1 The|strong="H3605" message|strong="H1697" from|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414". The|strong="H3605" message|strong="H1697" came|strong="H1961" at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" time|strong="H1961" when|strong="H1961" King|strong="H4428" Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894" was|strong="H1961" fighting|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5921" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" and|strong="H3068" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" towns|strong="H5892" around|strong="H5921" it|strong="H5921". Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" had|strong="H3068" with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" his|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" and|strong="H3068" the|strong="H3605" armies|strong="H2428" of|strong="H4428" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" kingdoms|strong="H4467" and|strong="H3068" peoples|strong="H5971" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" empire he|strong="H0834" ruled|strong="H4428".
2 This|strong="H2063" was|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0853" message|strong="H3068": “This|strong="H2063" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H0853" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" people of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478", says|strong="H0559": Jeremiah|strong="H3068", go|strong="H1980" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H1980" give|strong="H5414" him|strong="H0413" this|strong="H2063" message|strong="H3068": ‘Zedekiah|strong="H6667", this|strong="H2063" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559": I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H4428" Jerusalem to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894" very|strong="H1980" soon, and|strong="H1980" he|strong="H0430" will|strong="H3068" burn|strong="H8313" it|strong="H5414" down|strong="H1980".
3 Zedekiah, you|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" not|strong="H3808" escape|strong="H4422" from|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894". You|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" surely|strong="H3588" be|strong="H3808" caught|strong="H8610" and|strong="H0935" given|strong="H5414" to|strong="H0935" him|strong="H5414". You|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" see|strong="H7200" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894" with|strong="H0854" your|strong="H5414" own|strong="H5869" eyes|strong="H5869". He|strong="H3588" will|strong="H4428" talk|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0935" you|strong="H0859" face|strong="H6310" to|strong="H0935" face|strong="H6310", and|strong="H0935" you|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" go|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0935" Babylon|strong="H0894".
4 But|strong="H0389" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" promise|strong="H1697" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068", King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063". This|strong="H3541" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H1697" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559" about|strong="H5921" you|strong="H5921": You|strong="H5921" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H4191" killed|strong="H4191" with|strong="H3068" a|strong="H8085" sword|strong="H2719".
5 You|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" die|strong="H4191" in|strong="H3068" a|strong="H1961" peaceful|strong="H7965" way|strong="H1697". People|strong="H0834" made|strong="H1696" funeral fires to|strong="H1696" honor your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001", the|strong="H6440" kings|strong="H4428" who|strong="H0834" ruled|strong="H4428" before|strong="H6440" you|strong="H0834" became|strong="H1961" king|strong="H4428". In|strong="H3068" the|strong="H6440" same|strong="H3651" way|strong="H1697" people|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" make|strong="H3588" a|strong="H1961" funeral fire to|strong="H1696" honor you|strong="H0834". They|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" cry for|strong="H3588" you|strong="H0834" and|strong="H3068" sadly say|strong="H1696", “Oh, my|strong="H3068" master|strong="H0113"!” I|strong="H0589" myself|strong="H0589" make|strong="H3588" this|strong="H3651" promise|strong="H1697" to|strong="H1696" you|strong="H0834".’” This|strong="H3651" message|strong="H1697" is|strong="H0834" from|strong="H6440" the|strong="H6440" LORD|strong="H3068".
6 So|strong="H1697" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" told|strong="H1696" all|strong="H3605" this|strong="H0428" message|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0413" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" in|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389".
7 This|strong="H3588" was|strong="H4428" while|strong="H3588" the|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894" was|strong="H4428" fighting|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5921" Jerusalem|strong="H3389". The|strong="H3605" army|strong="H2428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894" was|strong="H4428" also|strong="H4428" fighting|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" cities|strong="H5892" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" that|strong="H3588" had|strong="H4428" not|strong="H3588" been|strong="H3605" captured. These|strong="H2007" cities|strong="H5892" were|strong="H3063" Lachish|strong="H3923" and|strong="H3063" Azekah|strong="H5825". These|strong="H2007" were|strong="H3063" the|strong="H3605" only|strong="H3605" fortified|strong="H4013" cities|strong="H5892" left|strong="H7604" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" land of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063".
8 King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" had|strong="H3068" made|strong="H3772" an|strong="H1961" agreement|strong="H1285" with|strong="H0854" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" in|strong="H0413" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to|strong="H0413" give|strong="H1961" freedom to|strong="H0413" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" Hebrew slaves. A|strong="H1961" message|strong="H1697" from|strong="H3772" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" after|strong="H0310" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" had|strong="H3068" made|strong="H3772" that|strong="H0834" agreement|strong="H1285".
9 Everyone|strong="H0376" was|strong="H0376" supposed to|strong="H7971" free|strong="H2670" their|strong="H7971" Hebrew|strong="H5680" slaves|strong="H5650". All|strong="H0376" male|strong="H5650" and|strong="H7971" female|strong="H8198" Hebrew|strong="H5680" slaves|strong="H5650" were|strong="H0376" to|strong="H7971" be|strong="H0376" set|strong="H7971" free|strong="H2670". No|strong="H1115" one|strong="H0376" was|strong="H0376" supposed to|strong="H7971" keep|strong="H5647" another|strong="H0251" person|strong="H0376" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" tribe|strong="H0251" of|strong="H0376" Judah in|strong="H0376" slavery|strong="H5650".
10 So|strong="H7971" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H8269" of|strong="H0376" Judah and|strong="H0935" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" accepted|strong="H8085" this|strong="H0834" agreement|strong="H1285". They|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0376" free|strong="H2670" their|strong="H3605" male|strong="H5650" and|strong="H0935" female|strong="H8198" slaves|strong="H5650" so|strong="H7971" that|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" would|strong="H0376" no|strong="H1115" longer|strong="H5750" serve|strong="H5647" them|strong="H0853". Everyone|strong="H3605" agreed|strong="H8085", and|strong="H0935" so|strong="H7971" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" slaves|strong="H5650" were|strong="H0834" set|strong="H7971" free|strong="H2670".
11 But|strong="H3651" after|strong="H0310" that|strong="H0834", the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0834" who|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" slaves|strong="H5650" changed their|strong="H7725" minds. So|strong="H3651" they|strong="H0834" took|strong="H0853" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" set|strong="H7971" free|strong="H2670" and|strong="H7725" made|strong="H7725" them|strong="H0853" slaves|strong="H5650" again|strong="H7725".
12 Then|strong="H1961" this|strong="H1697" message|strong="H1697" from|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" came|strong="H1961" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414":
13 “This|strong="H3541" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", the|strong="H0853" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" people|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Israel|strong="H3478", says|strong="H0559": ‘I|strong="H0595" brought|strong="H3318" your|strong="H3068" ancestors|strong="H0001" out|strong="H3318" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" land|strong="H0776" of|strong="H0776" Egypt|strong="H4714", where|strong="H1004" they|strong="H3117" were|strong="H3478" slaves|strong="H5650". When|strong="H3117" I|strong="H0595" did|strong="H3117" that|strong="H3117", I|strong="H0595" made|strong="H3772" an|strong="H3772" agreement|strong="H1285" with|strong="H0854" them|strong="H0853".
14 I|strong="H0834" said|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H0834" ancestors|strong="H0001", “At|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" end|strong="H7093" of|strong="H0376" every|strong="H0376" seven|strong="H7651" years|strong="H8141", everyone|strong="H0376" must|strong="H0853" set|strong="H7971" their|strong="H8085" Hebrew|strong="H5680" slaves|strong="H5647" free|strong="H2670". If|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" fellow|strong="H0251" Hebrews|strong="H5680" who|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" sold|strong="H4376" themselves|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834", you|strong="H0834" must|strong="H0853" let|strong="H7971" them|strong="H0413" go|strong="H7971" free|strong="H2670" after|strong="H7093" they|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" served|strong="H5647" you|strong="H0834" for|strong="H0413" six|strong="H8337" years|strong="H8141".” But|strong="H3808" your|strong="H0834" ancestors|strong="H0001" did|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413" or|strong="H3808" pay|strong="H5186" attention|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413".
15 A|strong="H3772" short time|strong="H3117" ago|strong="H3117" you|strong="H0859" changed your|strong="H5921" hearts to|strong="H7725" do|strong="H6213" what|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" right|strong="H3477". Everyone|strong="H0376" set|strong="H7725" free their|strong="H5921" fellow|strong="H0376" Hebrews who|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" slaves. And|strong="H7725" you|strong="H0859" even|strong="H0853" made|strong="H6213" an|strong="H6440" agreement|strong="H1285" before|strong="H6440" me|strong="H6440" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" Temple|strong="H1004" that|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" called|strong="H7121" by|strong="H5921" my|strong="H5921" name|strong="H8034".
16 But|strong="H1961" now|strong="H1961" you|strong="H0834" have|strong="H1961" changed your|strong="H0834" minds. You|strong="H0834" have|strong="H1961" shown that|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" do not|strong="H1961" honor|strong="H8034" my|strong="H7971" name|strong="H8034" because|strong="H0834" each|strong="H0376" of|strong="H0376" you|strong="H0834" has|strong="H0834" taken|strong="H1961" back|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" male|strong="H5650" and|strong="H7725" female|strong="H8198" slaves|strong="H5650" that|strong="H0834" you|strong="H0834" had|strong="H0834" set|strong="H7971" free|strong="H2670". You|strong="H0834" have|strong="H1961" forced|strong="H3533" them|strong="H0853" to|strong="H7725" become|strong="H1961" slaves|strong="H5650" again|strong="H7725".’
17 “So|strong="H3651" this|strong="H3651" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559": ‘You|strong="H0859" people|strong="H0376" have|strong="H0376" not|strong="H3808" obeyed|strong="H8085" me|strong="H0413". You|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0376" not|strong="H3808" given|strong="H5414" freedom to|strong="H0413" your|strong="H3068" fellow|strong="H0251" Hebrews. So|strong="H3651", because|strong="H3651" you|strong="H0859" have|strong="H0376" not|strong="H3808" given|strong="H5414" them|strong="H0413" freedom, I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H5414" a|strong="H5414" special kind|strong="H7453" of|strong="H0776" freedom—freedom to|strong="H0413" die|strong="H2719" in|strong="H0413" war|strong="H2719" or|strong="H3808" by|strong="H3068" disease or|strong="H3808" by|strong="H3068" hunger|strong="H7458"! This|strong="H3651" message|strong="H3068" is|strong="H3068" from|strong="H0376" the|strong="H3605" LORD|strong="H3068". When|strong="H8085" the|strong="H3605" other|strong="H0251" nations|strong="H4467" see|strong="H2005" what|strong="H3541" I|strong="H2005" have|strong="H0376" done|strong="H3605" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0859", they|strong="H3651" will|strong="H3068" all|strong="H3605" be|strong="H3808" shocked.
18 I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" hand|strong="H5414" over|strong="H5414" those|strong="H0834" who|strong="H0834" broke|strong="H5674" my|strong="H5414" agreement|strong="H1285" and|strong="H6965" have|strong="H0834" not|strong="H3808" kept|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" promises|strong="H1697" they|strong="H0834" made|strong="H3772" before|strong="H6440" me|strong="H5414". They|strong="H0834" cut|strong="H3772" a|strong="H3772" calf|strong="H5695" into|strong="H0376" two|strong="H8147" pieces before|strong="H6440" me|strong="H5414" and|strong="H6965" walked between|strong="H0996" the|strong="H0853" two|strong="H8147" pieces.
19 These|strong="H3605" are|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" who|strong="H3605" walked between|strong="H0996" the|strong="H3605" two pieces of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" calf|strong="H5695" when|strong="H5674" they|strong="H5971" made|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" agreement before me|strong="H3605": the|strong="H3605" leaders|strong="H8269" of|strong="H0776" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3063" Jerusalem|strong="H3389", the|strong="H3605" important officials|strong="H8269" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" court|strong="H5631", the|strong="H3605" priests|strong="H3548", and|strong="H3063" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H3605" land|strong="H0776".
20 So|strong="H1961" I|strong="H5414" will|strong="H1961" give|strong="H5414" them|strong="H5414" to|strong="H1961" their|strong="H5414" enemies|strong="H0341" and|strong="H0776" to|strong="H1961" everyone who|strong="H5315" wants to|strong="H1961" kill them|strong="H5414". Their|strong="H5414" bodies|strong="H5038" will|strong="H1961" become|strong="H1961" food|strong="H3978" for|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" birds|strong="H5775" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" air and|strong="H0776" for|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" wild|strong="H0776" animals|strong="H0929" of|strong="H0776" the|strong="H0853" earth|strong="H0776".
21 I|strong="H5414" will|strong="H4428" give|strong="H5414" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" and|strong="H3063" his|strong="H5414" leaders|strong="H8269" to|strong="H5921" their|strong="H5414" enemies|strong="H0341" and|strong="H3063" to|strong="H5921" everyone who|strong="H5315" wants to|strong="H5921" kill them|strong="H5414". I|strong="H5414" will|strong="H4428" give|strong="H5414" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" and|strong="H3063" his|strong="H5414" people|strong="H5315" to|strong="H5921" the|strong="H0853" army|strong="H2428" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894", even|strong="H0853" though that|strong="H5315" army|strong="H2428" has|strong="H4428" left|strong="H5414" Jerusalem.
22 But|strong="H0369" I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H3068" give|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" order|strong="H6680",’ says|strong="H5002" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068", ‘to|strong="H0413" bring|strong="H7725" the|strong="H0853" Babylonian army|strong="H3427" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" Jerusalem. That|strong="H3068" army|strong="H3427" will|strong="H3068" fight|strong="H3898" against|strong="H5921" Jerusalem. They|strong="H5921" will|strong="H3068" capture|strong="H3920" it|strong="H5414", set|strong="H5414" it|strong="H5414" on|strong="H5921" fire|strong="H0784", and|strong="H3068" burn|strong="H8313" it|strong="H5414" down|strong="H3427". And|strong="H3068" I|strong="H2005" will|strong="H3068" destroy|strong="H8313" the|strong="H0853" towns|strong="H5892" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" land of|strong="H3068" Judah|strong="H3063". They|strong="H5921" will|strong="H3068" become|strong="H7725" empty deserts. No|strong="H0369" one|strong="H0369" will|strong="H3068" live|strong="H3427" there|strong="H0369".’”