I was never afraid of the crowd. I never worried that my relatives might hate me. I didn’t have to keep quiet or stay inside.

因惧怕大众，又因宗族藐视我使我惊恐，以致闭口无言，杜门不出；

我若因大大惧怕众人，又因宗族的藐视而恐惧，以致我缄默不言，闭门不出；

我若因大大惧怕众人，又因宗族的藐视而恐惧，以致我缄默不言，闭门不出；

因惧怕群众，被族人藐视，就默不作声、不敢出门？

因为我惧怕群众，宗族的藐视又使我惊恐，以致我静默不言，足不出门。

因懼怕大眾，又因宗族藐視我使我驚恐，以致閉口無言，杜門不出；

我若因大大懼怕眾人，又因宗族的藐視而恐懼，以致我緘默不言，閉門不出；

我若因大大懼怕眾人，又因宗族的藐視而恐懼，以致我緘默不言，閉門不出；

因懼怕群眾，被族人藐視，就默不作聲、不敢出門？

因為我懼怕群眾，宗族的藐視又使我驚恐，以致我靜默不言，足不出門。

因懼怕蜂擁的眾人，又因宗族的藐視驚嚇我，以致我靜止不動，閉門不出；

因畏大眾、懼宗族之藐視、以致緘口、杜門不出、

如我若此、則必戰慄於眾前、為戚族所藐視、緘口無詞、杜門不出。

如我有此、自思大眾必驚恐我、宗族必藐視我、凌辱我、使我蒙羞緘口、不敢出門、

because I so feared the crowd and so dreaded the contempt of the clans that I kept silent and would not go outside—

because I stood in great fear of the multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and did not go out of doors—

Have I feared the crowd or the contempt of the masses, so that I kept quiet and stayed indoors?

because I greatly feared the crowds and because the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside?

Because I feared the great multitude And the contempt of families terrified me, And I kept silent and did not go out of doors?

Because I feared the great multitude, And dreaded the contempt of families, So that I kept silence And did not go out of the door—

Because I feared the great multitude, And the contempt of families terrified me, So that I kept silence, and went not out of the door—

because I greatly feared the crowds, and the contempt of the clans terrified me, so I grew silent and would not go outside?

Did I fear a great multitude, or did the contempt of families terrify me, that I kept silence,[ and] went not out of the door?

because I was terrified of the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I remained silent and would not go outdoors–

because I feared the great multitude, and the contempt of families terrified me, so that I kept silence, and didn’t go out of the door—

“ Do not follow the crowd when they do what is wrong. When you are a witness in court, do not turn what is right into what is wrong. Do not go along with the crowd.

But King Zedekiah promised Jeremiah secretly,“ I won’t kill you. And I won’t hand you over to those who want to kill you. That’s just as sure as the Lord is alive. He’s the one who has given us breath.”

You make poor people pay tax on their straw. You also tax their grain. So, even though you have built stone houses, you won’t live in them. You have planted fruitful vineyards. But you won’t drink the wine they produce.I know how many crimes you have committed. You have sinned far too much. Among you are people who crush those who have done no wrong. They accept money from people who want special favors. They take away the rights of poor people in the courts.So those who are wise keep quiet in times like these. That’s because the times are evil.

One of the sons of Joiada was the son- in- law of Sanballat the Horonite. Joiada, the son of Eliashib, was the high priest. I drove Joiada’s son away from me.

You did it even though you were honored and powerful. You owned land and lived on it.

But the chief priests and the elders talked the crowd into asking for Barabbas and having Jesus put to death.“ Which of the two do you want me to set free?” asked the governor.“ Barabbas,” they answered.“ Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered,“ Crucify him!”“ Why? What wrong has he done?” asked Pilate. But they shouted even louder,“ Crucify him!”Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere. Instead, the crowd was starting to get angry. So he took water and washed his hands in front of them.“ I am not guilty of this man’s death,” he said.“ You are accountable for that!”All the people answered,“ Put the blame for his death on us and our children!”Pilate let Barabbas go free. But he had Jesus whipped. Then he handed him over to be nailed to a cross.

So from now on we don’t look at anyone the way the world does. At one time we looked at Christ in that way. But we don’t anymore.

Then these officials said to the king,“ This man should be put to death. What he says is making the soldiers who are left in this city lose hope. It’s making all the people lose hope too. He isn’t interested in what is best for the people. In fact, he’s trying to destroy them.”“ He’s in your hands,” King Zedekiah answered.“ I can’t do anything to oppose you.”

Then he spoke to them. He said,“ The Lord, the God of Israel, says,‘ Each man must put on his sword. Then he must go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other. Each man must kill his brother and friend and neighbor.’ ”

Eliashib the priest had been put in charge of the storerooms in the house of our God. He had worked closely with Tobiah.He had also provided a large room for Tobiah. It had been used to store the grain offerings. The incense and the objects for the temple had been put there. And a tenth of the grain, olive oil and fresh wine had been kept there. That’s what the Law required for the Levites. That’s also what it required for the musicians and the men who guarded the temple gates. The gifts for the priests had been kept there too.But I wasn’t in Jerusalem while all of that was going on. I had returned to the Persian King Artaxerxes, the king of Babylon. I went to him in the 32nd year of his rule. Some time later I asked him to let me return to Jerusalem.When I got back, I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done. He had provided a room for Tobiah. It was in the courtyards of God’s house.So I was very unhappy. I threw all of Tobiah’s things out of the room.

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.”

If you are afraid of people, it will trap you. But if you trust in the Lord, he will keep you safe.

“ There is a certain law that everyone knows about. All the king’s officials know about it. The people in the royal territories know about it. It applies to any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner courtyard without being sent for. It says they must be put to death. But there is a way out. Suppose the king reaches out his gold scepter toward them. Then their lives will be spared. But 30 days have gone by since the king sent for me.”

He doesn’t favor princes. He treats rich people and poor people the same. His hands created all of them.

They are very good at doing what is evil. Rulers require gifts. Judges accept money from people who want special favors. Those who are powerful always get what they want. All of them make evil plans together.

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.

The name of the Israelite man who was killed was Zimri. He was the son of Salu. Zimri was killed along with the Midianite woman. Salu was a family leader in the tribe of Simeon.The name of the Midianite woman who was killed was Kozbi. She was the daughter of Zur. He was the chief of a Midianite family.

Save those who are being led away to death. Hold back those who are about to be killed.Don’t say,“ But we didn’t know anything about this.” Doesn’t the God who knows what you are thinking see it? Doesn’t the God who guards your life know it? He will pay back everyone for what they have done.

What if you don’t say anything at this time? Then help for the Jews will come from another place. But you and your family will die. Who knows? It’s possible that you became queen for a time just like this.”