New Living Translation

New International Version

The Fall of Jerusalem

In Januarya of the ninth year of King Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzarb of Babylon came with his entire army to besiege Jerusalem.

1

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it.

2

Two and a half years later, on July 18c in the eleventh year of Zedekiah’s reign, a section of the city wall was broken down.

2

And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through.

3

All the officers of the Babylonian army came in and sat in triumph at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Samgar, and Nebo-sarsekim,d a chief officer, and Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon.

3

Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon.

4

When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the soldiers saw that the Babylonians had broken into the city, they fled. They waited for nightfall and then slipped through the gate between the two walls behind the king’s garden and headed toward the Jordan Valley.e

4

When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.a

5

But the Babylonianf troops chased them and overtook Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, who was at Riblah in the land of Hamath. There the king of Babylon pronounced judgment upon Zedekiah.

5

But the Babylonianb army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.

6

The king of Babylon made Zedekiah watch as he slaughtered his sons at Riblah. The king of Babylon also slaughtered all the nobles of Judah.

6

There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah.

7

Then he gouged out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in bronze chains to lead him away to Babylon.

7

Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.

8

Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned Jerusalem, including the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of the city.

8

The Babyloniansc set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.

9

Then Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took as exiles to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, those who had defected to him, and everyone else who remained.

9

Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people.

10

But Nebuzaradan allowed some of the poorest people to stay behind in the land of Judah, and he assigned them to care for the vineyards and fields.

10

But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.

11

Jeremiah Remains in Judah

King Nebuchadnezzar had told Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, to find Jeremiah.

11

Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard:

12

“See that he isn’t hurt,” he said. “Look after him well, and give him anything he wants.”

12

“Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.”

13

So Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard; Nebushazban, a chief officer; Nergal-sharezer, the king’s adviser; and the other officers of Babylon’s king

13

So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylon

14

sent messengers to bring Jeremiah out of the prison. They put him under the care of Gedaliah son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who took him back to his home. So Jeremiah stayed in Judah among his own people.

14

sent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.

15

The LORD had given the following message to Jeremiah while he was still in prison:

15

While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him:

16

“Say to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian,g ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will do to this city everything I have threatened. I will send disaster, not prosperity. You will see its destruction,

16

“Go and tell Ebed-Melek the Cushite, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city — words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes.

17

but I will rescue you from those you fear so much.

17

But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear.

18

Because you trusted me, I will give you your life as a reward. I will rescue you and keep you safe. I, the LORD, have spoken!’”

18

I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’ ”

Parallel

New Living Translation

New International Version

Jeremiah 39

Jeremiah 39