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

2 Inquire, I pray you, of Yahweh for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon makes war against us: perhaps Yahweh will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.

3 Then Jeremiah said to them, Thus you{+} will say to Zedekiah:

4 This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, Look, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your{+} hands, with which you{+} fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans that besiege you{+}, outside the walls; and I will gather them into the midst 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 wrath, and in great indignation.

6 And I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they will die of a great pestilence.

7 And afterward, says Yahweh, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his slaves, and the people, and those who 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 who seek their life: and he will strike them with the edge of the sword; he will not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.

8 And to this people you will say, Thus says Yahweh: Look, I set before you{+} the way of life and the way of death.

9 He who remains in this city will die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out, and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you{+}, he will live, and his life will be to him for a prey.

10 For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good, says Yahweh: it will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.

11 And concerning the house of the king of Judah, hear{+} the word of Yahweh:

12 O house of David, thus says Yahweh, Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, or else my wrath will go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your{+} doings.

13 Look, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, [and] of the rock of the plain, says Yahweh; you{+} who say, Who will come down against us? Or who will enter into our habitations?

14 And I will punish you{+} according to the fruit of your{+} doings, says Yahweh; and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it will devour all that is round about her.