In the beginning of the reign
of aJehoiakim
the son
of Josiah
, king
of Judah
, this
word
came
from the LORD
, saying
,
"Thus says
the LORD
, ` aStand
in the court
of the LORD'S
house
, and speak
to all
the cities
of Judah
who have bcome
to worship
in the LORD'S
house
call
the words
that I have commanded
you to speak
to them. dDo not omit
a word
!
` aPerhaps they will listen
and everyone
will turn
from his evil
way
, that bI may repent
of the calamity
which
I am planning
to do
to them because
of the evil
of their deeds
.'
"And you will say to them, `Thus
says
the LORD
, " aIf
you will not listen
to Me, to bwalk
in My law
which
I have set
before
you,
to listen to the words
of aMy servants
the prophets
, whom
I have been sending
to you 1again
and again
, but you have not listened
;
then I will make this
house
like aShiloh
, and this
city
I will make
a bcurse
to all
the nations
of the earth
.""'
The apriests and the prophets
and all
the people
heard
Jeremiah
speaking
these
words
in the house
of the LORD
.
When Jeremiah finished
speaking
all
that the LORD
had commanded
him to speak
to all
the people
, the priests
and the prophets
and all
the people
seized
him, saying
, " aYou must
die
!
"Why have you prophesied
in the name
of the LORD
saying
, `This
house
will be like Shiloh
and this
city
will be adesolate
, without
inhabitant
'?" And ball
the people
gathered
about
Jeremiah
in the house
of the LORD
.
When the aofficials of Judah
heard
these
things
, they came
up from the king's
house
to the house
of the LORD
and sat
in the bentrance
of the New
Gate
of the LORD'S
house.
Then the priests and the prophets
aspoke
to the officials
and to all
the people
, saying
, "A bdeath
sentence
for this
man
! For he has prophesied
cagainst
this
city
as you have heard
in your hearing
."
Then Jeremiah spoke
to all
the officials
and to all
the people
, saying
, " aThe LORD
sent
me to prophesy
against
this
house
and against
this
city
all
the words
that you have heard
.
"Now therefore aamend
your ways
and your deeds
and obey
the voice
of the LORD
your God
; and the LORD
will 1change
His mind
about
the misfortune
which
He has pronounced
against
you.
"But as for me, behold, aI am in your hands
; do
with me as is good
and right
in your sight
.
"Only know
for certain
that if
you put
me to death
, you will bring
ainnocent
blood
on yourselves, and on this
city
and on its inhabitants
; for truly
the LORD
has sent
me to you to speak
all
these
words
in your hearing
."
Then the officials and all
the people
asaid
to the priests
and to the prophets
, "No
bdeath
sentence
for this
man
! For he has spoken
to us in the name
of the LORD
our God
."
Then asome of the elders
of the land
rose
up and spoke
to all
the assembly
of the people
, saying
,
" 1 aMicah of Moresheth
prophesied
in the days
of Hezekiah
king
of Judah
; and he spoke
to all
the people
of Judah
, saying
, `Thus
the LORD
of hosts
has said
, " bZion
will be plowed
as a field
, And Jerusalem
will become
ruins
, And the cmountain
of the house
as the 2high
places
of a forest
."'
"Did Hezekiah king
of Judah
and all
Judah
put
him to death
? Did he not afear
the LORD
and entreat
the favor
of the LORD
, and bthe LORD
1changed
His mind
about
the misfortune
which
He had pronounced
against
them? But we are ccommitting
a great
evil
against
ourselves
."
Indeed, there was also
a man
who prophesied
in the name
of the LORD
, Uriah
the son
of Shemaiah
from aKiriath-jearim
; and he prophesied
against
this
city
and against
this
land
words
similar to all
those of Jeremiah
.
When King Jehoiakim
and all
his mighty
men
and all
the officials
heard
his words
, then the aking
sought
to put
him to death
; but Uriah
heard
it, and he was afraid
and bfled
and went
to Egypt
.
Then King Jehoiakim
sent
men
to Egypt
: aElnathan
the son
of Achbor
and certain men
with him went into Egypt
.
And they brought Uriah
from Egypt
and led
him to King
Jehoiakim
, who aslew
him with a sword
and cast
his dead
body
into the 1burial
place
of the 2common
people
.
But the hand of aAhikam
the son
of Shaphan
was with Jeremiah
, so that he was bnot given
into the hands
of the people
to put
him to death
.