1This is the message Jeremiah received from Yahweh when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah the priest, to him.
2They said, "Please ask Yahweh what will happen to us, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe Yahweh will do one of his amazing acts for us and make him leave."
3Then Jeremiah told them, "Tell Zedekiah, '
4Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: "I will turn back the weapons of war you are holding, the ones you are using to fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans who are surrounding your city outside its walls. I will gather all of them into the middle of this city.
5I myself will fight against you with all my power, in anger, fury, and great rage.
6I will strike down everyone living in this city, both people and animals. They will die from a terrible plague.
7Afterward," says Yahweh, "I will hand over King Zedekiah of Judah, his officials, and the people—everyone in this city who survived the plague, sword, and famine—to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, to their enemies, and to those who want to kill them. He will kill them with the sword without mercy or pity."'"
8"You must tell these people that Yahweh says: 'I am giving you a choice between the path of life and the path of death.
9Whoever stays in this city will die by war, starvation, and plague. But whoever leaves and surrenders to the Chaldeans who are besieging you will live and escape with their life.
10For I have decided to bring disaster, not prosperity, upon this city,' says Yahweh. 'It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.'"
11"Now, concerning the palace of the king of Judah, hear Yahweh's word:
12Family of David, Yahweh says: 'Administer justice every morning. Rescue those who have been robbed from the hands of their oppressors. Otherwise, my anger will explode like fire and burn so fiercely that no one can put it out, because of the evil things you have done.
13'Look, I am against you, people living in the valley and on the rock of the plain,' says Yahweh. 'You who say, "Who would ever attack us?" or "Who would dare enter our homes?"
14I will punish you for the consequences of your actions,' says Yahweh. 'I will start a fire in your forest, and it will destroy everything around it.'"