Jeremiah 19-29
International Standard Version
The Lesson of the Broken Jug
19 This is what the Lord says: “Go and buy a potter’s clay jug. Take along[a] some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests. 2 Go out to the Valley of Hinnom[b] at the entrance to the Potsherd Gate, and there proclaim the words that I’m telling you.
3 “You are to say, ‘Hear this message from the Lord, you kings of Judah and residents of Jerusalem!
“‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: “I’m about to bring a disaster on this place that will make the ears of all who hear about it tingle. 4 For they have forsaken me and have treated this place as foreign. In it they have burned incense to other gods that neither they, their ancestors, nor the kings of Judah knew. They have also filled this place with the blood of innocent people. 5 They built the high places[c] for Baal to burn their children in the fire as a burnt offering to Baal—something I didn’t command, didn’t say, nor did it ever enter my mind!
6 “‘“Therefore, days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this place will no longer be called Topheth, or the Valley of Hinnom, but rather the Valley of Slaughter. 7 I’ll shatter[d] the counsel of Judah and Jerusalem in this place, and I’ll make them fall by the sword before their enemies and at the hands of those seeking their lives. I’ll give their dead bodies as food to the birds of the sky and to the animals of the land. 8 I’ll make this city into a desolate place and an object of scorn.[e] All who pass by it will be astonished and will scoff[f] because of all its wounds. 9 I’ll cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and daughters,[g] and people will eat the flesh of their neighbors in the siege and in the distress to which their enemies and those seeking their lives will subject them.”’”
10 “Then you are to break the jug in front of the men who have come with you, 11 and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: “In this same way I’ll break this people and this city, just as someone breaks a potter’s vessel which he then cannot put back together again. They’ll bury corpses[h] in Topheth until there is no more room to bury anyone.[i] 12 This is what I’ll do to this place and its residents,” declares the Lord, “making this city like Topheth. 13 The houses of Jerusalem and the houses of the kings of Judah will be polluted like Topheth, as will be all the houses on whose roofs people[j] burned incense to all the host of heaven and poured out liquid offerings to other gods.”’”
14 Then Jeremiah went from Topheth where the Lord had sent him to prophesy. He stood in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple, saying to all the people, 15 “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I’m about to bring on this city and all its towns all the disaster that I declared against it because they were determined[k] not to obey my message.’”
Jeremiah Denounced
20 When the priest Pashhur, Immer’s son, who was the officer in charge[l] of the Lord’s Temple heard Jeremiah prophesying these words, 2 Pashhur struck Jeremiah the prophet and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate of the Temple. 3 The next day, Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks, and Jeremiah told him, “The Lord has not named you Pashhur, but rather Magor-missabib.[m] 4 For this is what the Lord says: ‘Look, I’m going to make you a terror to yourself and to all your loved ones. They’ll fall by the sword of their enemies, and your eyes will see it. I’ll give all Judah into the hand of the king of Babylon. He will take them into exile to Babylon, and he will execute them with swords. 5 I’ll turn over all the wealth of this city, all its possessions, all its valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah right into the hands of their enemies, and they’ll plunder them, capture them, and take them to Babylon. 6 You, Pashhur, and all those living in your house will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon and there you will die. There you and all your loved ones[n] to whom you have falsely prophesied will be buried.’”
Jeremiah’s Complaint to the Lord
7 You deceived me, Lord,
and I’ve been deceived.
You overpowered me,
and you prevailed.
I’ve become a laughing stock all day long,
and everyone mocks me.
8 Indeed, as often as I speak, I cry out,
and shout, “Violence and destruction!”
For this message from the Lord has caused me
constant[o] reproach and derision.
9 When I say, “I won’t remember the Lord[p],
nor will I speak in his name anymore,
then there is this burning fire in my heart.
It is bound up in my bones,
I grow weary of trying to hold it in,
and I cannot do it!
10 Indeed, I hear many people whispering,
“Terror on every side.[q]
Denounce him, let’s denounce him!”
All my close friends watch my steps and say,
“Perhaps he will be deceived,
and we can prevail against him
and take vengeance on him.”
11 But the Lord is with me like a fearsome warrior.
Therefore, those who pursue me will stumble
and won’t prevail.
They’ll be put to great shame,
when they don’t succeed.
Their everlasting disgrace won’t be forgotten.
12 Lord of the Heavenly Armies,
who tests the righteous,
who sees the inner motives[r] and the heart,
let me see you take vengeance on them,
for I’ve committed my case to you.
13 Sing to the Lord,
give praise to the Lord!
For he saves the life of the poor
from the hand of the wicked.
Jeremiah Curses the Day of His Birth
14 Let the day on which I was born be cursed.
Don’t let the day on which my mother gave birth to me be blessed.
15 Cursed is the person who brought
the good news to my father,
“A baby boy has been born to you,”
making him very happy.
16 May that man be like the cities that
the Lord overthrew without compassion.
Let him hear a cry in the morning,
and a battle cry at noon,
17 because he didn’t kill me in the womb,
so that my mother would have been my grave
and her womb forever pregnant.
18 Why did I ever come out of the womb
to see trouble and sorrow,
and to finish my life living in shame?
Zedekiah’s Request for a Miracle
21 The message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Malchijah’s son Pashhur and Maaseiah’s son Zephaniah the priest: 2 “Please inquire of the Lord on our behalf, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is fighting against us. Perhaps the Lord will do some of his miraculous acts[s] for us, and Nebuchadnezzar[t] will depart from us.”
3 Jeremiah told them, “This is what you are to say to Zedekiah, 4 ‘This is what the Lord God of Israel says: “I’m about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands and with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the walls. I’ll gather them into the center of this city. 5 Because of my anger, wrath, and great fury, I’ll fight against you myself with an outstretched hand and a strong arm. 6 I’ll strike down the residents of this city, both people and animals, and they’ll die from a terrible plague. 7 Afterwards,” declares the Lord, “I’ll give King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials,[u] and the people—those who are left in this city from the plague, the sword, and the famine—into the control of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, right into the hand of their enemies and the hand of those who want to kill them. He’ll execute them with swords and won’t pity them. He won’t spare them, nor will he have compassion on them.”’
8 “You are to say to this people, ‘This is what the Lord says: “I’m about to set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9 Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, by famine, and by the plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live. He will save his life as a spoil of war.[v] 10 Indeed, I’m firmly decided—I’m sending calamity to this city, not good,” declares the Lord. “It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will set it on fire.”’
The Guilt of Judah’s King
11 “To the house of the king of Judah say, ‘Hear this message from the Lord.
12 This is what the Lord says, house of David:
“Judge appropriately every morning,
and deliver those who have been robbed
from the oppressor,
so my anger does not break out like fire
and burn with no one to put it out
because of your evil deeds.
13 “Look, I’m against you,
city dwelling in the valley,
rock of the plain,”
declares the Lord,
“those of you who say, ‘Who can come down against us
and who can enter our habitations?’
14 But I’ll punish you according to
what you have done,”[w]
declares the Lord.
“I’ll start a fire in her forest,
and it will consume everything around her.”’”
Instructions for the Kings of Judah
22 This is what the Lord says: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah and tell him this: 2 ‘Listen to this message from the Lord, king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David—you, your officials,[x] and your people who enter these gates. 3 This is what the Lord says: “Uphold justice and righteousness. Deliver from their oppressor those who have been robbed. Don’t mistreat or do violence to the alien, the orphan, or the widow, or shed the blood of innocent people in this place. 4 Rather, carefully obey this message,[y] and then kings sitting for David on his throne and riding in chariots and on horses will enter the gates of this house. The king will enter along with his officials[z] and his people. 5 But if you don’t listen to these words, I swear,” declares the Lord, “that this house will become a ruin.”’” 6 For this is what the Lord says about the house of the king of Judah,
“You are like Gilead to me,
like the summit of Lebanon.
Yet I’ll surely make you a desert,
towns where no one lives.
7 I’ll appoint people to destroy you—
men with their weapons.
They’ll cut down some of your choice cedars[aa]
and incinerate them.
8 “Many nations will pass by this city and say to one another, ‘Why did the Lord do this to this great city?’ 9 Then people[ab] will respond, ‘It is[ac] because they have forsaken the covenant of the Lord their God and have bowed down to other gods and served them.’
10 “Don’t cry for the dead
or grieve for them.
Weep bitterly for the one going away,
because he won’t return again
nor see the land of his birth.
11 “For this is what the Lord says about Josiah’s son Shallum,[ad] king of Judah, who reigned in place of his father Josiah: ‘He went out from this place and won’t return to it again. 12 He will die in the place where they exiled him, and he won’t ever[ae] see this land again.’”
An Oracle against Jehoiakim
13 “How terrible for him who builds his house
without righteousness,
and its upper rooms without justice,
who makes his neighbor work for nothing,
and does not pay him his wage.
14 How terrible for[af] him who says, ‘I’ll build a large
house for myself with spacious upper rooms,
who cuts out windows for it,
paneling it with cedar and painting it red.’
15 Are you a king because you try to outdo
everyone with cedar?
Your father ate and drank and upheld
justice and righteousness, did he not?
And then it went well for him.
16 He judged the case of the poor and needy.
And then it went well for him.
Isn’t this what it means to know me?
17 But your eyes and heart are on nothing but
your dishonest gain,
shedding the blood of innocent people,
and practicing oppression and extortion.”
18 Therefore, this is what the Lord says about Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah,
“They won’t lament for him with these words:[ag]
‘How terrible, my brother,
How terrible, my sister!’
They won’t lament for him with these words:[ah]
‘How terrible, lord,
How terrible, your[ai] majesty!’
19 He will receive[aj] a donkey’s burial,
dragged out and thrown outside the gates of Jerusalem.”
An Oracle against Jerusalem
20 Go up to Lebanon and cry out,
to Bashan and lift up your voice.
Cry out from Abarim, for all your lovers[ak]
have been crushed.
21 I spoke to you when you were secure,[al]
but you said, “I won’t listen!”
This has been your way since your youth,
for you haven’t obeyed me.
22 The wind will shepherd[am] all your shepherds,[an]
and your lovers[ao] will go into exile.
Indeed, you will then be ashamed and humiliated
because of all your wickedness.
23 You who live in Lebanon,
who build your nest in the cedars,
how you will groan when pains come upon you,
pain like that of a woman giving birth.
An Oracle against Jehoiachin
24 “As certainly as I’m alive and living,” declares the Lord, “even if Jehoiakim’s son King Jehoiachin[ap] of Judah were a signet ring on my right hand, I would pull you off 25 and give you to those who are trying to kill you, whom you fear—that is, to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the Chaldeans. 26 I’ll hurl you and the mother who gave birth to you into another land where you were not born, and there you will die. 27 As for the land to which you[aq] want to return, you[ar] won’t return there!
28 “Is this man Jehoiachin[as] a despised and shattered jar,
a vessel no one wants?
Why were he and his descendants hurled away,
thrown into a land that they didn’t know?
29 Land, land, land,
listen to this message from the Lord!
30 This is what the Lord says:
‘Write this man off as childless,
a man who does not prosper in his lifetime.[at]
None of his descendants will succeed
in sitting on the throne of David,
or ever ruling in Judah again.’”
A Righteous King for God’s People
23 “How terrible for the shepherds[au] who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord. 2 Therefore, this is what the Lord God of Israel says about the shepherds who are shepherding my people, “You have scattered my flock and driven them away. You haven’t taken care of them, and now I’m about to take care of you[av] because of your evil deeds,” declares the Lord. 3 “I’ll gather the remnant of my flock from all the countries where I’ve driven them, and bring them back to their pasture where they’ll be fruitful and increase in numbers. 4 I’ll raise up shepherds over them, and they’ll shepherd them. My flock[aw] will no longer be afraid or terrified, and none will be missing,” declares the Lord.
5 “The time is coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I’ll raise up a righteous branch for David.
He will be a king who rules wisely,
and he will administer justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In his time[ax] Judah will be delivered
and Israel will dwell in safety.
This is the name by which he will be known:
‘The Lord Our Righteousness.’
7 “Therefore, the time is coming,” declares the Lord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as the Lord lives who brought up the Israelis from the land of Egypt,’ 8 but they’ll say,[ay] ‘As surely as the Lord lives who brought the descendants of the Israelis from the land of the north and from all the lands where I had driven them and brought them into the land.’[az] Then they’ll live in their own land.”
An Oracle about False Prophets
9 Concerning the prophets:
My heart is broken within me,
and all my bones shake.
I’m like a drunk man,
like a person overcome with wine,
because of the Lord,
and because of his holy words.
10 Indeed, the land is full of adulterers.
Indeed, the land mourns because of the curse;
the pastures of the wilderness have dried up.
The adulterers’[ba] lifestyles are evil,
and they use[bb] their strength for what[bc] is not right.
11 Indeed, both priest and prophet are ungodly.
Even in my house I find evil,” declares the Lord.
12 Therefore their way will be slippery.
They’ll be driven out into the darkness,
where they’ll fall.
For I’ll bring disaster on them,
the year of their judgment,”
declares the Lord.
13 “Among the prophets of Samaria I saw a disgusting thing,
for they prophesied by Baal
and led my people Israel astray.
14 Among the prophets of Jerusalem I saw a horrible thing,
for they commit adultery and live a lie.
They strengthen the hands of those who do evil,
so that no one repents of his evil.
All of them are like Sodom to me,
and her[bd] residents like Gomorrah.”
15 Therefore, this is what the Lord God of the Heavenly Armies says about the prophets,
“I’m about to make them eat wormwood[be]
and drink poisoned water,
because godlessness has spread from the
prophets of Jerusalem throughout the land.”
16 This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
“Don’t listen to the words of the prophets
who are prophesying to you;
they’re giving you false hopes.
They declare visions from their own minds—
they don’t come from the Lord![bf]
17 They keep on saying to those who despise me,
‘The Lord has said, “You will have peace.”’
To all who stubbornly follow their own desires[bg] they say,
‘Disaster won’t come upon you.’
18 But who has stood in the Lord’s council
to see and hear his message?
Who has paid attention to his message and obeyed it?[bh]
19 Look, the storm of the Lord’s wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest,
and it will swirl down
around the head of the wicked.
20 The Lord’s anger won’t turn back
until he has accomplished
what he intended to do.
In the future
you will clearly understand it.
21 I didn’t send these prophets,[bi]
but they ran anyway.
I didn’t speak to them,
but they prophesied.
22 If they had stood in my council
and had delivered my words to my people,
then they would have turned them back
from their evil way,
from their evil deeds.”
23 “Am I a God who is near,” declares the Lord,
“rather than a God who is far away?
24 If a person hides himself in secret places,
will I not see him?”
declares the Lord.
“I fill the heavens and the earth, do I not?”
declares the Lord.
25 “I’ve heard what the prophets who prophesy lies in my name have said: ‘I had a dream; I had a dream.’ 26 How long will this go on?[bj] Is there anything[bk] in the hearts of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy from the deceit that is in their hearts? 27 With their dreams that they relate to one another,[bl] they plan to make my people forget my name just as their ancestors forgot my name by embracing[bm] Baal. 28 Let the prophet who has a dream relate the dream, but let whoever receives my message[bn] speak my message truthfully. What does straw have in common with wheat?” declares the Lord. 29 “My message is like fire or like a hammer that shatters rock, is it not?” declares the Lord.
30 “Therefore, look, I’m against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who steal my words from each other. 31 Look, I’m against the prophets,” declares the Lord, “who use their tongues to issue a declaration.[bo] 32 Look, I’m against those who prophesy based on false dreams,” declares the Lord, “and relate them and lead my people astray with their lies and their recklessness. I didn’t send them; I didn’t command them, and they provide no benefit at all to these people,” declares the Lord.
The Oracle-Burden[bp] of the Lord
33 “Jeremiah,[bq] when these people, the prophet, or a priest ask you,[br] ‘What is the oracle[bs] of the Lord?’ say to them, ‘You are the burden,[bt] and I’ll cast you out,’” declares the Lord. 34 “As for the prophet, the priest, or the people who say, ‘I have[bu] an oracle of the Lord,’ I’ll judge that person and his household. 35 This is what you should say to one another and among yourselves,[bv] ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord said?’ 36 But you are to no longer mention[bw] the oracle of the Lord, because the oracle is only for the person to whom the Lord gives his message,[bx] and you have overturned the words of the living God, the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, our God. 37 This is what you should say to the prophet, ‘What has the Lord answered?’ or ‘What has the Lord said?’ 38 Since you’re saying, ‘We have an oracle of the Lord,’[by] therefore this is what the Lord says: He will answer your message with this message, ‘Burden[bz] of the Lord,’ and I’ll send you away with these words: ‘Don’t say, “Oracle of the Lord.”’ 39 Therefore I’ll surely forget you and cast you and the city I gave you and your ancestors out of my presence. 40 I’ll bring on you everlasting reproach and everlasting humiliation that won’t ever[ca] be forgotten.”
Two Baskets of Figs
24 After Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had taken Jehoiakim’s son Jeconiah,[cb] king of Judah, along with the officials[cc] of Judah, the craftsmen, and the smiths from Jerusalem into exile, and had brought them to Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs placed right in front of the Temple of the Lord. 2 One basket contained very good figs like the first figs that ripen on the tree. The other basket contained very bad figs that were too bad to be eaten. 3 The Lord told me, “What do you see?”
I replied, “Figs. The good figs are very good, and the bad figs are very bad. They’re too bad to be eaten.”
4 Then this message from the Lord came to me: 5 “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Like these good figs, so I’ll regard as good the exiles of Judah whom I sent from this place to the land of the Chaldeans. 6 I’ll look at them with good intentions, and I’ll bring them back to this land. I’ll build them up. I won’t tear them down; I’ll plant them and not rip them up. 7 I’ll give them the ability[cd] to know me, for I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God when they return to me with all their heart.
8 “‘Like the bad figs that are too bad to be eaten—for this is what the Lord says—so I’ll give up on Zedekiah king of Judah, along with his officials, the remnant of Jerusalem that is left in this land, and those living in the land of Egypt. 9 I’ll make them into a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth; into a cause for contempt, into a byword, into a taunt, and into a curse in all the places to which I drive them. 10 I’ll send the sword, famine, and plague against them until they’re completely destroyed from the land which I gave them and their ancestors.’”
The Irrevocable Judgment on Judah
25 This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah. (This was also the first year of the reign of[ce] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.) 2 This is what Jeremiah the prophet told all the people of Judah and all the residents of Jerusalem: 3 “From the thirteenth year of the reign of[cf] Ammon’s son Josiah, the king of Judah, until the present time, for 23 years this message from the Lord has come to me, and I’ve spoken to you again and again,[cg] but you haven’t listened. 4 Again and again,[ch] the Lord sent all his servants, the prophets, to you, but you wouldn’t listen or even turn your ears in my direction to hear. 5 They said, ‘Turn, each one of you, from your[ci] evil habits[cj] and evil deeds, and live in the land that the Lord gave to you and your ancestors forever and ever. 6 Don’t follow other gods to serve and worship them. Don’t provoke me with the idols[ck] you make with your hands, and I won’t bring disaster on you.’ 7 But you didn’t listen to me,” declares the Lord, “so as to provoke me with the idols[cl] you make with your hands to your own harm.
8 “Therefore, this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: ‘Because you haven’t listened to my message, 9 I’m now sending for all the tribes from the north, declares the Lord, and for my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. I’ll bring them against this land, against its inhabitants, and against all these surrounding nations. I’ll utterly destroy them and make them an object of horror and scorn,[cm] and an everlasting desolation. 10 I’ll destroy the sounds of gladness and rejoicing from them, the sounds of the bridegroom and the bride, the sound of the hand mill and also the light of the lamp. 11 This entire land will be a desolation and a waste, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years.
12 ‘Then when the seventy years have passed, I’ll judge the king of Babylon and that nation, declares the Lord, I’ll judge[cn] the land of the Chaldeans for their iniquity and I’ll make it a desolation forever. 13 I’ll bring on that land all the things I spoke against it, all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah prophesied about the nations. 14 Indeed many nations and great kings will make slaves even of them, and I’ll repay them according to their deeds, according to what they have done.’”
Judgment on the Nations
15 For this is what the Lord God of Israel says to me, “Take this cup of the wine of burning anger from my hand and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it. 16 They’ll drink, stagger, and act like madmen because of the sword I’m sending among them.” 17 So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand, and I made all the nations to whom the Lord sent me drink it: 18 Jerusalem, the cities of Judah, its kings and officials[co] to make them into a ruin, an object of horror and scorn,[cp] and a curse, as it is this day; 19 Pharaoh, king of Egypt, his officials,[cq] his princes, and all his people; 20 all the various people;[cr] all the kings of the land of Uz, all the kings of the land of the Philistines, Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and what remains of Ashdod; 21 Edom, Moab, and the people of Ammon; 22 all the kings of Tyre, all the kings of Sidon, and all the kings of the coast lands that are beyond the sea; 23 Dedan, Tema, Buz, and those who shave the corners of their beards;[cs] 24 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the various people[ct] who live in the desert; 25 all the kings of Zimri, all the kings of Elam, and all the kings of Media; 26 all the kings of the north near and far, one after another, and all the kingdoms of the world on the face of the earth. The king of Sheshak[cu] will drink after all the others.[cv]
27 “You are to say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Drink, get drunk, and vomit! Fall down and don’t get up because of the sword I’m sending among you.”’ 28 And if they refuse to take the cup from your hand to drink it, say to them, ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says: “You will surely drink it! 29 Look, I’m beginning to bring disaster on the city that is called by my name, and do you actually think you will avoid punishment? You won’t avoid punishment because I’m summoning the sword against all those who live in the land,” declares the Lord of the Heavenly Armies.’”
The Lord will Judge the Nations
30 “You are to prophesy all these things against them, and you are to say to them,
‘The Lord roars from his high place,
from his holy dwelling he lifts his voice.
He roars loudly against his flock,[cw]
and against all who live on the earth;
he shouts like those treading grapes.[cx]
31 A tumult reaches to the ends of the earth
because the Lord is bringing an indictment against the nations.
He judges all flesh.
He has given the wicked over to the sword,’
declares the Lord.
32 ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
“Look, disaster is going from nation to nation,
a great storm is being stirred up
from the most distant parts of the earth.
33 “Those slain by the Lord on that day will extend[cy] from one end of the earth to the other. They won’t be mourned for or gathered up or buried. They’ll be like dung on the surface of the ground.
34 “Scream, you shepherds! Cry out!
Roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock!
Indeed, the time for your slaughter
and your dispersion has arrived,
and you will break like a choice vessel.
35 Flight will be impossible[cz] for the shepherds,
as will be escape for the leaders of the flock.
36 A sound—it’s the cry of the shepherds
and the scream of the leaders of the flock—
because the Lord is destroying their pastures.
37 The peaceful meadows are silent
because of the Lord’s fierce anger.
38 Like a lion, he has left his den.[da]
Indeed, their land has become a waste
because of the anger of the oppressor
and because of the Lord’s[db] fierce anger.”
Jeremiah is Arrested
26 In the beginning of the reign of Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, this message came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Stand in the courtyard of the Lord’s Temple and tell those from all the cities[dc] of Judah who are coming to worship at the Lord’s Temple everything that I’ve commanded you to say to them. Don’t leave out a word! 3 Perhaps they’ll listen, and each of them will repent from his evil way. Then I’ll change my mind about the disaster I’m planning to bring on[dd] them because of their evil deeds. 4 Say to them, “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you don’t listen to me to follow my Law which I’ve set before you, 5 and listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I’ve sent to you over and over[de]—but you wouldn’t listen— 6 then I’ll make this house like Shiloh and make this city into a curse to all the nations of the earth.’”’”
Jeremiah Threatened with Death
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened as Jeremiah spoke these words at the Lord’s Temple. 8 As soon as Jeremiah finished saying everything that the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people, the priests, the prophets, and all the people seized him, telling him as they did: “You must certainly die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord that this house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be without an inhabitant?” Then all the people gathered around Jeremiah at the Lord’s Temple.
10 When the Judean officials[df] heard all these things, they came up from the king’s house to the Lord’s Temple and sat in the doorway of the New Gate of the Lord’s Temple.[dg] 11 The priests and prophets told the officials and all the people, “A death sentence for this man, because he prophesied against this city, as you heard with your own ears!”
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people: “The Lord has sent me to prophesy all the things you heard against this house and against this city. 13 Now, change your habits[dh] and your deeds and obey the Lord your God, and the Lord will change his mind about the disaster that he told you about. 14 Look, I’m in your hands, so do with me what you think is good and right. 15 But know for certain that if you kill me, you will bring innocent blood on yourselves and on this city and its residents because the Lord really did send me to you to say all these things for you to hear.”
The Elders Remember Micah’s Similar Message
16 The officials and all the people told the priests and the prophets, “No death sentence for this man because he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
17 Some of the elders of the land got up and told all the assembled people, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign[di] of Hezekiah king of Judah to all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says:
“Zion will be a plowed field,
and Jerusalem a ruin.
The Temple Mount will be a wooded hill.”’[dj]
19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone in Judah kill him? Didn’t he fear the Lord and seek the Lord’s favor, and so the Lord changed his mind about the disaster that he had spoken to them about. We’re bringing great disaster on ourselves. 20 There was also a man named Uriah, Shemaiah’s son from Kiriath-jearim, who prophesied in the Lord’s name. He prophesied about this city and this land in words similar to those of Jeremiah. 21 King Jehoiakim, all his troops, and all the officials heard his words, and the king sought to kill him. Uriah heard about this and was afraid, so he fled and went to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt. He sent[dk] Achbor’s son Elnathan, along with a contingent of men[dl] into Egypt. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with a sword. Then they threw his body into a common grave.[dm]”
24 Yet because Shaphan’s son Ahikam supported Jeremiah,[dn] he was not handed over to the people for them to kill.
Jeremiah Tells the Nations to Submit to Babylon
27 At the beginning of the reign of Josiah’s son Jehoiakim, king of Judah, this message came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 this is what the Lord says to me: “Make restraints and yokes for yourself and put them on your neck. 3 Then send messengers[do] to the king of Edom, the king of Moab, the king of the Ammonites, the king of Tyre, and the king of Sidon through the envoys[dp] who come to Jerusalem to king Zedekiah of Judah. 4 Give them this order for their masters: ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says, and this is what you are to say to your masters, 5 “By my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth, mankind, and the animals that are on the face of the earth, and I give it to whomever I see fit.[dq] 6 Now I’ve given all these lands to my servant, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I’ve even given him the wild animals to serve him. 7 All the nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until his country’s time also comes, and then many nations and great kings will use him as a slave. 8 If a nation and kingdom does not serve him—King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon—and does not put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I’ll judge that nation with the sword, with famine, and with plague,” declares the Lord, “until I’ve completely destroyed it by his hand. 9 You aren’t to listen to your prophets, your diviners, your dreamers,[dr] your soothsayers, and your sorcerers who say to you, ‘Don’t serve the king of Babylon.’ 10 They’re prophesying a lie to you in order to remove you far away from your land. I’ll drive you out and you will perish. 11 But I’ll let the nation that brings its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serves him remain in its own land,” declares the Lord, “and they’ll work it and remain in it.”’”
Zedekiah Told to Submit to Babylon
12 I spoke to Zedekiah king of Judah using words like these: “Bring your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon. Serve him and his people, and you will live! 13 Why should you and your people die by the sword, by famine, and by plague as the Lord has decreed about the nation that does not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, ‘You won’t serve the king of Babylon.’ Indeed, they’re prophesying a lie to you. 15 For I didn’t send them,” declares the Lord, “and they’re falsely prophesying in my name, so I will drive both you and the prophets who prophesy to you out of the land.”
The People and Priests Told to Submit to Babylon
16 Then I spoke to the priests and all of the people: “This is what the Lord says: ‘Don’t listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you: “The vessels from the Temple are about to be returned from Babylon very soon now.” Indeed, they’re prophesying a lie to you. 17 Don’t listen to them! Serve the king of Babylon and you’ll live. Why should this city become a ruin? 18 If they’re prophets, and if they have a message from the Lord, let them plead with the Lord of the Heavenly Armies so that the utensils that remain in the Lord’s Temple, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem might not be taken to Babylon. 19 For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies says about the pillars, the bronze sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that remain in this city 20 that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon didn’t take when he took Jehoiakim’s son Jeconiah, king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem from Jerusalem into exile to Babylon— 21 For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel says about the vessels that remain in the Lord’s Temple, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem, 22 “They’ll go into Babylon and there they’ll remain until the time I take note of them,” declares the Lord. “Then I’ll bring them up and return them to this place.”’”
Jeremiah Challenges a False Prophet
28 In that same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fourth year and the fifth month, Azzur’s son Hananiah, the prophet from Gibeon, told me at the Lord’s Temple in front of the priests and all the people, 2 “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I’ve broken the yoke of the king of Babylon, 3 and within two years I’ll bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord’s Temple that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 I’ll bring back Jehoiakim’s son Jeconiah, king of Judah, and all the exiles of Judah who went to Babylon to this place,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I’ll break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
5 The prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all[ds] the people who were standing in the Lord’s Temple. 6 The prophet Jeremiah said, “May the Lord truly do this thing! May the Lord fulfill the words[dt] that you prophesied to bring back the vessels of the Lord’s Temple and all the exiles from Babylon to this place. 7 But please listen to what I’m saying in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8 The prophets who came before us[du] from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and plague against many lands and great kingdoms. 9 When a prophet prophesies peace, and what the prophet speaks comes about, he will be known as the prophet whom the Lord has truly sent.”
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke[dv] from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke it. 11 Hananiah, in front of all the people, said, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way, within two years, I’ll break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations.’” Then Jeremiah the prophet went on his way.
12 This message from the Lord came to Jeremiah after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke[dw] from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet: 13 “Go and say to Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: “You have broken wooden yokes,[dx] but you have made iron yokes[dy] in their place.” 14 For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: “I’ve put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They’ll serve him, and I’ve even given the wild animals to him.”’”
15 The prophet Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord didn’t send you, and you are causing these people to trust in a lie. 16 Therefore, this is what the Lord says: ‘I’m about to remove[dz] you from the face of the earth. This year you will die because you have preached rebellion against the Lord.’”
17 So the prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year.
Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles
29 These are the words of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, 2 after King Jeconiah, the queen mother, the palace officials,[ea] the officials[eb] of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths left Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by Shaphan’s son Elasah and by Hilkiah’s son Gemariah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon in Babylon, and it said, 4 “This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles who were taken from Jerusalem into exile to Babylon, 5 ‘Build houses and live in them.[ec] Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and father sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so they may have sons and daughters. Increase in numbers there, don’t decrease. 7 Seek the welfare of the city to which I’ve exiled you and pray to the Lord for it, for your welfare depends on its welfare.’[ed] 8 For this is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Don’t let the prophets and diviners[ee] who are among you deceive you, and don’t listen to them when they tell you their dreams.[ef] 9 Indeed, they’re prophesying lies to you in my name. I didn’t send them,’ declares the Lord.
10 “For this is what the Lord says: ‘When Babylon’s seventy years are completed, I’ll take note of you and will fulfill my good promises to you by bringing you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for well-being, and not for calamity, in order to give you a future and a hope. 12 When you call out to me and come and pray to me, I’ll hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14 I’ll be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I’ll restore your security[eg] and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I’ve driven you,’ declares the Lord. ‘I’ll bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.’
15 “Indeed, you have said, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon.’
16 “But this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne, and about the people who live in this city—your brothers who didn’t go with you into exile: 17 This is what the Lord says: ‘I’m about to send the sword, famine, and plague on them, and I’ll make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten because they’re so bad. 18 I’ll pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with plague, and I’ll make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth. I’ll make them[eh] a curse, an object of horror, and scorn,[ei] and a desolation in all the nations to which I’ve driven them, 19 because they didn’t listen to my words,’ declares the Lord. ‘When I sent my servants, the prophets, to you again and again,[ej] you didn’t listen,’ declares the Lord.
20 “Now, all you exiles whom I sent from Jerusalem to Babylon, listen to this message from the Lord! 21 This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says about Kolaiah’s son Ahab and Maaseiah’s son Zedekiah, who are prophesying lies to you in my name, ‘I’m about to give them into the domination[ek] of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will kill them before your eyes. 22 What happens to them will be the basis for a curse[el] for all the Judean exiles who are in Babylon. People will say,[em] “May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the Lord roasted[en] in the fire, 23 because they did something stupid[eo] in Israel. They committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they spoke lies that I didn’t command them. I’m the one who knows, and I’m a witness,” declares the Lord.’”
A Rebuke to Shemaiah
24 “You are to say to Shemaiah of Nehelam: 25 ‘This is what the Lord of the Heavenly Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Because you sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, to Maaseiah’s son Zephaniah the priest and to all the priests— 26 The Lord made you a priest instead of Jehoiada the priest to serve in the Lord’s Temple as an official against every crazy prophet, and to put him in stocks and restraints. 27 And now, why didn’t you rebuke Jeremiah from Anathoth who prophesies to you? 28 So he sent a message[ep] to us in Babylon: ‘The exile[eq] will be long, so build houses and live in them.[er] Plant gardens and eat their produce.’”’”
29 Then Zephaniah the priest read this letter to Jeremiah the prophet, 30 and this message from the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send a message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah from Nehelam, “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I didn’t send him, and has made you trust a lie,” 32 therefore, this is what the Lord says: “I’m about to judge Shemaiah from Nehelam along with his descendants. He won’t have anyone related to him[es] living among these people. Nor will he see the good that I’ll do for my people,” declares the Lord, “because he advocated rebellion against the Lord.”’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 19:1 The Heb. lacks along
- Jeremiah 19:2 Lit. Valley of Hinnom’s son
- Jeremiah 19:5 I.e. the places where Canaanite gods were worshipped
- Jeremiah 19:7 Or nullify; MT word for shatter sounds like MT word for jug in v. 1
- Jeremiah 19:8 Lit. hissing
- Jeremiah 19:8 Lit. hiss; i.e. hissing was an expression of contempt
- Jeremiah 19:9 Lit. sons and the flesh of their daughters
- Jeremiah 19:11 The Heb. lacks corpses
- Jeremiah 19:11 The Heb. lacks anyone
- Jeremiah 19:13 Lit. they
- Jeremiah 19:15 Lit. they stiffened their neck
- Jeremiah 20:1 Lit. the Nagid; i.e. a senior officer entrusted with dual roles of operational oversight and administrative authority
- Jeremiah 20:3 The Heb. name Magor-missabib means terror on every side; cf. v. 10
- Jeremiah 20:6 Or friends, colleagues
- Jeremiah 20:8 Lit. all day long
- Jeremiah 20:9 Lit. him
- Jeremiah 20:10 I.e. in mockery of the prophet’s statement Magor-missabib in v. 3
- Jeremiah 20:12 Lit. the liver
- Jeremiah 21:2 Lit. according to all his miraculous acts
- Jeremiah 21:2 Lit. he
- Jeremiah 21:7 Or servants
- Jeremiah 21:9 I.e. his life will be spared
- Jeremiah 21:14 Lit. to the fruit of your deeds
- Jeremiah 22:2 Or your servants
- Jeremiah 22:4 Or do this thing
- Jeremiah 22:4 Lit. house, he, his officials
- Jeremiah 22:7 I.e. a genus of coniferous evergreen in the family Pinaceae; and so throughout the book
- Jeremiah 22:9 Lit. they’ll say
- Jeremiah 22:9 The Heb. lacks It is
- Jeremiah 22:11 Shallum (also known as Jehoahaz) succeeded his father Josiah, but was removed by the Egyptians after three months and exiled to Egypt.
- Jeremiah 22:12 The Heb. lacks ever
- Jeremiah 22:14 The Heb. lacks How terrible for
- Jeremiah 22:18 The Heb. lacks with these words
- Jeremiah 22:18 The Heb. lacks with these words
- Jeremiah 22:18 The Heb. lacks your
- Jeremiah 22:19 Lit. be buried with
- Jeremiah 22:20 I.e. your allies
- Jeremiah 22:21 Or prosperous
- Jeremiah 22:22 I.e. round them up and blow them away
- Jeremiah 22:22 I.e. leaders
- Jeremiah 22:22 I.e. your allies
- Jeremiah 22:24 Lit. Coniah
- Jeremiah 22:27 Lit. they
- Jeremiah 22:27 Lit. they
- Jeremiah 22:28 Lit. Coniah
- Jeremiah 22:30 Lit. in his days
- Jeremiah 23:1 I.e. leaders
- Jeremiah 23:2 I.e. in judgment
- Jeremiah 23:4 Lit. they
- Jeremiah 23:6 Lit. days
- Jeremiah 23:8 The Heb. lacks they’ll say
- Jeremiah 23:8 The Heb. lacks the land
- Jeremiah 23:10 Lit. Their
- Jeremiah 23:10 The Heb. lacks they use
- Jeremiah 23:10 The Heb. lacks for what
- Jeremiah 23:14 I.e. Jerusalem’s
- Jeremiah 23:15 Wormwood is a plant with an extremely bitter taste
- Jeremiah 23:16 Lit. not from the mouth of the Lord
- Jeremiah 23:17 Lit. walk in the stubbornness of their heart
- Jeremiah 23:18 Or listened to
- Jeremiah 23:21 Lit. prophets
- Jeremiah 23:26 The Heb. lacks will this go on
- Jeremiah 23:26 The Heb. lacks anything
- Jeremiah 23:27 Lit. each to his colleague
- Jeremiah 23:27 The Heb. lacks embracing
- Jeremiah 23:28 Lit. my word is with him
- Jeremiah 23:31 I.e. a message that they claim came from God
- Jeremiah 23:33 An oracle is a message that claims to be a revelation from the Lord. The same Heb. word means both oracle and burden, and this entire section invokes a word play between the two meanings of this Heb. word.
- Jeremiah 23:33 The Heb. lacks Jeremiah
- Jeremiah 23:33 I.e. the prophet Jeremiah; MT is masculine sing.
- Jeremiah 23:33 Or burden
- Jeremiah 23:33 Or oracle; MT reads What oracle?
- Jeremiah 23:34 The Heb. lacks I have
- Jeremiah 23:35 Lit. each to his neighbor and each to his brother
- Jeremiah 23:36 Or remember
- Jeremiah 23:36 Lit. for the person of his word
- Jeremiah 23:38 The Heb. lacks of the Lord
- Jeremiah 23:38 Or Oracle
- Jeremiah 23:40 The Heb. lacks ever
- Jeremiah 24:1 I.e. Jehoiachin
- Jeremiah 24:1 Or princes
- Jeremiah 24:7 Lit. them a heart
- Jeremiah 25:1 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- Jeremiah 25:3 The Heb. lacks the reign of
- Jeremiah 25:3 Lit. getting up early and speaking
- Jeremiah 25:4 Lit. getting up early and sending
- Jeremiah 25:5 Lit. his
- Jeremiah 25:5 Lit. ways
- Jeremiah 25:6 Lit. works
- Jeremiah 25:7 Lit. works
- Jeremiah 25:9 Lit. hissing; i.e. a sign of mocking and contempt
- Jeremiah 25:12 The Heb. lacks I’ll judge
- Jeremiah 25:18 Or princes
- Jeremiah 25:18 Lit. hissing; i.e. hissing was a sign of ridicule and contempt
- Jeremiah 25:19 Or servants
- Jeremiah 25:20 Or the mixed company
- Jeremiah 25:23 Lit. cut off the side
- Jeremiah 25:24 Or the mixed company
- Jeremiah 25:26 Sheshak is a cryptogram for Babylon
- Jeremiah 25:26 Lit. after them
- Jeremiah 25:30 Or habitation
- Jeremiah 25:30 The Heb. lacks grapes
- Jeremiah 25:33 Lit. will be
- Jeremiah 25:35 Lit. will perish
- Jeremiah 25:38 Or thicket
- Jeremiah 25:38 Lit. his
- Jeremiah 26:2 Lit. speak to all the cities
- Jeremiah 26:3 Lit. do to
- Jeremiah 26:5 Lit. getting up early to send
- Jeremiah 26:10 Or princes
- Jeremiah 26:10 The Heb. lacks temple
- Jeremiah 26:13 Lit. ways
- Jeremiah 26:18 Lit. time
- Jeremiah 26:18 Or a wooded high place
- Jeremiah 26:22 The Heb. lacks He sent
- Jeremiah 26:22 Lit. Achbor and men with him
- Jeremiah 26:23 Lit. a grave of the sons of the people
- Jeremiah 26:24 Lit. the hand of Shaphan’s son Ahikam was with Jeremiah
- Jeremiah 27:3 Lit. them
- Jeremiah 27:3 Or messengers
- Jeremiah 27:5 Or to whoever is upright in my eyes
- Jeremiah 27:9 Lit. your dreams
- Jeremiah 28:5 Lit. and in front of
- Jeremiah 28:6 Lit. your words
- Jeremiah 28:8 Lit. before me and before you
- Jeremiah 28:10 Lit. the bar of the yoke
- Jeremiah 28:12 Lit. the bar of the yoke
- Jeremiah 28:13 Lit. the bars of the yoke
- Jeremiah 28:13 Lit. the bars of the yoke
- Jeremiah 28:16 Lit. send you away
- Jeremiah 29:2 Or eunuchs
- Jeremiah 29:2 Or princes
- Jeremiah 29:5 The Heb. lacks in them
- Jeremiah 29:7 Lit. for in its welfare is your welfare
- Jeremiah 29:8 Lit. your prophets and your diviners
- Jeremiah 29:8 Lit. to your dreams that you cause to be dreamed
- Jeremiah 29:14 Or captivity
- Jeremiah 29:18 The Heb. lacks I’ll make them
- Jeremiah 29:18 Lit. hissing; i.e. hissing was a sign of mocking and contempt
- Jeremiah 29:19 Lit. getting up early and sending
- Jeremiah 29:21 Lit. hand
- Jeremiah 29:22 Lit. From them a curse will be taken
- Jeremiah 29:22 Lit. Saying
- Jeremiah 29:22 MT word for roasted sounds like MT word for curse
- Jeremiah 29:23 Lit. they committed folly
- Jeremiah 29:28 The Heb. lacks a message
- Jeremiah 29:28 Lit. It
- Jeremiah 29:28 The Heb. lacks in them
- Jeremiah 29:32 The Heb. lacks related to him
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