Jeremiah 21
King Zedekiah sent to Jeremiah to inquire of the LORD when Nebuchadnezzar besieged Jerusalem. The LORD answered that He Himself would fight against Judah with an outstretched hand and would deliver Zedekiah into Nebuchadnezzar's hand. He set before the people the way of life and the way of death -- whoever surrendered to the Chaldeans would live.
| v | King James Version | Modern English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying, | This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said: |
| 2 | Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us. | "Please ask the LORD for us, because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will perform miracles for us as He did in the past and make Him withdraw from us." |
| 3 | Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah: | Jeremiah answered them, "Tell Zedekiah: |
| 4 | Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city. | 'This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against You the weapons of war that are in Your hands — the ones You are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians who are outside the wall besieging You. I will bring those weapons into the center of this city. |
| 5 | And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath. | I Myself will fight against You with outstretched hand and powerful arm — in anger, in fury, and in great wrath. |
| 6 | And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence. | I will strike the inhabitants of this city — both people and animals. They will die of a terrible plague. |
| 7 | And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy. | After that,' says the LORD, 'I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the people of this city who survive the plague, the sword, and the famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will strike them down with the sword — he will show them no mercy, pity, or compassion.' |
| 8 | And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. | Tell this people, 'This is what the LORD says: See, I am setting before You the way of life and the way of death. |
| 9 | He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey. | Whoever stays in this city will die by sword, famine, or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging You will live — their life will be spared. |
| 10 | For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire. | I have determined to bring disaster on this city and not good,' says the LORD. 'It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.' |
| 11 | And touching the house of the king of Judah, say, Hear ye the word of the LORD; | "To the royal house of Judah, say: 'Hear the word of the LORD. |
| 12 | O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings. | House of David, this is what the LORD says: Administer justice every morning. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor whoever has been robbed, or My anger will break out and burn like fire because of the evil You have done — burn with no one able to quench it. |
| 13 | Behold, I am against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, and rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations? | I am against You, Jerusalem, who live above this valley on the rocky plateau,' says the LORD. 'You say, "Who can attack us? Who can enter our stronghold?" |
| 14 | But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it. | I will punish You as Your deeds deserve,' says the LORD. 'I will kindle a fire in Your forests that will consume everything around You.'" |