Jeremiah 21

Zedekiah Seeks a Word from the LORD

1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchijah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, saying, 2“Please inquire of the LORD for us, because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonders, so that he will withdraw from us.” 3Then Jeremiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah: 4Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Look, I am turning back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who are besieging you outside the wall, and I will gather them into the midst of this city. 5I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a strong arm, in anger and fury and great wrath. 6I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both human and animal. They will die by a great plague. 7Afterward, says the LORD, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, the people, and those who survive in this city from plague, sword, and famine into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their lives. He will strike them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them or have pity or compassion.”

The Way of Life and the Way of Death

8“And to this people you shall say: Thus says the LORD: Look, I set before you the way of life and the way of death. 9Whoever remains in this city will die by sword, famine, or plague; but whoever goes out and falls away to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live, and their life will be to them as plunder. 10For I have set my face against this city for harm and not for good, says the LORD. It shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.

To the House of David

11“And concerning the house of the king of Judah:

Hear the word of the LORD,
house of David. 12Thus says the LORD:

Execute justice in the morning,
and rescue the one who has been robbed
from the hand of the oppressor,
lest my fury go out like fire
and burn with no one to extinguish it
because of the evil of your deeds. 13Look, I am against you,
inhabitant of the valley,
rock of the plain,
says the LORD,
you who say,
‘Who can come down against us?
Who can enter our dwellings?’ 14I will attend to you
according to the fruit of your deeds,
says the LORD.
I will kindle a fire in her forest,
and it will consume
all that is around her.”