have made. If that happens, may God shake them out of their house! May he empty them of everything they own!” The whole community said,“ Amen.” They praised the Lord. And the leaders did what they had promised to do.

He went up to the Lord’ s temple. The people of Judah and Jerusalem went with him. So did the priests and prophets. All of them went, from the least important of them to the most important. The king had all the words of the Book of the Covenant read to them. The book had been found in the Lord’ s temple.The king stood next to his pillar. He agreed to the terms of the covenant in front of the Lord. The king promised to serve the Lord and obey his commands, directions and rules. He promised to obey them with all his heart and with all his soul. So he agreed to the terms of the covenant written down in that book. Then all the people committed themselves to the covenant as well.

“‘ Suppose any of your own people become poor. And suppose they sell themselves to you. Then do not make them work as slaves.You must treat them like hired workers. Or you must treat them like those living among you for a while. They must work for you until the Year of Jubilee.Then they and their children must be set free. They will go back to their own tribes. They will go back to the property their people have always owned.The Israelites are my servants. I brought them out of Egypt. So they must not be sold as slaves.Show them pity when you rule over them. Have respect for God.“‘ You must get your male and female slaves from the nations that are around you. You can buy slaves from them.You can also buy as slaves some of the people living among you for a while. You can also buy members of their families born among you. They will become your property.You can leave them to your children as their share of your property. You can make them slaves for life. But when you rule over your own people, you must be kind to them.

Suppose any Hebrew men or women sell themselves to you. If they do, they will serve you for six years. Then in the seventh year you must let them go free.

“ So we are making a firm agreement. We’re writing it down. Our leaders are putting their official marks on it. And so are our Levites and priests.”Here are the names of those who put their official marks on the agreement. Nehemiah, the son of Hakaliah He was the governor. Zedekiah,Seraiah, Azariah, Jeremiah,Pashhur, Amariah, Malkijah,Hattush, Shebaniah, Malluk,Harim, Meremoth, Obadiah,Daniel, Ginnethon, Baruch,Meshullam, Abijah, Mijamin,Maaziah, Bilgai, Shemaiah They were the priests.Here are the names of the Levites. Jeshua, the son of Azaniah, Binnui, one of the sons of Henadad, KadmielHere are the names of those who helped them. Shebaniah, Hodiah, Kelita, Pelaiah, Hanan,Mika, Rehob, Hashabiah,Zakkur, Sherebiah, Shebaniah,Hodiah, Bani, BeninuHere are the names of the leaders of the people. Parosh, Pahath- Moab, Elam, Zattu, Bani,Bunni, Azgad, Bebai,Adonijah, Bigvai, Adin,Ater, Hezekiah, Azzur,Hodiah, Hashum, Bezai,Hariph, Anathoth, Nebai,Magpiash, Meshullam, Hezir,Meshezabel, Zadok, Jaddua,Pelatiah, Hanan, Anaiah,Hoshea, Hananiah, Hasshub,Hallohesh, Pilha, Shobek,Rehum, Hashabnah, Maaseiah,Ahiah, Hanan, Anan,Malluk, Harim, Baanah

They made a covenant to obey the Lord, the God of their people. They would obey him with all their heart and soul.All those who wouldn’t obey the Lord, the God of Israel, would be killed. It wouldn’t matter how important they were. It wouldn’t matter whether they were men or women.They made a promise to the Lord. They praised him out loud. They shouted. They blew trumpets and horns.All the people of Judah were happy about the promise they had made. They turned to God with all their heart. When they did, they found him. So the Lord gave them peace and rest on every side.

He went up to the Lord’ s temple. The people of Judah and Jerusalem went with him. So did the priests and Levites. All of them went, from the least important of them to the most important. The king had all the words of the Book of the Covenant read to them. The book had been found in the Lord’ s temple.The king stood next to his pillar. He agreed to the terms of the covenant in front of the Lord. The king promised to serve the Lord and obey his commands, directions and rules. He promised to obey them with all his heart and with all his soul. So the king promised to obey the terms of the covenant that were written in that book.Then he had everyone in Jerusalem and in Benjamin commit themselves to the covenant. The people of Jerusalem did it in keeping with the covenant of the God of Israel.Josiah removed all the statues of false gods from the whole territory that belonged to the Israelites. The Lord hated those statues. Josiah had everyone in Israel serve the Lord their God. As long as he lived, they didn’t fail to follow the Lord, the God of their people.

“ For six years plant your fields and gather your crops.But during the seventh year do not plow your land or use it. Then the poor people among you can get food from it. The wild animals can eat what is left over. Do the same thing with your vineyards and your groves of olive trees.

“ Suppose you buy a Hebrew servant. He must serve you for six years. But in the seventh year, you must set him free. He does not have to pay anything.If he does not have a wife when he comes, he must go free alone. But if he has a wife when he comes, she must go with him.Suppose his master gives him a wife. And suppose she has sons or daughters by him. Then only the man will go free. The woman and her children will belong to her master.

So I’m planning to make a covenant with the Lord, the God of Israel. Then he’ll stop being angry with us.

‘ Every seventh year you must set your people free. Each of you must set free all the Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. Let them serve you for six years. Then you must let them go free.’( Deuteronomy 15:12) But your people of long ago did not listen to me. They did not pay any attention to me.Recently you turned away from your sins. You did what is right in my eyes. Each of you set your Hebrew slaves free. You even made a covenant in front of me. You did it in the house where I have put my Name.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant. He promised that he, the people and the king would be the Lord’ s people.