“ 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.’

“耶和华如此说：住在这城里的必遭刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫而死；但出去归降迦勒底人的必得存活，就是以自己命为掠物的，必得存活。

“耶和华如此说：留在这城里的必遭刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫而死，但归向迦勒底人的必得存活；至少能保全自己的性命，得以存活。

“耶和华如此说：留在这城里的必遭刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫而死，但归向迦勒底人的必得存活；至少能保全自己的性命，得以存活。

“耶和华说，‘凡留在这城的，必死于刀剑、饥荒和瘟疫；凡出去向迦勒底人投降的，必保全性命。’

“耶和华这样说：‘凡留在这城里的，必因刀剑、饥荒、瘟疫而死；但出去向迦勒底人投降的，必可以活着；他们必捡回自己的性命，得以生存。’

「耶和華如此說：住在這城裏的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死；但出去歸降迦勒底人的必得存活，就是以自己命為掠物的，必得存活。

「耶和華如此說：留在這城裏的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死，但歸向迦勒底人的必得存活；至少能保全自己的性命，得以存活。

「耶和華如此說：留在這城裏的必遭刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死，但歸向迦勒底人的必得存活；至少能保全自己的性命，得以存活。

「耶和華說，『凡留在這城的，必死於刀劍、饑荒和瘟疫；凡出去向迦勒底人投降的，必保全性命。』

“耶和華這樣說：‘凡留在這城裡的，必因刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死；但出去向迦勒底人投降的，必可以活著；他們必撿回自己的性命，得以生存。’

『永恆主這麼說：住在這城裏的、必因刀劍、饑荒、瘟疫而死；但出去歸降迦勒底人的、必得活着；必掠得自己的性命而活着。

耶和華云、凡居此邑者、必亡於鋒刃、饑饉疫癘、惟出而歸迦勒底人者、必得生存、獲其生命、如獲掠物、

其言曰、仍居邑中者、必戮以鋒刃、因以饑饉、重以疫癘、惟出邑歸誠迦勒底人者、生命可保。

主如是云、凡仍居斯邑者、必亡於鋒刃、饑饉、疫癘、惟出邑降迦勒底人者、必得生、得保全其生命、

“ This is what the Lord says:‘ Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague, but whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.’

“ Thus says the Lord: He who stays in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live.

“ This is what the Lord says:‘ Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die from war, famine, or disease, but those who surrender to the Babylonians will live. Their reward will be life. They will live!’

“ 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.’

“ This is what the Lord says:‘ Anyone who stays in this city will die by the sword, by famine, or by plague; but anyone who surrenders to the Chaldeans will live and have his own life as plunder, and stay alive.’

“ Thus says the Lord:‘ He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes over to the Chaldeans shall live; his life shall be as a prize to him, and he shall live.’

Thus saith Jehovah, He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey, and he shall live.

“ 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 keep his life like the spoils of war and will live.’

Thus saith the LORD, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

“ The LORD says,‘ Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.’”

“ Yahweh says,‘ He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live, and he will escape with his life, and he will live.’

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.

I will save you. You will not be killed by a sword. Instead, you will escape with your life. That’s because you trust in me,” announces the Lord.’ ”

So should you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them. I will bring trouble on everyone,” announces the Lord.“ But no matter where you go, I will let you escape with your life.” ’ ”

In fact, that will happen to all those who go and make their homes in Egypt. All of them will die of war, hunger and plague. Not one of them will live. None of them will escape the trouble I will bring on them.’

Another horse came out. It was red like fire. Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth. He was given power to make people kill each other. He was given a large sword.The Lamb broke open the third seal. Then I heard the third living creature say,“ Come!” I looked, and there in front of me was a black horse! Its rider was holding a pair of scales in his hand.Next, I heard what sounded like a voice coming from among the four living creatures. It said,“ Two pounds of wheat for a day’s pay. And six pounds of barley for a day’s pay. And leave the olive oil and the wine alone!”The Lamb broke open the fourth seal. Then I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say,“ Come!”I looked, and there in front of me was a pale horse! Its rider’s name was Death. Following close behind him was Hell. They were given power over a fourth of the earth. They were given power to kill people by swords. They could also use hunger, sickness and the earth’s wild animals to kill.

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.”

Nation will fight against nation. Kingdom will fight against kingdom. People will go hungry. There will be earthquakes in many places.All these are the beginning of birth pains.

I will use war, hunger and plague to punish the Jews who live in Egypt. I punished Jerusalem in the same way.

Why should you and your people die? Why should you die of war, hunger and plague? That’s what the Lord said would happen to any nation that won’t serve the king of Babylon.

“‘ But there are also bad figs. In fact, they are so bad they can’t be eaten,’ says the Lord.‘ Zedekiah, the king of Judah, is like these bad figs. So are his officials and the people of Jerusalem who are still left alive. I will punish them whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.

I will hunt them down with war, hunger and plague. I will make all the kingdoms on earth displeased with them. They will use their name in a curse. All the nations where I drive them will be shocked at them. They will make fun of them. And they will bring shame on them.

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 and King says,“ It will get much worse. I will punish Jerusalem in four horrible ways. There will be war, hunger, wild animals and plague. They will destroy the people and their animals.

“ 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.

A third of your people will die of the plague inside your walls. Or they will die of hunger there. Another third will be killed by swords outside your walls. And I will scatter the last third of your people to the winds. I will chase them with a sword that is ready to strike them down.“ Then I will not be angry anymore. My great anger against them will die down. And I will be satisfied. Then they will know that I have spoken with strong feelings. And my great anger toward them will come to an end. I am the Lord.“ I will destroy you. I will bring shame on you in the sight of the nations around you. All those who pass by will see it.You will be put to shame. The nations will make fun of you. You will serve as a warning to others. They will be shocked when they see you. So I will punish you because I am very angry with you. You will feel the sting of my warning. I have spoken. I am the Lord.I will shoot at you with my deadly, destroying arrows of hunger. I will shoot to kill. I will bring more and more hunger on you. I will cut off your food supply.I will send hunger and wild animals against you. They will destroy all your children. Plague and murder will sweep over you. And I will send swords to kill you. I have spoken. I am the Lord.”

“‘ There is trouble everywhere. War is outside the city. Plague and hunger are inside it. Those out in the country will die in battle. Those in the city will be destroyed by hunger and plague.

The Lord and King said to me,“ Clap your hands. Stamp your feet. Cry out,‘ How sad!’ Do this because the people of Israel have done so many evil things. I hate those things. Israel will be destroyed by war, hunger and plague.