1 Some|strong="H3605" of|strong="H1121" the|strong="H3605" royal officials heard|strong="H8085" what|strong="H0834" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" was|strong="H0834" saying|strong="H0559". They|strong="H0834" were|strong="H0834" Shephatiah|strong="H8203" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Mattan|strong="H4977", Gedaliah|strong="H1436" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Pashhur|strong="H6583", Jehucal|strong="H3116" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Shelemiah|strong="H8018", and|strong="H1121" Pashhur|strong="H6583" son|strong="H1121" of|strong="H1121" Malkijah|strong="H4441". Jeremiah|strong="H3414" was|strong="H0834" telling|strong="H1696" all|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" this|strong="H1697" message|strong="H1697":
2 “This|strong="H2063" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559": ‘Everyone who|strong="H3068" stays|strong="H3427" in|strong="H3427" Jerusalem will|strong="H3068" die|strong="H4191" from|strong="H3318" war|strong="H2719", hunger|strong="H7458", or|strong="H2719" disease. But|strong="H1961" everyone who|strong="H3068" surrenders to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" army|strong="H3427" of|strong="H3068" Babylon will|strong="H3068" live|strong="H3427" and|strong="H3068" escape|strong="H3318" with|strong="H0413" their|strong="H3068" lives|strong="H5315".’
3 And|strong="H3068" this|strong="H2063" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" says|strong="H0559": ‘This|strong="H2063" city|strong="H5892" of|strong="H4428" Jerusalem will|strong="H3068" surely|strong="H5414" be|strong="H3027" given|strong="H5414" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" army|strong="H2428" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894". He|strong="H3068" will|strong="H3068" capture|strong="H3920" this|strong="H2063" city|strong="H5892".’”
4 Then|strong="H1696" the|strong="H3605" royal|strong="H4428" officials|strong="H8269" who|strong="H3605" heard|strong="H3588" what|strong="H1697" Jeremiah|strong="H0413" was|strong="H0369" telling|strong="H1696" the|strong="H3605" people|strong="H5971" went|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah. They|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428", “Jeremiah|strong="H0413" should|strong="H0376" be|strong="H4191" put|strong="H4191" to|strong="H0413" death|strong="H4191". He|strong="H1931" is|strong="H0369" discouraging the|strong="H3605" soldiers|strong="H0376" who|strong="H3605" are|strong="H0428" still|strong="H0559" in|strong="H5921" the|strong="H3605" city|strong="H5892" and|strong="H3027" everyone|strong="H3605" else|strong="H3027" by|strong="H5921" what|strong="H1697" he|strong="H1931" is|strong="H0369" saying|strong="H0559". He|strong="H1931" is|strong="H0369" not|strong="H0369" looking for|strong="H3588" peace|strong="H7965"; he|strong="H1931" is|strong="H0369" just|strong="H1697" trying to|strong="H0413" cause|strong="H1697" trouble|strong="H7451".”
5 So|strong="H3588" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0559" the|strong="H0559" officials, “Jeremiah is|strong="H0369" in|strong="H4428" your|strong="H3588" control|strong="H3027". I|strong="H3588" cannot|strong="H3201" do|strong="H3201" anything|strong="H1697" to|strong="H0559" stop you|strong="H3588".”
6 So|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" officials|strong="H3947" took|strong="H3947" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" and|strong="H1121" put|strong="H7971" him|strong="H0413" into|strong="H0413" Malkijah’s cistern|strong="H0953". Malkijah|strong="H4441" was|strong="H0369" the|strong="H0853" king’s son|strong="H1121". The|strong="H0853" cistern|strong="H0953" was|strong="H0369" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" Temple yard where|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" king’s guard|strong="H4307" stayed. They|strong="H0834" used|strong="H3947" ropes|strong="H2256" to|strong="H0413" lower Jeremiah|strong="H3414" into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" cistern|strong="H0953". The|strong="H0853" cistern|strong="H0953" didn’t have|strong="H0834" any|strong="H0369" water|strong="H4325" in|strong="H0413" it|strong="H0518", only|strong="H0518" mud|strong="H2916". And|strong="H1121" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" sank|strong="H2883" down|strong="H7993" into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" mud|strong="H2916".
7 But|strong="H3588" a|strong="H3588" man|strong="H0376" named Ebed Melech heard|strong="H8085" that|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0853" officials|strong="H5631" had|strong="H4428" put|strong="H5414" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" into|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" cistern|strong="H0953". Ebed Melech was|strong="H1931" from|strong="H0376" Ethiopia|strong="H3569", and|strong="H4428" he|strong="H1931" was|strong="H1931" a|strong="H3588" eunuch|strong="H5631" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004". King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah was|strong="H1931" sitting|strong="H3427" at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" Benjamin|strong="H1144" Gate|strong="H8179", so|strong="H5414" Ebed Melech left|strong="H5414" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004" and|strong="H4428" went|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" talk to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" at|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" gate|strong="H8179".
10 Then|strong="H2088" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah gave|strong="H6680" a|strong="H3947" command|strong="H6680" to|strong="H0559" Ebed Melech, the|strong="H0853" Ethiopian|strong="H3569". This|strong="H2088" was|strong="H0376" the|strong="H0853" command|strong="H6680": “Ebed Melech, take|strong="H3947" three|strong="H7970" men|strong="H0376" from|strong="H4480" the|strong="H0853" palace with|strong="H0376" you|strong="H6680", and|strong="H3027" go|strong="H5927" get|strong="H3947" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" out|strong="H4480" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" cistern|strong="H0953" before|strong="H2962" he|strong="H4480" dies|strong="H4191".”
11 So|strong="H3947" Ebed Melech took|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0376" with|strong="H0413" him|strong="H0413". But|strong="H0376" first he|strong="H8033" went|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" a|strong="H3947" room|strong="H1004" under|strong="H8478" the|strong="H0853" storeroom|strong="H0214" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" king’s|strong="H4428" palace|strong="H1004". He|strong="H8033" took|strong="H3947" some|strong="H0376" old rags|strong="H4418" and|strong="H0935" worn-out|strong="H1094" clothes|strong="H5499" from|strong="H0935" that|strong="H3027" room|strong="H1004". Then|strong="H3947" he|strong="H8033" let|strong="H7971" the|strong="H0853" rags|strong="H4418" down|strong="H7971" with|strong="H0413" some|strong="H0376" ropes|strong="H2256" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" in|strong="H0935" the|strong="H0853" cistern|strong="H0953".
12 Ebed Melech, the|strong="H0559" Ethiopian|strong="H3569", said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414", “Put|strong="H7760" these|strong="H7760" old rags|strong="H4418" and|strong="H3027" worn-out|strong="H1094" clothes|strong="H5499" under|strong="H8478" your|strong="H7760" arms|strong="H3027". When|strong="H6213" we|strong="H4994" pull you|strong="H7760" out|strong="H0413", these|strong="H7760" rags|strong="H4418" will|strong="H3027" pad your|strong="H7760" underarms. Then|strong="H3651" the|strong="H0559" ropes|strong="H2256" will|strong="H3027" not hurt you|strong="H7760".” So|strong="H3651" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" did|strong="H6213" as|strong="H3651" Ebed Melech said|strong="H0559".
13 The|strong="H0853" men pulled|strong="H4900" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" up|strong="H5927" with|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" ropes|strong="H2256" and|strong="H3427" lifted|strong="H5927" him|strong="H0853" out|strong="H4480" of|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" cistern|strong="H0953". And|strong="H3427" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" stayed|strong="H3427" under|strong="H4480" guard|strong="H4307" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0853" Temple yard.
14 Then|strong="H3947" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" sent|strong="H7971" someone to|strong="H0413" get|strong="H3947" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" the|strong="H0853" prophet|strong="H5030". He|strong="H0834" had|strong="H3068" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" brought|strong="H3947" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" third|strong="H7992" entrance|strong="H3996" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" Temple|strong="H1004" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068". Then|strong="H3947" the|strong="H0853" king|strong="H4428" said|strong="H0559", “Jeremiah|strong="H3414", I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" going to|strong="H0413" ask|strong="H7592" you|strong="H0834" something|strong="H1697". Don’t|strong="H0408" hide|strong="H3582" anything|strong="H1697" from|strong="H4480" me|strong="H0413", but|strong="H3947" tell|strong="H0559" me|strong="H0413" everything|strong="H0834" honestly.”
15 Jeremiah|strong="H3414" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Zedekiah|strong="H6667", “If|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" give|strong="H3289" you|strong="H3588" an|strong="H3588" answer|strong="H0559", you|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3808" probably kill|strong="H4191" me|strong="H0413". And|strong="H8085" even|strong="H3588" if|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" give|strong="H3289" you|strong="H3588" advice|strong="H3289", you|strong="H3588" will|strong="H3808" not|strong="H3808" listen|strong="H8085" to|strong="H0413" me|strong="H0413".”
16 But|strong="H0518" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" secretly swore|strong="H7650" an|strong="H5414" oath|strong="H7650" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414". Zedekiah|strong="H6667" said|strong="H0559", “As|strong="H0834" surely|strong="H4191" as|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" LORD|strong="H3068" lives|strong="H5315", who|strong="H0834" gives|strong="H5414" us|strong="H5414" breath|strong="H5315" and|strong="H3068" life|strong="H5315", I|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H0518" kill|strong="H4191" you|strong="H0834", Jeremiah|strong="H3414". And|strong="H3068" I|strong="H0834" promise|strong="H7650" not|strong="H0518" to|strong="H0413" give|strong="H5414" you|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" officials who|strong="H0834" want|strong="H1245" to|strong="H0413" kill|strong="H4191" you|strong="H0834".”
17 Then|strong="H3318" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667", “The|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" God|strong="H0430" All-Powerful is|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0559" God|strong="H0430" of|strong="H4428" Israel|strong="H3478". This|strong="H2063" is|strong="H3068" what|strong="H3541" he|strong="H0518" says|strong="H0559", ‘If|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0859" surrender|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" officials|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894", your|strong="H3068" life|strong="H5315" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3808" saved, and|strong="H3068" Jerusalem will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" be|strong="H3808" burned|strong="H8313" down|strong="H8313". And|strong="H3068" you|strong="H0859" and|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" family|strong="H1004" will|strong="H3068" live|strong="H2421".
18 But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0859" refuse|strong="H3808" to|strong="H0413" surrender|strong="H3318", Jerusalem will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H3808" given|strong="H5414" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0413" Babylonian|strong="H3778" army. They|strong="H0518" will|strong="H4428" burn|strong="H8313" Jerusalem down|strong="H5414", and|strong="H3027" you|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" not|strong="H3808" escape|strong="H4422" from|strong="H3318" them|strong="H0413".’”
19 But|strong="H4428" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414", “But|strong="H4428" I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" afraid of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" men|strong="H0559" of|strong="H4428" Judah who|strong="H0834" have|strong="H0834" already gone|strong="H5307" over|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0853" side|strong="H3027" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H0853" Babylonian|strong="H3778" army. I|strong="H0589" am|strong="H0589" afraid that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H0853" soldiers will|strong="H0834" give|strong="H5414" me|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" those|strong="H0834" men|strong="H0559", and|strong="H3027" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" treat me|strong="H0413" badly and|strong="H3027" hurt me|strong="H0413".”
20 But|strong="H3808" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" answered|strong="H0559", “The|strong="H0559" soldiers will|strong="H3068" not|strong="H3808" give|strong="H5414" you|strong="H0834" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" men|strong="H0559" of|strong="H3068" Judah. King Zedekiah, obey|strong="H8085" the|strong="H0559" LORD|strong="H3068" by|strong="H0413" doing|strong="H3190" what|strong="H0834" I|strong="H0589" tell|strong="H0559" you|strong="H0834". Then|strong="H1696" things|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" go|strong="H3190" well|strong="H3190" for|strong="H0413" you|strong="H0834", and|strong="H3068" your|strong="H3068" life|strong="H5315" will|strong="H3068" be|strong="H3808" saved.
21 But|strong="H0518" if|strong="H0518" you|strong="H0859" refuse|strong="H3986" to|strong="H3068" surrender|strong="H3318" to|strong="H3068" the|strong="H0834" army of|strong="H3068" Babylon, the|strong="H0834" LORD|strong="H3068" has|strong="H3068" shown|strong="H7200" me|strong="H7200" what|strong="H0834" will|strong="H3068" happen|strong="H1697". This|strong="H2088" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" he|strong="H0834" has|strong="H3068" told|strong="H1697" me|strong="H7200":
22 All|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" women|strong="H0802" who|strong="H0834" are|strong="H0834" left|strong="H7604" in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" house|strong="H1004" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Judah|strong="H3063" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H0376" brought|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318". They|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" be|strong="H0376" brought|strong="H3318" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" important officials|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H4428" Babylon|strong="H0894". Your|strong="H3605" women|strong="H0802" will|strong="H0834" make|strong="H7272" fun of|strong="H4428" you|strong="H0834" with|strong="H0413" a|strong="H0834" song. This|strong="H0834" is|strong="H0834" what|strong="H0834" they|strong="H0834" will|strong="H0834" say|strong="H0559":
23 “All|strong="H3605" your|strong="H3605" wives|strong="H0802" and|strong="H1121" children|strong="H1121" will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H3808" brought|strong="H3318" out|strong="H3318". They|strong="H3588" will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H3808" given|strong="H3027" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H3605" Babylonian|strong="H3778" army. You|strong="H0859" yourself|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" not|strong="H3808" escape|strong="H4422" from|strong="H3318" the|strong="H3605" army of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894". You|strong="H0859" will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H3808" captured|strong="H8610" by|strong="H3027" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" of|strong="H1121" Babylon|strong="H0894", and|strong="H1121" Jerusalem will|strong="H4428" be|strong="H3808" burned|strong="H8313" down|strong="H8313".”
24 Then|strong="H0559" Zedekiah|strong="H6667" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414", “Don’t|strong="H0408" tell|strong="H0559" anyone|strong="H0376" that|strong="H3045" I|strong="H1697" have|strong="H3045" been|strong="H3808" talking to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3045". If|strong="H0376" you|strong="H3045" do|strong="H0408", you|strong="H3045" might die|strong="H4191".
25 If|strong="H3588" the|strong="H0559" officials|strong="H8269" find out|strong="H4480" that|strong="H3588" I|strong="H3588" talked|strong="H1696" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3588", they|strong="H3588" will|strong="H4428" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3588" and|strong="H0935" say|strong="H0559", ‘Jeremiah|strong="H0413", tell|strong="H5046" us|strong="H4994" what|strong="H4100" you|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" King|strong="H4428" Zedekiah and|strong="H0935" what|strong="H4100" he|strong="H3588" said|strong="H0559" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H3588". Be|strong="H4191" honest with|strong="H0854" us|strong="H4994", and|strong="H0935" tell|strong="H5046" us|strong="H4994" everything, or|strong="H3808" we|strong="H3588" will|strong="H4428" kill|strong="H4191" you|strong="H3588".’
26 If they|strong="H8033" say|strong="H0559" this|strong="H1115" to|strong="H0413" you|strong="H6440", tell|strong="H0559" them|strong="H0413", ‘I|strong="H0589" was|strong="H4428" begging the|strong="H0559" king|strong="H4428" not|strong="H1115" to|strong="H0413" send me|strong="H0413" back|strong="H7725" to|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" cell in|strong="H0413" the|strong="H0559" dungeon under|strong="H6440" Jonathan’s|strong="H3083" house|strong="H1004". If I|strong="H0589" were|strong="H6440" to|strong="H0413" go|strong="H7725" back|strong="H7725" there|strong="H8033", I|strong="H0589" would|strong="H0559" die|strong="H4191".’”
27 It|strong="H3588" happened|strong="H1697" that|strong="H0834" the|strong="H3605" royal|strong="H4428" officials|strong="H8269" of|strong="H4428" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" did|strong="H0834" come|strong="H0935" to|strong="H0413" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" to|strong="H0413" question|strong="H1697" him|strong="H0413". So|strong="H4480" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" told|strong="H5046" them|strong="H0413" everything|strong="H3605" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" had|strong="H0834" ordered|strong="H6680" him|strong="H0413" to|strong="H0413" say|strong="H1697". Then|strong="H0853" they|strong="H1992" left|strong="H0935" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" alone|strong="H4480". No|strong="H3808" one|strong="H3605" had|strong="H0834" heard|strong="H8085" what|strong="H0834" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" and|strong="H0935" the|strong="H3605" king|strong="H4428" had|strong="H0834" talked about|strong="H0413".
28 So|strong="H1961" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" stayed|strong="H3427" under|strong="H3389" guard|strong="H4307" in|strong="H3427" the|strong="H0834" Temple yard until|strong="H5704" the|strong="H0834" day|strong="H3117" Jerusalem|strong="H3389" was|strong="H1961" captured|strong="H3920".