1At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this message came from Yahweh:
2“Yahweh says: ‘Stand in the courtyard of Yahweh’s house and speak all the words I command you to tell all the cities of Judah who come to worship in Yahweh’s house. Don’t leave out a single word.
3Perhaps they will listen and each person will turn from their wicked way, so that I may change my mind about the disaster I plan to bring on them because of their evil actions.’
4You must tell them, “Yahweh says: ‘If you do not listen to me and follow my law that I have set before you,
5and if you do not listen to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I send to you, even though I sent them diligently, but you have not listened,
6then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse to all the nations on earth.’”
7The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in Yahweh’s house.
8When Jeremiah finished speaking everything Yahweh had commanded him to tell all the people, the priests, the prophets, and all the people grabbed him, saying, “You will certainly die!
9Why have you prophesied in Yahweh’s name, saying, ‘This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will become a desolate wasteland without inhabitants’?” All the people were crowded around Jeremiah in Yahweh’s house.
10When the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king’s palace to Yahweh’s house and sat at the entrance of the new gate of Yahweh’s house.
11Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “This man deserves to die, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”
12Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and to all the people, saying, “Yahweh sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words you have heard.
13Now therefore, change your ways and your actions, and obey the voice of Yahweh your God. Then Yahweh will change his mind about the disaster he has announced against you.
14As for me, I am in your hands. Do to me whatever you think is good and right.
15Just know for sure that if you kill me, you will be guilty of killing an innocent person, and the consequences will fall on yourselves, this city, and everyone who lives here. This is because Yahweh truly sent me to speak all these words to you.
16Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and prophets, "This man doesn't deserve to die, because he spoke to us in the name of Yahweh our God."
17Then some of the elders of the land stood up and spoke to everyone assembled, saying,
18"Micah from Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, 'Yahweh of Armies says: Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become ruins, and the temple mountain will be like a forested hill.'
19Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah kill him? No, Hezekiah feared Yahweh and pleaded with Yahweh for mercy. And Yahweh changed his mind about the disaster he had threatened to bring on them. If we kill this man, we would be bringing great harm upon ourselves!"
20There was also another man who prophesied in Yahweh's name, Uriah son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath Jearim. He prophesied against this city and this land just as Jeremiah did.
21When King Jehoiakim, along with all his powerful men and officials, heard Uriah's words, the king tried to kill him. But when Uriah heard about it, he was afraid, so he ran away and went to Egypt.
22King Jehoiakim then sent men to Egypt—Elnathan son of Akbor and some others with him—
23They brought Uriah out of Egypt and brought him back to King Jehoiakim, who had him killed with a sword and his dead body thrown into the common graveyard.
24But Ahikam son of Shaphan protected Jeremiah, preventing him from being handed over to the people to be put to death.