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New King James Version

God Rejects Zedekiah’s Request

The word 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:

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Jerusalem’s Doom Is Sealed

The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,

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“Inquire now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzara king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.”

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“Please inquire of the Lord for us, for [a]Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all His wonderful works, that the king may go away from us.”

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But Jeremiah answered them, “Tell Zedekiah,

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Then Jeremiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah,

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‘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, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babyloniansb who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city.

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‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the [b]Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls; and I will assemble them in the midst of this city.

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I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath.

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I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and fury and great wrath.

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I will strike down those who live in this city — both man and beast — and they will die of a terrible plague.

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I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die of a great pestilence.

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After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.’

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And afterward,” says the Lord, “I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence and the sword and the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life; and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword. He shall not spare them, or have pity or mercy.” ’

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“Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.

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“Now you shall say to this people, ‘Thus says the Lord: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

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Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.

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He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out and [c]defects to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be as a prize to him.

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I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.’

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For I have set My face against this city for adversity and not for good,” says the Lord. “It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.” ’

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“Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord.

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Message to the House of David

“And concerning the house of the king of Judah, say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord,

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This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:
“ ‘Administer justice every morning;
rescue from the hand of the oppressor
the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done —
burn with no one to quench it.

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O house of David! Thus says the Lord:
“Execute[d] judgment in the morning;
And deliver him who is plundered
Out of the hand of the oppressor,
Lest My fury go forth like fire
And burn so that no one can quench it,
Because of the evil of your doings.

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I am against you, Jerusalem,
you who live above this valley
on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord —
you who say, “Who can come against us?
Who can enter our refuge?”

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“Behold, I am against you, O [e]inhabitant of the valley,
And rock of the plain,” says the Lord,
“Who say, ‘Who shall come down against us?
Or who shall enter our dwellings?’

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I will punish you as your deeds deserve,
declares the Lord.
I will kindle a fire in your forests
that will consume everything around you.’ ”

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But I will punish you according to the fruit of your [f]doings,” says the Lord;
“I will kindle a fire in its forest,
And it shall devour all things around it.” ’ ”

Parallel

New International Version

New King James Version

Jeremiah 21

Jeremiah 21