1 Quando Jerusalém foi tomada (no nono ano de Zedequias, rei de Judá, no décimo mês, vieram Nabucodonozor, rei de Babilônia, e todo o seu exército contra Jerusalém e a sitiaram;2 no undécimo ano de Zedequias, no quarto mês, aos nove dias do mês, fez-se uma brecha na cidade),3 entraram todos os príncipes do rei de Babilônia, e sentaram-se na porta do meio: Nergal-Sarezer, Sangar-Nebo, Sarsequim, Rabe-Saris, Nergal-Sarezer, Rabe-Mage, juntamente com todo o resto dos príncipes do rei de Babilônia.4 Quando Zedequias, rei de Judá, e todos os homens de guerra os viram, fugiram, e de noite saíram da cidade, pelo caminho do jardim do rei, pela porta entre os dois muros. Zedequias saiu pelo caminho da Arabá.5 Porém o exército dos caldeus os perseguiu, e alcançou a Zedequias nas campinas de Jericó; apoderando-se dele, levaram-no a Nabucodonozor, rei de Babilônia, a Ribla na terra de Hamate, e o rei o sentenciou.6 O rei de Babilônia matou em Ribla os filhos de Zedequias diante dos seus olhos; também matou o rei de Babilônia a todos os príncipes de Judá.7 Cegou os olhos de Zedequias e o atou com grilhões para o levar a Babilônia.8 Os caldeus incendiaram a casa do rei, e as casas do povo, e derribaram os muros de Jerusalém.9 Então o resto do povo que havia ficado na cidade, e os desertores que haviam passado para ele, e o resto do povo que havia ficado, Nebuzaradã, capitão da guarda, levou-os cativos para Babilônia.10 Dos pobres dentre o povo, porém, que não tinham coisa alguma, Nebuzaradã, capitão da guarda, deixou-os ficar na terra de Judá, e ao mesmo tempo deu-lhes vinhas e campos.11 Nabucodonozor, rei de Babilônia, ordenou a Nebuzaradã, capitão da guarda, acerca de Jeremias, dizendo:12 Toma-o, e trata-o bem, e não lhe faças mal algum; mas faze-lhe como ele te disser.13 Enviaram Nebuzaradã, capitão da guarda, e Nebus-Hasbã, Rabe-Saris, e Nergal-Sarezer, Rabe-Mague, e todos os magnates do rei de Babilônia;14 sim enviaram, e tiraram do pátio da guarda a Jeremias, e entregaram-no a Gedalias, filho de Aicão, filho de Safã, para que o levasse para casa; assim habitou entre o povo.15 Ora veio a palavra de Jeová a Jeremias, quando Jeremias estava encarcerado no pátio da guarda, dizendo:16 Vai, e dize a Ebede-Meleque o etíope: Assim diz Jeová dos exércitos, Deus de Israel: Eis que trarei as minhas palavras sobre esta cidade para mal, e não para bem; e cumprir-se-ão diante de ti naquele dia.17 Mas livrar-te-ei naquele dia, diz Jeová; e não serás entregue nas mãos dos homens, a quem temes.18 Pois certamente te salvarei, e não cairás à espada, mas a tua vida te será por despojo; porque puseste a tua confiança em mim, diz Jeová.

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!’«