1 In the tenth month of the ninth year that Zedekiah was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia came with his whole army and attacked Jerusalem.2 On the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah's eleventh year as king, the city walls were broken through.3 When Jerusalem was captured, all the high officials of the king of Babylon came and took their places at the Middle Gate, including Nergal Sharezer, Samgar Nebo, Sarsechim, and another Nergal Sharezer.4 When King Zedekiah and all his soldiers saw what was happening, they tried to escape from the city during the night. They left by way of the royal garden, went through the gateway connecting the two walls, and escaped in the direction of the Jordan Valley.5 But the Babylonian army pursued them and captured Zedekiah in the plains near Jericho. Then they took him to King Nebuchadnezzar, who was in the city of Riblah in the territory of Hamath, and there Nebuchadnezzar passed sentence on him.6 At Riblah he put Zedekiah's sons to death while Zedekiah was looking on, and he also had the officials of Judah executed.7 After that, he had Zedekiah's eyes put out and had him placed in chains to be taken to Babylon.8 The Babylonians burned down the royal palace and the houses of the people and tore down the walls of Jerusalem.9 Finally Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, took away as prisoners to Babylon the people who were left in the city, together with those who had deserted to him.10 He left in the land of Judah some of the poorest people, who owned no property, and he gave them vineyards and fields.11 But King Nebuchadnezzar commanded Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, to give the following order:12 Go and find Jeremiah and take good care of him. Do not harm him, but do for him whatever he wants.13 So Nebuzaradan, together with the high officials Nebushazban and Nergal Sharezer and all the other officers of the king of Babylon,14 had me brought from the palace courtyard. They put me under the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to see that I got home safely. Thus I stayed there among the people.15 While I was still imprisoned in the palace courtyard, Jehovah told me:16 »Tell Ebedmelech the Ethiopian that Jehovah, the God of Israel, said: ‘Just as I said I would, I am going to bring upon this city destruction and not prosperity. When this happens, you will be there to see it.17 »‘I Jehovah will protect you, and you will not be handed over to the people you are afraid of.18 »‘I will keep you safe, and you will not be put to death. You will escape with your life because you have put your trust in me. I Jehovah have spoken!’«

1 No ano nono de Zedequias, rei de Judá, no décimo mês, veio Nabucodonosor, rei de Babilônia, e todo o seu exército contra Jerusalém, e a cercaram.2 No ano undécimo de Zedequias, no quarto mês, aos nove do mês, fez-se uma brecha na cidade.3 E entraram todos os príncipes do rei de Babilônia, e sentaram-se na porta do meio, os quais eram Nergal-Sarezer, Sangar-Nebo, Sarsequim, Rabe-Sáris Nergal Sarezer, Rabe-Maque, juntamente, com todo o resto dos príncipes do rei de Babilônia4 E sucedeu que, vendo-os Zedequias, rei de Judá, e todos os homens de guerra, fugiram, saindo da cidade de noite pelo caminho do jardim do rei, pela porta entre os dois muros; e seguiram pelo caminho da Arabá.5 Mas o exército dos caldeus os perseguiu; e eles alcançaram a Zedequias nas campinas de Jericó; e, prendendo-o, levaram-no a Nabucodonosor rei de Babilônia, a Ribla, na terra de Hamate; e o rei o sentenciou.6 E o rei de Babilônia matou os filhos de Zedequias em Ribla, à sua vista; também matou o rei de Babilônia a todos os nobres de Judá.7 Cegou os olhos a Zedequias, e o atou com cadeias de bronze, para levá-lo a Babilônia.8 Os caldeus incendiaram a casa do rei e as casas do povo, e derribaram os muros de Jerusalém.9 Então, ao resto do povo, que ficara na cidade, aos desertores que se tinham passado para ele e ao resto do povo que havia ficado, levou-os Nebuzaradão, capitão da guarda, para Babilônia.10 Mas aos pobres dentre o povo, que não tinham nada, Nebuzaradão, capitão da guarda, deixou-os ficar na terra de Judá; e ao mesmo tempo lhes deu vinhas e campos.11 Ora Nabucodonosor, rei de Babilônia, havia ordenado acerca de Jeremias, a Nebuzaradão, capitão dos da guarda, dizendo:12 Toma-o, e trata-o bem, e não lhe faças mal algum; mas como ele te disser, assim procederás para com ele.13 Pelo que Nebuzaradão, capitão da guarda, Nebusazbã, Rabe-Sáris, Nergal-Sarezer, Rabe-Maeue, e todos os príncipes do rei de Babilônia14 mandaram retirar Jeremias do átrio da guarda, e o entregaram a Gedalias, filho de Aicão, filho de Safã, para que o levasse para casa; assim ele habitou entre o povo.15 Ora, a palavra do Senhor viera a Jeremias, estando ele ainda encarcerado no átrio da guarda, dizendo:16 Vai, e fala a Ebede-Meleque, o etíope, dizendo: Assim diz o Senhor dos exércitos, Deus de Israel: Eis que eu cumprirei as minhas palavras sobre esta cidade para mal e não para bem; e se cumprirão diante de ti naquele dia.17 A ti, porém, eu livrarei naquele dia, diz o Senhor, e não serás entregue na mão dos homens a quem temes.18 Pois certamente te salvarei, e não cairás à espada, mas a tua vida terás por despojo, porquanto confiaste em mim, diz o Senhor.