Jeremiah in the Bible

Meaning: exaltation of the Lord

Exact Match

Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he began to reign; and he reigned three months in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

Verse ConceptsTwo To Four MonthsAge When CrownedMothers Of Kings

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to reign; and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

Verse ConceptsTen To Fourteen YearsAge When CrownedMothers Of Kings

And these were the heads of their fathers' houses: Epher, and Jishi, and Eliel, and Azriel, and Jeremiah, and Hodaviah, and Jahdiel, mighty men of valour, famous men, heads of their fathers' houses.

and Ishmaiah, the Gibeonite, a hero among the thirty, and over the thirty, - and Jeremiah and Jahaziel, and Johanan, and Jozabad, the Gederathite;

Verse ConceptsWarriors

Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. And all the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations to this day. And they made them an ordinance in Israel; behold, they are also written in the Lamentations.

Verse ConceptsBereavement, Expression OfLamentingSongsTraditionsWritingBooksMournersanniversary

He did evil in the sight of the Lord his God; he did not humble himself before Jeremiah the prophet who spoke for the Lord.

Verse ConceptsWord Of God

to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept sabbath until seventy years were complete.

Verse ConceptsProphecy, Fulfilment Of OtSeventy70 To 80 Years

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah—the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying,

Verse ConceptsHuman WillHeart, Human

Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he sent a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying:

Verse ConceptsHuman WillProclamationsImpulsesWords To Individuals FulfilledThe First Temple

Now these are the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

And in the days of Joiakim were priests, the chief of the fathers: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;

Verse ConceptsHeads Of Priestly HouseholdsTimes Of People

The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, [one] of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin,

Verse ConceptsPriesthood, In Ot

The word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Jeremiah, what do you see?” And I said, “I see the branch of an almond tree.”

Verse ConceptsAlmondsBranches, Types OfAlmond TreesLooking And Seeingpot

But you [Jeremiah], gird up your loins [in preparation]! Get up and tell them all which I command you. Do not be distraught and break down at the sight of their [hostile] faces, or I will bewilder you before them and allow you to be overcome.

Verse ConceptsReadinessReady To SpeakSpeaking The Word God Gives

When Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord said to me, "Jeremiah, you have no doubt seen what wayward Israel has done. You have seen how she went up to every high hill and under every green tree to give herself like a prostitute to other gods.

Verse ConceptsLicentiousnessSpiritual HarlotryHarlotsWantonnessSacrificing On The High PlacesTimes Of PeopleWorship At Trees


“For My people are stupid and foolish,” [says the Lord to Jeremiah];
“They do not know Me;
They are foolish children
And have no understanding.
They are shrewd [enough] to do evil,
But they do not know [how] to do good.”

Verse ConceptsFools, Characteristics OfFolly, Examples OfChildishnessGod, Revelation OfGood WorksKnowing God, Effects OfSkillWisdom, Human ImportanceDullnessNot Knowing HowFoolishness Of MenSkilled PeopleWorldly WisdomGood Children


Therefore, thus says the Lord God of hosts,
“Because you [people] have spoken this word,
Behold, I am making My words a fire in your mouth [Jeremiah]
And this people wood, and My words will consume them.

Verse ConceptsSoldiersFire Of God's WordSpeaking The Word God GivesspeakingThe Power Of Wordspeople

"So then, Jeremiah, when your people ask, 'Why has the Lord our God done all this to us?' tell them, 'It is because you rejected me and served foreign gods in your own land. So you must serve foreigners in a land that does not belong to you.'

Verse ConceptsForeignersForsaking GodRenunciationUnfaithfulness, To GodIdolatry Consists OfSuffering From ForeignersNo Earthly InheritanceServing GroupsWhy Does God Do This?


To whom shall I (Jeremiah) speak and give warning
That they may hear?
Behold, their ears are closed [absolutely deaf to God]
And they cannot listen.
Behold, the word of the Lord has become a reprimand and an object of scorn to them;
They have no delight in it.

Verse ConceptsConvincingDeafnessHearingIndifferenceOffencePleasureRejection Of GodRejection Of God's WordWord Of GodSpiritual DeafnessRejecting God's WordRefusing To HearWitnessing


O daughter of my people [says Jeremiah],
Clothe yourself in sackcloth and wallow in ashes;
Mourn [aloud] as for an only son,
A most bitter cry [of sorrow and regret],
For suddenly the destroyer will come upon us [on both prophet and people].

Verse ConceptsAshesLamentingSuddenlyThose Who DestroyAshes Of HumiliationOthers Mourning


“I [the Lord] have set you as an assayer [O Jeremiah] and as a tester [of the ore] of My people,
That you may know and analyze their acts.”

Verse ConceptsLifestyles

And as for you (Jeremiah), make no prayers for this people, send up no cry or prayer for them, make no request for them to me: for I will not give ear.

Verse ConceptsPrayer, For OthersReprobatesNot PrayingPraying For OthersPrayingsupplicationpetition

“Moreover [Jeremiah], you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord,

“Do men fall and not rise up again?
Does one turn away [from God] and not repent and return [to Him]?

Verse ConceptsThe Insecurity Of The Wicked


Oh, that I (Jeremiah) could find comfort from my sorrow [for my grief is beyond healing],
My heart is sick and faint within me!

Verse ConceptsGod, Titles And Names OfSympathyUnhappinessLosing CourageHealing A Broken HeartHealing And Comfort


For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I (Jeremiah) am broken;
I mourn, anxiety has gripped me.

Verse ConceptsBeing Earnest For IsraeldiscouragementSorrowI Mourn CatastropheHealing A Broken HeartHurtA Broken Hearthurting


“Woe to me because of my [spiritual] brokenness!” [says Jeremiah, speaking for the nation.]
“My wound is incurable.”
But I said, “Surely this sickness and suffering and grief are mine,
And I must bear it.”

Verse ConceptsInjurySorrowWoeWoundsEnduringNo HealingMental IllnessSickness

"Jeremiah, don't pray for this people and don't cry or pray for them. I won't listen when they cry out to me because of their disaster.

Verse ConceptsCalling upon GodPrayer, For OthersNot PrayingPraying For OthersGetting Through Hard TimesPrayingListening To Godpeoplepetition

Before this I had been like a docile lamb ready to be led to the slaughter. I did not know they were making plans to kill me. I did not know they were saying, "Let's destroy the tree along with its fruit! Let's remove Jeremiah from the world of the living so people will not even be reminded of him any more."

Verse ConceptsLambsBeing Killed Like An AnimalForgetting PeopleNames Blotted OutAttempting To Kill Specific PeopleKilled Like An Animal


[The Lord rebukes Jeremiah for his impatience, saying] “If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out,
Then how can you compete with horses?
If you fall down in a land of peace [where you feel secure],
Then how will you do [among the lions] in the [flooded] thicket beside the Jordan?

Verse ConceptsFalse ConfidenceRunningPeople StumblingThe Region Of JordanTired In ActivityRace


Listen and pay close attention, do not be haughty and overconfident,
For the Lord has spoken [says Jeremiah].

Verse ConceptsPride, Results InArrogance, Rejection OfDo Not Be Proud


“O Lord, though our many sins testify against us” [prays Jeremiah],
“Act now [for us and] for Your name’s sake [so that the faithless may witness Your faithfulness]!
For our backslidings are countless;
We have sinned against You.

Verse ConceptsWitness Against OneselfWe Have SinnedBackslidingtestifying

"Tell these people this, Jeremiah: 'My eyes overflow with tears day and night without ceasing. For my people, my dear children, have suffered a crushing blow. They have suffered a serious wound.

Verse ConceptsdaughtersAffliction Day And NightNightI Mourn Catastrophe


The Lord said, “Surely [it will go well for Judah’s obedient remnant for] I will set you free for good purposes;
Surely [Jeremiah] I will [intercede for you with the enemy and I will] cause the enemy to plead with you [for help]
In a time of disaster and a time of distress.

Verse ConceptsProtection From EnemiesGetting Through Hard Times


Therefore, thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah],
“If you repent [and give up this mistaken attitude of despair and self-pity], then I will restore you [to a state of inner peace]
So that you may stand before Me [as My obedient representative];
And if you separate the precious from the worthless [examining yourself and cleansing your heart from unwarranted doubt concerning My faithfulness],
You will become My spokesman.
Let the people turn to you [and learn to value My values]—
But you, you must not turn to them [with regard for their idolatry and wickedness].

Verse ConceptsReinstatementRevival, PersonalReturning To GodTurning RoundGood WordsRestoring SinnersSpeaking As From God

And you [Jeremiah] shall not go into a house of feasting to sit with them to eat and drink.”

Verse ConceptsSitting


[Then said Jeremiah] “O Lord, my Strength and my Stronghold,
And my Refuge in the day of distress and need,
The nations will come to You
From the ends of the earth and say,
‘Our fathers have inherited nothing but lies and illusion,
[Worthless] things in which there is no benefit!’

Verse ConceptsFutilityAfflicted SaintsConversion, examples ofFalse GodsGod, The RockIdolatry, Objections ToUseless ThingsMission, Of IsraelRefugeesGod Being Our RefugeVanityGod Our StrengthThe Gospel To The NationsFamily Strength

There are times, Jeremiah, when I threaten to uproot, tear down, and destroy a nation or kingdom.

Verse ConceptsPlucking Out

Then some people said, "Come on! Let us consider how to deal with Jeremiah! There will still be priests to instruct us, wise men to give us advice, and prophets to declare God's word. Come on! Let's bring charges against him and get rid of him! Then we will not need to pay attention to anything he says."

Verse ConceptsAdvice, Rejecting Good AdviceadvisersPlansStudying The LawThe Work Of The WiseMan's CounselThe TongueWisdom And GuidanceBeing LostGod's Plan For Usrumors

The Lord told Jeremiah, "Go and buy a clay jar from a potter. Take with you some of the leaders of the people and some of the leaders of the priests.

Verse Conceptselders, as community leadersPotterPottery

Tell them the Lord who rules over all says, 'I will do just as Jeremiah has done. I will smash this nation and this city as though it were a potter's vessel which is broken beyond repair. The dead will be buried here in Topheth until there is no more room to bury them.'

Verse ConceptsDestruction Of JerusalemInadequate BurialsRepairingBurying places

Then Jeremiah left Topheth where the Lord had sent him to give that prophecy. He went to the Lord's temple and stood in its courtyard and called out to all the people.

Now Pashhur son of Immer heard Jeremiah prophesy these things. He was the priest who was chief of security in the Lord's temple.

Verse ConceptsOverseers

When he heard Jeremiah's prophecy, he had the prophet flogged. Then he put him in the stocks which were at the Upper Gate of Benjamin in the Lord's temple.

Verse ConceptsFloggingGatesNamed Gates

But the next day Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks. When he did, Jeremiah said to him, "The Lord's name for you is not 'Pashhur' but 'Terror is Everywhere.'

Verse ConceptsPeople Renaming PeopleFear Will Cometerrorism


[Jeremiah said,] O Lord, You have persuaded me and I was deceived;
You are stronger than I and You have prevailed.
I am a laughingstock all day long;
Everyone mocks me.

Verse ConceptsAbuse, To God's PeopleCruelty, examples ofMockeryPainRidicule, Objects OfDerisionAmbivalenceGod DeceivingDeception

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. Zedekiah sent them to Jeremiah to ask,

“And to this people you (Jeremiah) shall also say, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.

Verse ConceptsHell, As Incentive To ActionSpiritually DeadLife And DeathLife After Death


Concerning the prophets:
My heart [says Jeremiah] is broken within me,
All my bones shake;
I have become like a drunken man,
A man whom wine has overcome,
Because of the Lord
And because of His holy words [declared against unfaithful leaders].

Verse ConceptsBrokennessAlcoholdefeatWineIndividuals TremblingBroken Heartsheartbroken

The Lord said to me, "Jeremiah, when one of these people, or a prophet, or a priest asks you, 'What burdensome message do you have from the Lord?' Tell them, 'You are the burden, and I will cast you away. I, the Lord, affirm it!

So I, Jeremiah, tell you, "Each of you people should say to his friend or his relative, 'How did the Lord answer? Or what did the Lord say?'

Verse ConceptsGod Answered

The Lord said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" I answered, "I see figs. The good ones look very good. But the bad ones look very bad, so bad that they cannot be eaten."

Verse ConceptsLooking And Seeing

In the fourth year that Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah. (That was the same as the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon.)

Verse ConceptsKings of judah

So the prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and to all the people who were living in Jerusalem.

I will bring on that land everything that I said I would. I will bring on it everything that is written in this book. I will bring on it everything that Jeremiah has prophesied against all the nations.

Verse ConceptsProphecy, Methods Of OtBooks Of Prophecy

Then I (Jeremiah) took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom the Lord had sent me drink it:

Verse ConceptsBeverages, FigurativeGod Making Drunk

"Then, Jeremiah, make the following prophecy against them: 'Like a lion about to attack, the Lord will roar from the heights of heaven; from his holy dwelling on high he will roar loudly. He will roar mightily against his land. He will shout in triumph like those stomping juice from the grapes against all those who live on the earth.

Verse ConceptsGrapesThunderWord Of GodTreading GrapesShout Of GodThunder Expressing God's Judgment

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah at the beginning of the reign of Josiah's son, King Jehoiakim of Judah.

“Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand in the court of the Lord’s house [Jeremiah], and speak to all [the people of] the cities of Judah who have come to worship in the Lord’s house all the words that I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not omit a word!

Verse ConceptsCourtyardCommands, in OTScripture, Sufficiency OfSubtracting From God

The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah say these things in the Lord's temple.

Verse ConceptsWicked Prophets

Jeremiah had just barely finished saying all the Lord had commanded him to say to all the people. All at once some of the priests, the prophets, and the people grabbed him and shouted, "You deserve to die!

Verse ConceptsFalse Accusations, Examples OfPersecution, Nature OfLast WordsWicked ProphetsKilling Will Happen

How dare you claim the Lord's authority to prophesy such things! How dare you claim his authority to prophesy that this temple will become like Shiloh and that this city will become an uninhabited ruin!" Then all the people crowded around Jeremiah.

Verse ConceptsEmpty CitiesThe House Of God At Shiloh

And when all the people were gathered about Jeremiah in the house of the LORD, the princes of Judah heard of this rumor, and they came soon out of the king's Palace into the house of the LORD, and sat them down before the new door of the LORD.

Verse ConceptsSitting In The GatewayNamed Gates

Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes, and unto all the people, saying, - Worthy of death, is this man, because he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your own ears, Then spake Jeremiah, unto all the princes and unto all the people, saying, -

Verse ConceptsDeath Penalty For Heresy

Then Jeremiah made his defense before all the officials and all the people. "The Lord sent me to prophesy everything you have heard me say against this temple and against this city.

Verse ConceptsGod Sending Prophets

Now there was another man who prophesied as the Lord's representative against this city and this land just as Jeremiah did. His name was Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim.

Verse ConceptsNamed Prophets Of The Lord

However, Ahikam son of Shaphan used his influence to keep Jeremiah from being handed over and executed by the people.

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah early in the reign of Josiah's son, King Zedekiah of Judah.

Verse ConceptsYears Of Zedekiah

The following events occurred in that same year, early in the reign of King Zedekiah of Judah. To be more precise, it was the fifth month of the fourth year of his reign. The prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, spoke to Jeremiah in the Lord's temple in the presence of the priests and all the people.

Verse ConceptsMonth 5Years Of ZedekiahNamed Prophets Of The Lord

Then the prophet Jeremiah responded to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the Lord's temple.

Verse ConceptsStandingNamed Prophets Of The Lord

The prophet Jeremiah said, "Amen! May the Lord do all this! May the Lord make your prophecy come true! May he bring back to this place from Babylon all the valuable articles taken from the Lord's temple and the people who were carried into exile.

Verse ConceptsAmen

Then he spoke up in the presence of all the people. "The Lord says, 'In the same way I will break the yoke of servitude of all the nations to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon before two years are over.'" After he heard this, the prophet Jeremiah departed and went on his way.

Verse ConceptsTwo Years

But shortly after the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah.

The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles Nebuchadnezzar had carried off from Jerusalem to Babylon. It was addressed to the elders who were left among the exiles, to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the other people who were exiled in Babylon.

Verse ConceptsBabylon, Israel Exiled ToLettersProphecy, Methods Of Ot

Which letter Elasah the son of Shaphan and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah did bear, whom Zedekiah the king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon. These were the words of Jeremiah's letter:

The Lord told Jeremiah, "Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite

You should have reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth who is pretending to be a prophet among you!

At this I (Jeremiah) awoke and looked, and my [trancelike] sleep was sweet [in the assurance it gave] to me.

Verse ConceptsSleep, PhysicalSleeping Peacefullyawakening

In the tenth year that Zedekiah was ruling over Judah the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. That was the same as the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar.

Verse ConceptsYears Of Zedekiah

Now at that time, the armies of the king of Babylon were besieging Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse attached to the royal palace of Judah.

Verse ConceptsCourtyardPrisonersActual Attacks On Jerusalem

For King Zedekiah had confined Jeremiah there after he had reproved him for prophesying as he did. He had asked Jeremiah, "Why do you keep prophesying these things? Why do you keep saying that the Lord says, 'I will hand this city over to the king of Babylon? I will let him capture it.

Verse ConceptsCapturing Cities

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse.

Verse ConceptsPrisonersShutting SecurelySpeaking Again

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah while King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the towns around it with a large army. This army consisted of troops from his own army and from the kingdoms and peoples of the lands under his dominion.

Verse ConceptsKingdomsActual Attacks On Jerusalem

Thematic Bible



Sadness is mine! Why did my mother bring me into the world? I have to quarrel and argue with everyone in the whole earth. I have not lent any money or borrowed any; yet everyone curses me.

Too bad for me! For I am like the gathered summer fruit, as the grape gleanings of the vintage. There is no cluster to eat. I desire the first ripe fig.


I did not spend my time with other people laughing and having a good time. In obedience to your orders I stayed by myself and was filled with anger.


Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations. I, Jeremiah, said: Lord Jehovah, I do not know how to speak. I am only a child! Jehovah said to me: 'Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go wherever I send you. You must say whatever I command you to say.


Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations. I, Jeremiah, said: Lord Jehovah, I do not know how to speak. I am only a child! Jehovah said to me: 'Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go wherever I send you. You must say whatever I command you to say.


I have not hurried away from being your shepherd. I have not longed for the day of destruction. You know what I used to say.

Shortly after Jehoiakim son of Josiah became king of Judah, Jehovah said to me: Stand in the court of the Temple and proclaim all I have commanded you to say to the people who come from the towns of Judah to worship there. Do not omit anything. Perhaps the people will listen and give up their evil ways. If they do I will change my mind about the destruction I plan to bring on them for all their wicked deeds. read more.
Jehovah told me to say to the people: 'I Jehovah said that you must obey me by following the teaching that I gave you. You are to pay attention to the words of my servants, the prophets, whom I kept sending to you. You have never obeyed what they said. If you continue to disobey I will do to this Temple what I did to Shiloh, and all the nations of the world will use the name of this city as a curse.'' The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard me saying these things in the Temple. As soon as I had finished saying all that Jehovah commanded me to say, they grabbed me and shouted: You ought to be killed for this! Why have you said in Jehovah's name that this Temple will become like Shiloh and that this city will be destroyed and no one will live in it?' Then the people crowded around me. When the leaders of Judah heard what had happened, they hurried from the royal palace to the Temple and took their places at the New Gate. The priests and the prophets said to the leaders and to the people: This man deserves to be sentenced to death because he has spoken against our city. You heard him with your own ears. Then I Jeremiah said: Jehovah sent me to proclaim everything that you heard me say against this Temple and against this city. You must change the way you are living and the things you are doing. You must obey Jehovah your God. If you do, he will change his mind about the destruction that he said he would bring on you. I am in your hand (power)! Do with me whatever you think is fair and right. But if you put me to death, you and everyone else in Jerusalem will be guilty of murdering an innocent man. This is because everything I spoke came from Jehovah.

Jehovah says: 'Do not deceive yourselves by thinking that the Babylonians will leave you. They will not leave you. Even if you would defeat the entire Babylonian army so that they had only a few badly wounded men left in their tents, they would get up and burn down this city!'

Jeremiah went into a prison cell, and he stayed there a long time. Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, and the king asked him privately in the palace: Is there any message from Jehovah? Jeremiah answered: Yes! There is a message from Jehovah. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon. Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah: What crime have I committed against you, your administrators, or these people? Why have you put me in prison?


Then they said: Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise man, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike him with our tongue, and let us pay no attention to any of his words.


Sadness is mine! Why did my mother bring me into the world? I have to quarrel and argue with everyone in the whole earth. I have not lent any money or borrowed any; yet everyone curses me.

Too bad for me! For I am like the gathered summer fruit, as the grape gleanings of the vintage. There is no cluster to eat. I desire the first ripe fig.


I did not spend my time with other people laughing and having a good time. In obedience to your orders I stayed by myself and was filled with anger.


I, Jeremiah, said: Lord Jehovah, I do not know how to speak. I am only a child!


After all this you say: 'I am innocent. God will turn his anger from me. For I have not sinned.'


But if I say: I will not remember him or speak anymore in his name, then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in. I cannot endure it.

Then Jehovah stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Jehovah said to me: I have put my words in your mouth. Today I have appointed you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will uproot and tear down. You will destroy and overthrow. You will build and plant.


When he came to Benjamin Gate, the captain of the guard there, whose name was Irijah, son of Shelemiah and grandson of Hananiah, arrested the prophet Jeremiah. He said: You are deserting to the Babylonians! Jeremiah answered: That is not true! I am not deserting to the Babylonians. But Irijah would not listen to him. Irijah arrested Jeremiah and took him to the officials.


Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon carried away captive Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and the officials of Judah. He also captured the craftsmen and smiths from Jerusalem and brought them to Babylon. Then Jehovah showed me two baskets of figs set before the Temple of Jehovah!

That same year, in the fifth month of the fourth year that Zedekiah was king, Hananiah son of Azzur, a prophet from the town of Gibeon, spoke to me in the Temple. In the presence of the priests and of the people he told me

During the reign of King Josiah, Jehovah asked me: Did you see what unfaithful Israel did? She went up every high mountain and under every large tree, and she acted like a prostitute there.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah. King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah. The king said to Jeremiah:

Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah about all the people of Judah when Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was in his fourth year as king. This was the first year that Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. The prophet Jeremiah spoke to all the people of Judah and to everyone who lived in Jerusalem. He said: Jehovah continued to speak his word to me for twenty-three years. This covered the time from when Josiah, son of Amon, was in his thirteenth year as king of Judah until today. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.

Shortly after Jehoiakim son of Josiah became king of Judah,

Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah during Zedekiah's tenth year as king of Judah. This was Nebuchadnezzar's eighteenth year as king.

Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, his entire army, and all the kingdoms and people that he ruled were attacking Jerusalem and all its cities. This is what he said:

This is the message that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch, son of Neriah. Baruch wrote these things on a scroll (book) as Jeremiah dictated them during the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah. Jeremiah said:

Early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, Jehovah spoke his word to the prophet Jeremiah about Elam.


While I was still imprisoned in the palace courtyard, Jehovah told me: Tell Ebedmelech the Ethiopian that Jehovah, the God of Israel, said: 'Just as I said I would, I am going to bring upon this city destruction and not prosperity. When this happens, you will be there to see it. I Jehovah will protect you, and you will not be handed over to the people you are afraid of. read more.
I will keep you safe, and you will not be put to death. You will escape with your life because you have put your trust in me. I Jehovah have spoken!'

The word of Jehovah came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the court of the guard:

The officials were so angry with Jeremiah that they beat him and put him in prison in the scribe Jonathan's house, which had been turned into a prison. Jeremiah went into a prison cell, and he stayed there a long time. Then King Zedekiah sent for Jeremiah, and the king asked him privately in the palace: Is there any message from Jehovah? Jeremiah answered: Yes! There is a message from Jehovah. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon. read more.
Then Jeremiah asked King Zedekiah: What crime have I committed against you, your administrators, or these people? Why have you put me in prison? Where are the prophets who told you that the king of Babylon would not attack you and this land? Your Majesty, please listen, and accept my plea for mercy. Do not return me to the scribe Jonathan's house, or I will die there. King Zedekiah gave the command to have Jeremiah put in the courtyard of the prison. He gave him a loaf of bread every day from the bakers' street until all the bread in the city was gone. So Jeremiah stayed in the courtyard of the prison.

So they took me and let me down by ropes into Prince Malchiah's well, which was in the palace courtyard. There was no water in the well, only mud, and I sank down in it. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch (officer) who worked in the royal palace, heard that they had put me in the well. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate. So Ebedmelech went there and said to the king: read more.
Your Majesty, what these men have done is wrong. They have put Jeremiah in the well, where he is sure to die of starvation, since there is no more food in the city. Then the king ordered Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, Take with you three men and to pull him out of the well before he dies. So Ebedmelech went with the men to the palace storeroom and got some worn-out clothing which he let down to me by ropes. He told me to put the rags under my arms, so that the ropes would not hurt me. I did this. So they pulled me up out of the well. After that I was kept in the courtyard.

They sentence my life to prison and keep hurling stones at me. Waters were flowing over my head; I said: I am cut off. I called out your name in prayer, O Jehovah, out of the lowest prison.


Oh that my head were waters and my eyes a fountain of tears. Then I might weep day and night for the slain of the daughter of my people!

O Jerusalem, wash the evil from your heart so that you may be saved. How long will your wicked thoughts lodge within you? A message is heard from Dan. A report of disaster comes from the mountains of Ephraim. Warn the nations about this. Tell it to Jerusalem. Hostile troops are coming from a distant country. They shout battle cries against the cities of Judah. read more.
They surround Judah like men guarding a field, because Judah has rebelled against me, declares Jehovah. You brought this on yourself. This is your punishment. It is bitter. It breaks your heart.

My sorrow is beyond healing, my heart is faint within me! Behold, listen! The cry of the daughter of my people from a distant land: Is Jehovah not in Zion? Is her King not within her? Why have they provoked me with their graven images, with foreign idols? Harvest is past, summer is ended, and we are not saved. read more.
For the brokenness of the daughter of my people I am broken. I mourn and dismay has taken hold of me.

Oh, I am wounded! My wound is serious. Then I thought that this is my punishment, and I will bear it. My tent is destroyed. All the ropes are broken. My children have left me and have disappeared. There is no one to set up my tent again or put up my tent curtains. The shepherds are foolish. They do not look to Jehovah for help. That is why they will not succeed and all their flocks will be scattered. read more.
The report has arrived. Listen! An incredible uproar is coming from the land of the north. Its army will destroy Judah's cities and make them homes for jackals.


Jehoahaz was twenty-three years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for three months. His mother's name was Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he became king. He was king in Jerusalem for eleven years. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.

Zedekiah was twenty-one years old when he began to rule. He ruled for eleven years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Hamutal, daughter of Jeremiah from Libnah.


King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. They asked him: Please pray to Jehovah our God for us.

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah. King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the priest, the son of Maaseiah. The king said to Jeremiah: Please inquire of Jehovah on our behalf. Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is warring against us. Perhaps Jehovah will deal with us with all his wonderful acts, so that the enemy will withdraw from us.

On another occasion King Zedekiah had me brought to him at the third entrance to the temple. He said: I am going to ask you a question, and I want you to tell me the whole truth.


Sadness is mine! Why did my mother bring me into the world? I have to quarrel and argue with everyone in the whole earth. I have not lent any money or borrowed any; yet everyone curses me.

Then I said: O Jehovah you understand. Remember me and help me. Let me have revenge on those who persecute me. Do not be so patient with them that they succeed in killing me. Remember that it is for your sake that I have suffered reproach.

Look, they keep saying to me: Where is the word of Jehovah? Let it come now! I have not hurried away from being your shepherd. I have not longed for the day of destruction. You know what I used to say. Do not cause me fear and anxiety. For you are my refuge in the day of disaster. read more.
Let those who persecute me be put to shame. Do not let me be put to shame. Let them be dismayed, but let me not be dismayed. Bring on them a day of disaster. Crush them with twofold destruction!


This is what Jehovah says: The people of Anathoth want to kill you. They say: Do not prophesy in the name of Jehovah, or we will kill you. This is what Jehovah of Hosts says: I am going to punish them. The young men will die by the sword because of war. Their sons and daughters will die by famine. I will bring disaster on the people of Anathoth. It will be a year of punishment. There will be no survivors.

Then they said: Come and let us devise plans against Jeremiah. Surely the law is not going to be lost to the priest, nor counsel to the wise man, nor the divine word to the prophet! Come on and let us strike him with our tongue, and let us pay no attention to any of his words. Do pay close attention to me, O Jehovah! Listen to what my opponents are saying! Should good be repaid with evil? For they have dug a pit for me. Remember how I stood before you to speak good on their behalf. I tried to turn away your wrath from them. read more.
Therefore, give their children over to famine and deliver them up to the power of the sword. Let their wives become childless and widowed. Let their men also be smitten to death and their young men struck down by the sword in battle. Let an outcry be heard from their houses when you suddenly bring raiders upon them. For they have dug a pit to capture me and hidden snares for my feet. Yet You, O Jehovah, know all their deadly designs against me. Do not forgive their iniquity or blot out their sin from your sight. But may they be overthrown before you. Deal with them in the time of your anger!


But King Nebuchadnezzar commanded Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, to give the following order: Go and find Jeremiah and take good care of him. Do not harm him, but do for him whatever he wants. So Nebuzaradan, together with the high officials Nebushazban and Nergal Sharezer and all the other officers of the king of Babylon, read more.
had me brought from the palace courtyard. They put me under the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to see that I got home safely. Thus I stayed there among the people.

Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, let him go at Ramah. Nebuzaradan found Jeremiah in chains along with the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken to Babylon. The captain of the guard took Jeremiah aside and said to him: Jehovah your God threatened to bring this disaster on this place. He has carried out his threat. Jehovah did as he promised because you Israelites have sinned against him and refused to obey him. That is why this has happened to you. read more.
Today, I am removing the chains from your hands. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you. But if you do not want to come with me to Babylon, do not come. The whole land is yours. Go wherever you want.


Do something, Jehovah, for the sake of your name, even though our iniquities testify against us. We have been unfaithful (like apostates) and have sinned against you. You are Israel's hope, its savior in times of trouble. Why are you like a stranger in the land, like a traveler who stays only one night? Why are you like someone taken by surprise, like a mighty man who cannot help? You, O Jehovah, are among us. We are called by your name. Do not leave us!

Ah Lord Jehovah! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you. You show loving kindness to thousands, but repay the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them. O great and mighty God. Jehovah of Hosts is his name. You are great in counsel and mighty in deed. Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men. You give to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. read more.
You set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even to this day both in Israel and among mankind you have made a name for yourself. You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt using signs and wonders. You did this with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm and with great terror. You gave them this land. You swore to their forefathers to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your Law. They have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do. Therefore you made this calamity come upon them. The siege ramps have reached the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence. You brought all this disaster on them. Yet you, Lord Jehovah, told me to buy a field with money and get witnesses to confirm it, although the city was handed over to the Babylonians.


This is the message that the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Baruch, son of Neriah. Baruch wrote these things on a scroll (book) as Jeremiah dictated them during the fourth year that Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, was king of Judah. Jeremiah said:

In the fourth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah: Take a scroll, and write on it everything that I have dictated to you about Israel, Judah, and all the other nations from the time I spoke to you during the reign of Josiah until today. Maybe the nation of Judah will hear about all the disasters that I devise to bring on them, and they will turn from their wicked ways. Then I will forgive their wickedness and their sins. read more.
Then Jeremiah called Baruch, son of Neriah. Jeremiah dictated everything that Jehovah told him. Baruch wrote it all down on a scroll. Jeremiah told Baruch: I am no longer allowed to go to Jehovah's Temple. On a day of fasting, you must read from the scroll Jehovah's message that you wrote as I dictated. You must read it to the people in Jehovah's Temple. You must also read it to all the people of Judah when they come from their cities. Maybe their prayers will come into Jehovah's presence, and they will turn from their evil ways. Jehovah has threatened these people with his terrifying anger and fury.

Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch, son of Neriah. As Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it everything that was on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah had burned. They added many similar messages.


This is the message that the prophet Jeremiah gave to Seraiah, son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, when Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah in the fourth year of Zedekiah's rule. Seraiah was the quartermaster. Jeremiah wrote on a scroll all the disasters that would happen to Babylon. He wrote all these things that have been written about Babylon. Jeremiah said to Seraiah: When you come to Babylon, see that you read all this. read more.
Then says: 'Jehovah, you have threatened to destroy this place so that no person or animal will live here. It will become a permanent ruin.' When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River. Say: 'Babylon will sink like this scroll. It will never rise again because of the disasters that I will bring on it.' The words of Jeremiah end here.


Mishmannah was fourth. Jeremiah was fifth.

Jeremiah was tenth. Macbannai was eleventh.


Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch (officer) who worked in the royal palace, heard that they had put me in the well. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate. So Ebedmelech went there and said to the king: Your Majesty, what these men have done is wrong. They have put Jeremiah in the well, where he is sure to die of starvation, since there is no more food in the city. read more.
Then the king ordered Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, Take with you three men and to pull him out of the well before he dies. So Ebedmelech went with the men to the palace storeroom and got some worn-out clothing which he let down to me by ropes. He told me to put the rags under my arms, so that the ropes would not hurt me. I did this. So they pulled me up out of the well. After that I was kept in the courtyard.


O Jehovah, You have deceived me. I was deceived! You have overcome me and prevailed. I have become a laughingstock all day long; everyone mocks me. Each time I speak, I cry aloud. I proclaim violence and destruction! For me the word of Jehovah has resulted in reproach and derision all day long. But if I say: I will not remember him or speak anymore in his name, then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in. I cannot endure it. read more.
For I have heard the whispering of many: Terror on every side! Denounce him; yes, let us denounce him! All my trusted friends are watching for my fall. They say: Perhaps he will be deceived, so that we may prevail against him and take our revenge on him. Jehovah is with me like a powerful champion. Therefore my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will be utterly ashamed! They have failed with an everlasting disgrace that will not be forgotten. Yet, O Jehovah of Hosts you test the righteous. You see the mind and the heart. Let me see your vengeance on them for to you I have revealed my cause. Sing to Jehovah, praise Jehovah! He has delivered the needy one from the hand (domination) of evildoers. Cursed is the day when I was born. Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me! Cursed is the man who brought the news to my father, saying: A baby boy has been born to you! He made him very happy. But let that man be like the cities Jehovah overthrew without relenting. Let him hear an outcry in the morning and a shout of alarm at noon. He did not kill me before birth, so that my mother would have been my grave, and her womb ever pregnant. Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow? My days have been spent in shame!


Then Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes. He said: Take some large stones, and bury them under the brick pavement at the entrance to the Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes. Do this while the people of Judah watch you. Say to them: 'This is what Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: I am going to send for my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will set his throne over these stones that I buried, and I will spread his royal canopy above them. read more.
He will defeat Egypt. He will bring death to those who are supposed to die. He will capture those who are supposed to be captured. He will kill in battle those who are supposed to be killed in battle. He will set fire to the temples of Egypt's gods. He will burn down the temples and take their gods captive. Nebuchadnezzar will put on Egypt as his coat as a shepherd puts on his coat. He will leave Egypt peacefully.


Baruch, son of Neriah, did as the prophet Jeremiah commanded him. In Jehovah's Temple he read from the scroll everything that Jehovah had said. In the ninth month of the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of King Josiah of Judah, a time for fasting was called. It was a time for all the people in Jerusalem and for everyone who was coming from any city in Judah to Jerusalem to fast in Jehovah's presence. Then Baruch read the scroll containing the words of Jeremiah. Baruch read it to all the people in Jehovah's temple in the room of the scribe Gemariah, son of Shaphan, in the upper courtyard at the entrance of New Gate of Jehovah's Temple. read more.
Micaiah, who was the son of Gemariah and the grandson of Shaphan, heard Baruch read from the scroll everything Jehovah had said. Then he went down to the scribe's room in the king's palace where all the scribes were sitting. The scribe Elishama, Delaiah son of Shemaiah, Elnathan son of Achbor, Gemariah son of Shaphan, Zedekiah son of Hananiah, and all the other officials were there. Micaiah told them everything he heard Baruch read from the scroll publicly. Then all the officials sent Jehudi, who was the son of Nethaniah, the grandson of Shelemiah, and the great-grandson of Cushi, to Baruch. Jehudi said to Baruch: Bring the scroll that you read publicly, and come with me. Baruch, son of Neriah, took the scroll and went with him to see the officers. They said to Baruch: Please sit down, and read it to us. So Baruch read it to them. When they heard everything, they turned to each other in terror. They said to Baruch: We must tell the king everything. They asked Baruch: Please tell us how you wrote all this. Did Jeremiah dictate it to you? Baruch answered: He dictated everything to me, and I wrote it on the scroll in ink. The officials said to Baruch: You and Jeremiah must hide. Do not let anyone know where you are. After they put the scroll in the side room of the scribe Elishama, they went to the king in the courtyard and told him everything. Then the king sent Jehudi to get the scroll. He took the scroll from the side room of the scribe Elishama. Jehudi read it to the king and all the officials standing by the king. It was the ninth month, and the king was in his winter house sitting in front of the fire in the fireplace. As Jehudi read three or four columns, the king would cut them off with a scribe's knife and throw them into the fire in the fireplace. He did this until the whole scroll was burned up. The king and all his attendants did not show any fear or tear their clothes in fear when they heard everything being read. Even when Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah urged the king not to burn the scroll, he refused to listen to them. The king commanded Jerahmeel the king's son, Seraiah son of Azriel, and Shelemiah son of Abdeel to arrest the scribe Baruch and the prophet Jeremiah. But Jehovah had hidden Baruch and Jeremiah. After the king burned up the scroll that Baruch had written and that Jeremiah had dictated, Jehovah spoke his word to Jeremiah: Take another scroll, and write on it everything that was written on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah burned. Say about King Jehoiakim of Judah: 'This is what Jehovah says: You burned this scroll, and you asked Jeremiah: Why did you write that the king of Babylon would certainly come to destroy this land and take away people and animals?' This is what Jehovah says about King Jehoiakim of Judah: 'He will have no one to sit on David's throne, and his own corpse will be thrown out and exposed to the heat of day and the cold of night. 'I will punish him, his descendants, and his attendants for their wickedness. They refused to listen. So I will bring on them, on those who live in Jerusalem, and on the people of Judah all the disasters that I have threatened.'' Jeremiah took another scroll and gave it to the scribe Baruch, son of Neriah. As Jeremiah dictated, Baruch wrote on it everything that was on the scroll that King Jehoiakim of Judah had burned. They added many similar messages.


Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle is coming to you. He says: Buy for yourself my field at Anathoth, for you have the right of redemption to buy it.' Then Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the guard according to the word of Jehovah and said to me: 'Buy my field, please, that is at Anathoth, which is in the land of Benjamin. You have the right of possession and the redemption is yours. Buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of Jehovah. I bought the field at Anathoth from Hanamel my uncle's son. I weighed out the silver for him, seventeen shekels of silver. read more.
I signed and sealed the deed, and called in witnesses, and weighed out the silver on the scales.


Jehovah says: I have abandoned Israel. I have rejected my chosen nation. I have given the people I love into the power of their enemies. My chosen people have turned against me. Like a lion in the forest they have roared at me, and so I hate them. My chosen people are like a bird attacked from all sides by hawks. Call the wild animals to come and join in the feast! read more.
Many foreign rulers have destroyed my vineyard. They trampled down my fields and turned my beautiful land into a desert. They made it a wasteland. It lies desolate before me. The whole land has become a desert, and no one cares. Across the entire desert highlands people have come to plunder. Jehovah has sent war to destroy the entire land. No one can live in peace. My people planted wheat. They gathered weeds! They worked hard and got nothing for it. Because of my fierce anger their crops have failed.


Pashhur the priest, son of Immer, who was chief officer in the house of Jehovah, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things. Pashhur had Jeremiah the prophet beaten and put him in the stocks that were at the upper Benjamin Gate, which was by the house of Jehovah. The next day Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks. Jeremiah said to him: Pashhur is not the name Jehovah has called you. He has called you Magor-missabib.


As soon as Jeremiah, whom Jehovah their God had sent, had finished telling all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, that is, all these words, Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the arrogant (egotistical) men said to Jeremiah: You are telling a lie! Jehovah our God has not sent you to say: 'You are not to enter Egypt to reside there. Baruch the son of Neriah is inciting you against us to give us over into the hand of the Chaldeans. They will put us to death or exile us to Babylon. read more.
So Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces, and all the people, did not obey the voice of Jehovah and stay in the land of Judah. But Johanan the son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces took the entire remnant of Judah who had returned from all the nations to which they had been driven away, in order to reside in the land of Judah. They took men, women, children, and the king's daughters. They took every person whom Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, had left with Gedaliah, son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, including the prophet Jeremiah and Baruch, son of Neriah. They did not listen to Jehovah. They went to Egypt. They went as far as Tahpanhes.


The next day Pashhur released Jeremiah from the stocks. Jeremiah said to him: Pashhur is not the name Jehovah has called you. He has called you Magor-missabib. For Jehovah says: 'Behold, I am going to make you a terror to yourself and to all your friends. They will fall by the sword of their enemies while you watch. I will hand over all Judah to the hand (control) of the king of Babylon. He will carry them away as exiles to Babylon and will slay them with the sword. I will also hand over all the wealth of this city, all its produce and all its costly things. I will even give all the treasures of the kings of Judah to the hand of their enemies. They will plunder them and take them away to Babylon. read more.
You, Pashhur, and all who live in your house will go into captivity. You will enter Babylon, and there you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you have falsely prophesied.'


All the army leaders, including Johanan son of Kareah and Azariah son of Hoshaiah, came with people of every class. They said to me: Please do what we ask you! Pray to Jehovah our God for us. Pray for all of us who have survived. Once there were many of us. Now there are only a few of us left, as you can see. Pray that Jehovah our God will show us the way we should go and what we should do. read more.
I answered: Very well, then. I will pray to Jehovah our God, just as you have asked. I will tell you what he says. I will not keep back anything from you. Then they said to me: May Jehovah be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not obey all the commandments that Jehovah our God gives you for us. Whether it pleases us or not, we will obey Jehovah our God, to whom we are asking you to pray. All will go well with us if we obey him.


Jehovah, if I argued my case with you, you would prove to be right. Indeed, I must question you about matters of justice. Why are the wicked so prosperous? Why do dishonest people succeed with impunity? You plant them, and they take root. They grow and bear fruit. You are near their lips, but far from their mind. But, you know me, Jehovah. You see what I do and how in my heart I love you. Drag them away like sheep to be butchered. Guard them until it is time for them to be slaughtered. read more.
How long will our land be dry and the grass in every field be withered? Animals and birds are dying because of the wickedness of our people. These people say: God does not see what we are doing. Jehovah says: Jeremiah, if you get tired racing against people, how can you race against horses? If you cannot even stand up in open country, how will you manage in the thicket by the Jordan? Even your relatives, members of your own family, have betrayed you. They join in the attacks against you. Do not trust them, even though they speak friendly words.


Jehovah spoke his word to me, Jeremiah, He said: Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations. I, Jeremiah, said: Lord Jehovah, I do not know how to speak. I am only a child! read more.
Jehovah said to me: 'Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go wherever I send you. You must say whatever I command you to say. Do not be afraid of people. I am with you. I will rescue you, says Jehovah. Then Jehovah stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Jehovah said to me: I have put my words in your mouth. Today I have appointed you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will uproot and tear down. You will destroy and overthrow. You will build and plant. Jehovah spoke his word to me again. He asked: What do you see Jeremiah? I answered: I see a branch of an almond tree. Jehovah said: You are right. For I watch to make sure that my words come true. Again Jehovah asked: What do you see? I answered: I see a boiling pot, and its top is tilted away from the north. Jehovah said to me: Disaster will be poured out from the north on all those who live in the land. I am going to call every family and kingdom from the north, says Jehovah. They will come, and they will set up their thrones at the entrance of Jerusalem's gates. They will attack all the walls around the city and all the cities of Judah. I will pronounce judgment against my people because of all their wickedness. They abandoned me. They burned incense to other gods. They worshiped what their hands have made. Strengthen yourself, Jeremiah! Stand up, and say to them whatever I tell you to say. Do not be terrified in their presence, or I will make you even more terrified in their presence. Today I have made you like a fortified city, an iron pillar, and a copper wall. You will be able to stand up to the whole land. You will be able to stand up to Judah's kings, its officials, its priests, and all the common people. They will fight you but they will not defeat you. I am with you, and I will rescue you, declares Jehovah.


Ahikam, son of Shaphan, supported Jeremiah. So Jeremiah was not handed over to the people to be put to death.


Then Jeremiah chanted a lament for Josiah. All the male and female singers speak about Josiah in their lamentations (dirges) to this day. They made them an ordinance in Israel. They are also written in the Lamentations.


You spoke to me, and I listened to every word. I belong to you, Lord Jehovah. Your words filled my heart with joy and happiness.


These were the heads of their families: Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel. They were brave warriors, famous men, and heads of their families.


Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, at Mizpah and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.


You shall not take a wife for yourself nor have sons or daughters in this place.


King Zedekiah sent Jehucal son of Shelemiah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to the prophet Jeremiah. They asked him: Please pray to Jehovah our God for us.


I took Jaazaniah, the son of Jeremiah, the son of Habazziniah, and his brothers and all his sons and all the Rechabites.


Ishmaiah from Gibeon, a famous warrior and leader among the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, and Jozabad from Gederah;


The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah. He was one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.


The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah. He was one of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin.




It was the first year of his reign. I, Daniel, understood from The Books (Holy Scriptures) the number of the years in the word of Jehovah to Jeremiah the prophet. It was seventy years since the destruction of Jerusalem.



I, Jeremiah, said: Lord Jehovah, I do not know how to speak. I am only a child!


Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.


Cursed is the day when I was born. Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me! Cursed is the man who brought the news to my father, saying: A baby boy has been born to you! He made him very happy. But let that man be like the cities Jehovah overthrew without relenting. Let him hear an outcry in the morning and a shout of alarm at noon. read more.
He did not kill me before birth, so that my mother would have been my grave, and her womb ever pregnant. Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow? My days have been spent in shame!


I am in your hand (power)! Do with me whatever you think is fair and right.


Cursed is the day when I was born. Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me! Cursed is the man who brought the news to my father, saying: A baby boy has been born to you! He made him very happy. But let that man be like the cities Jehovah overthrew without relenting. Let him hear an outcry in the morning and a shout of alarm at noon. read more.
He did not kill me before birth, so that my mother would have been my grave, and her womb ever pregnant. Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow? My days have been spent in shame!


Cursed is the day when I was born. Let the day not be blessed when my mother bore me! Cursed is the man who brought the news to my father, saying: A baby boy has been born to you! He made him very happy. But let that man be like the cities Jehovah overthrew without relenting. Let him hear an outcry in the morning and a shout of alarm at noon. read more.
He did not kill me before birth, so that my mother would have been my grave, and her womb ever pregnant. Why did I ever come forth from the womb to look on trouble and sorrow? My days have been spent in shame!


So King Zedekiah promised me in secret: I swear by the living God, the God who gave us life, that I will not put you to death or hand you over to the men who want to kill you.


At that time the army of the king of Babylon was blockading Jerusalem. The prophet Jeremiah was locked up in the courtyard of the prison. This prison was in the palace of the king of Judah.


After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah I prayed to Jehovah: Ah Lord Jehovah! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you. You show loving kindness to thousands, but repay the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them. O great and mighty God. Jehovah of Hosts is his name. read more.
You are great in counsel and mighty in deed. Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men. You give to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. You set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even to this day both in Israel and among mankind you have made a name for yourself. You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt using signs and wonders. You did this with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm and with great terror. You gave them this land. You swore to their forefathers to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your Law. They have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do. Therefore you made this calamity come upon them. The siege ramps have reached the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence. You brought all this disaster on them. Yet you, Lord Jehovah, told me to buy a field with money and get witnesses to confirm it, although the city was handed over to the Babylonians.


I called out your name in prayer, O Jehovah, out of the lowest prison. My voice came to you, Do not shut your ear to my relief, to my cry!


After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch the son of Neriah I prayed to Jehovah: Ah Lord Jehovah! You have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for you. You show loving kindness to thousands, but repay the iniquity of fathers into the bosom of their children after them. O great and mighty God. Jehovah of Hosts is his name. read more.
You are great in counsel and mighty in deed. Your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men. You give to everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. You set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt. Even to this day both in Israel and among mankind you have made a name for yourself. You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt using signs and wonders. You did this with a strong hand, with an outstretched arm and with great terror. You gave them this land. You swore to their forefathers to give them a land flowing with milk and honey. They came in and took possession of it. But they did not obey your voice or walk in your Law. They have done nothing of all that you commanded them to do. Therefore you made this calamity come upon them. The siege ramps have reached the city to take it. The city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans who fight against it, because of the sword, the famine and the pestilence. You brought all this disaster on them. Yet you, Lord Jehovah, told me to buy a field with money and get witnesses to confirm it, although the city was handed over to the Babylonians.


had me brought from the palace courtyard. They put me under the care of Gedaliah, the son of Ahikam and grandson of Shaphan, who was to see that I got home safely. Thus I stayed there among the people.

So they took me and let me down by ropes into Prince Malchiah's well, which was in the palace courtyard. There was no water in the well, only mud, and I sank down in it. Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, a eunuch (officer) who worked in the royal palace, heard that they had put me in the well. At that time the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate. So Ebedmelech went there and said to the king: read more.
Your Majesty, what these men have done is wrong. They have put Jeremiah in the well, where he is sure to die of starvation, since there is no more food in the city. Then the king ordered Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, Take with you three men and to pull him out of the well before he dies. So Ebedmelech went with the men to the palace storeroom and got some worn-out clothing which he let down to me by ropes. He told me to put the rags under my arms, so that the ropes would not hurt me. I did this. So they pulled me up out of the well. After that I was kept in the courtyard. On another occasion King Zedekiah had me brought to him at the third entrance to the temple. He said: I am going to ask you a question, and I want you to tell me the whole truth. I answered: If I tell you the truth, you will put me to death, and if I give you advice, you will not pay any attention. So King Zedekiah promised me in secret: I swear by the living God, the God who gave us life, that I will not put you to death or hand you over to the men who want to kill you. Then I told Zedekiah that Jehovah, the God of Israel said: If you surrender to the king of Babylon's officers, your life will be spared, and this city will not be burned down. Both you and your family will be spared. But if you do not surrender, then this city will be handed over to the Babylonians. They will burn it down, and you will not escape from them. The king answered: I am afraid of our own people who have deserted to the Babylonians. I may be handed over to them and tortured. I said: You will not be handed over to them. I beg you to obey Jehovah's message. Then all will go well with you, and your life will be spared. Jehovah has shown me in a vision what will happen if you refuse to surrender. In it I saw all the women left in Judah's royal palace being led out to the king of Babylonia's officers. Listen to what they were saying as they went. The king's best friends misled him, they overruled him. And now that his feet have sunk in the mud, his friends have left him. Then I added: All your women and children will be taken out to the Babylonians. You will not escape from them. You will be taken prisoner by the king of Babylonia. And this city will be burned to the ground. Zedekiah replied: Do not let anyone know about this conversation, and your life will not be in danger. If the officials hear that I have talked with you, they will come and ask you what we said. They will promise not to put you to death if you tell them everything. Just tell them you were begging me not to send you back to prison to die there. Then all the officials came and questioned me. I told them exactly what the king had told me to say. There was nothing else they could do, because no one had overheard the conversation. I was kept in the palace courtyard until the day Jerusalem was captured.


He did what Jehovah his God considered evil. He did not humble himself in front of the prophet Jeremiah, who spoke Jehovah's word.

This fulfilled the word of Jehovah that was spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah, until the land had enjoyed its Sabbaths. All the days of its desolation it kept Sabbath until seventy years were complete.


But if I say: I will not remember him or speak anymore in his name, then in my heart it becomes like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in. I cannot endure it.

Then Jehovah stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. Jehovah said to me: I have put my words in your mouth. Today I have appointed you in charge of nations and kingdoms. You will uproot and tear down. You will destroy and overthrow. You will build and plant.


Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.


Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.


Jehovah continued to speak his word to me for twenty-three years. This covered the time from when Josiah, son of Amon, was in his thirteenth year as king of Judah until today. I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened. Jehovah has sent all his servants the prophets to you. Yet, you have not listened or paid attention to them.