then sent King Zedekiah - and fetched him, and the king asked him, in his own house secretly, and said, - Is there a word from Yahweh? And Jeremiah said, - There is, for (said he), Into the hand of the king of Babylon, shalt thou be delivered!

Thus saith Yahweh, He that remaineth in this city shall die, by sword by famine, or by pestilence, - whereas, he that goeth forth unto the Chaldeans, shall live, so shall he have his life for a spoil, and shall live.

Thus, saith Yahweh, - This city shall surely be given, into the hand of the force of the king of Babylon, and he shall capture it.

Then said the princes unto the king, - Let this man we pray thee, be put to death, for in this way, is he weakening the hands of the men of war who are left in this, city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking unto them such words as these; for, this man, is not seeking prosperity for this people but misfortune.

Then said King Zedekiah, - Lo! he is in your hand; for the king is not one who is able to do anything against you.

When Ebed-melech the Ethiopian one of the eunuchs, he being in the house of the king, heard that they had delivered Jeremiah into the dungeon, - the king being seated in the gate of Benjamin,

My lord, O King! wickedly, have these men done all that they haw done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom indeed they have cast into the dungeon, - since he would have died where he was because of the famine, for there is no bread any longer, in the city.

Then the king commanded Ebed-melech the Ethiopian saying, - Take with thee from hence thirty men, and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon before he die.

Then shalt thou say unto them, - I was causing my supplication to fall prostrate before the king, - that he would not cause me to return to the house of Jonathan, to die there.

Then came in all the princes unto Jeremiah and asked him, and he told them according to all these words which the king, had commanded, - so they turned in silence from him, for the matter, had not been reported.

And it came to pass as soon as Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, that they fled, and went forth by night out of the city, by way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls, - and he went forth by way of the waste plain.

and the eyes of Zedekiah, did he put out, and bound him with fetters of bronze to bring him into Babylon.

Take him and, thine eyes, set thou upon him, and do not unto him any harmful thing, - but just as he shall speak unto thee, so, shalt thou do with him.

yea they sent and fetched Jeremiah out of the guard-court, and delivered him unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, to bring him forth into a home, so he dwelt in the midst of the people.

Now unto Jeremiah, had come the word of Yahweh, while he was yet shut up in the guard-court, saying:

The thing that happened unto Jeremiah, from Yahweh, after Nebuzaradan chief of the royal executioners had let him go from Ramah, - when he had taken him, he having been bound in fetters in the midst of all the captive-host of Jerusalem, and Judah, who were being carried away captive to Babylon.

and so Yahweh hath brought it about and done it just as he threatened, - for ye have sinned against Yahweh, and have not hearkened unto his voice, and so this thing hath befallen you.

And ere yet he could make reply - Go thou back then unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath set in charge over the cities of Judah, and dwell thou with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it may be right in thine eyes to go, go! So the chief of the royal executioners gave him an allowance and a present and let him go.

Now, when all the captains of the forces which were in the field - they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had set Gedaliah son of Ahikam in charge over the land, - and that he had committed to him men and women and children, and the poor of the land of those who had not been carried away captive to Babylon,

Likewise also, all the Jews, who were in Moab and among the sons of Ammon and in Edom and who were in any of the lands, when they heard that the king of Babylon had granted a remnant to Judah, and that he had set in charge over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan,

Then, Johanan son of Kareah, spake unto Gedaliah secretly, in Mizpah, saying, - Let me go I pray thee, and smite Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and not, a man, shall know it, - wherefore should he smite thee to death, and all Judah who have gathered themselves unto thee, be dispersed, and the remnant of Judah perish?

And it came to pass, on the second day, after he had slain Gedaliah, not, a man, knowing it,

Then went forth Ishmael son of Nethaniah to meet them out of Mizpah, weeping all along as he went, - and it came to pass when he fell in with them, that he said unto them, Come ye in unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam.

And so it was when they had come into the midst of the city, that Ishmael son of Nethaniah slew them and east them into the midst of a pit, he and the men who were with him.

But, ten men, were found among them, who said unto Ishmael - Do not put us to death, for we have secret treasures in the field, wheat and barley and oil and honey, So he forbare and put them not to death in the midst of their brethren.

Now the pit whereinto Ishmael cast all the dead bodies of the men whom he had smitten, was a large pit which King Asa had made for fear of Baasha king of Israel, - the same, did Ishmael son of Nethaniah fill with the slain,

Then did Johanan son of Kareah and all the captains of the forces who were with him take all the remnant of the people whom he had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah out of Mizpah, after he had smitten Gedaliah son of Ahikam, - mighty men, men of war, and women and children and eunuchs, whom he had recovered out of Gibeon;

Then called he for Johanan son of Kareah, and for all the princes of the forces who were with him - and for all the people from the least even unto the greatest;

that I may grant you compassions and he may have compassion upon you, - and suffer you to return unto your own soil.

Therefore have I told you to-day, - and yet ye have not hearkened unto the voice of Yahweh your God, even in any thing for which he hath sent me unto you.

but Baruch son of Neriah, is goading thee on against us, - that he may deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, to put us to death, or take us away captive to Babylon.

Then shalt thou say unto them - Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel - Behold me! sending and fetching Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, my servant, and I will set his throne over these stones which I have hid, - and he shall spread his canopy over them.

And when he entereth, then will he smite the land of Egypt and deliver Him who is for death to death and Him who is for captivity to captivity, and Him who is for the sword to the sword.

So will I kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and he shall burn them and carry them away Captive, - and shall wrap the land of Egypt about him, just as a shepherd, wrappeth about, him his garment, and shall go forth from thence in peace;

And he shall break in pieces the pillars of Beth-shemesh, which is in the land of Egypt, - And the houses of the gods of Egypt, shall he burn with fire.

The word which Jeremiah the prophet spake, unto Baruch son of Neriah, - when he had written these words upon a book, from the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah saying -

Egypt was like the Nile when it riseth, And like rivers, when the waters are tossed: So he said - I will rise, I will cover the earth, I will destroy the city, and the dwellers therein.

Wherefore have thy valiant ones been laid prostrate? He hath made no stand, because, Yahweh, hath driven him back:

Proclaim ye a name, - Pharaoh, king of Egypt - a Sound! He hath overstepped the time appointed!

As I live, saith the King, Yahweh of hosts, is his name: Though Like Tabor among mountains, Like Carmel, Into the sea shall he go!

They have cut down her forest Declareth Yahweh, Surely he cannot be searched out, - For they have outnumbered locusts, and cannot be counted.

Baldness hath come, upon Gaza, Silenced is Ashkelon the remnant of their vale, - How long, wilt thou cut thyself?

Ah! thou sword of Yahweh, How long, wilt thou not be quiet? Withdraw into thy scabbard, Rest thyself and be still.

How, can it be quiet, when, Yahweh, hath given it a charge, - against Ashkelon and against the shore of the sea? There, hath he appointed it!

Accursed be he that doeth the business of Yahweh carelessly; And, accursed be he that withholdeth his sword, from blood!

Moab, hath been at ease from his youth, And settled is he upon his lees, And hath not been poured out from vessel to vessel, Nor into captivity, hath gone, - For this cause, hath his flavour stood still within him, And his scent is unchanged.

How can ye say, Heroes, are we? and Men of might for the war?

Spoiled is Moab And her cities, hath he ascended, And the choice of his young men, have gone down to the slaughter, - Declareth The King, Yahweh of hosts, is his Name.

Lament ye for him - All that are round about him, and All that know his name, - Say, How is broken - The staff of strength! The rod of beauty!

Come down from glory, and sit in thirst, O inhabitress daughter of Dibon; For the spoiler of Moab, hath come up against thee, He hath laid in ruins thy strongholds.

Make ye him drunken, Because against Yahweh, hath he magnified himself; So shall, Moab, stagger, into his own vomit, And shall become a derision, even he!

And was it not, a derision, that Israel became to thee? And was it not among thieves, he was found? For, as often as thou didst speak of him, thou didst wag the head!

Then will I cause to cease, from Moab, Declareth Yahweh, - him that offereth at a high-place, and him that burneth incense to his gods.

For this cause, my heart, for Moab, like flutes, shall make plaintive sounds, Yea my heart for the men of Kir-heres! like flutes, shall make plaintive sounds, Because, the abundance he hath gotten is lost!

How it is broken down! They have howled, How hath Moab turned the back, for shame, - So shall Moab become a derision and a terror to all round about him.

Then shall, Moab, be destroyed from being a people, - Because against Yahweh, hath he magnified himself.

He that fleeth from the face of the terror, Shall fall into the pit, And, he that getteth up out of the pit, Shall be captured by the snare, - For I will bring against her - against Moab, The year of their visitation, Declareth Yahweh.

Of the sons of Ammon-Thus saith Yahweh: Hath Israel no, sons? Hath he no, heir? Why hath, Malkam, taken possession of Gad, Or have, his people, in the cities thereof, made their dwelling?

But, I, have stripped Esau bare, I have uncovered his secret places, And to conceal himself, shall he not be able! Spoiled, are his seed, and his brethren, and his neighbours, and he is not.

Thy monstrous thing, hath deceived thee, The insolence of thy heart, O thou that inhabitest the hidden recesses of the cliff, That boldest fast the height of the hill, - Though thou set high as an eagle, thy nest, From thence, will I bring thee down, Declareth Yahweh;

Lo! like a lion, will he come up from the majesty of the Jordan, unto the pasture perennial, But I will wink - I will make him run away therefrom, Who then shall be the Chosen One whom over it, I may set in charge? For who shall be like unto, me? And who shall appoint me, a time? And who is the Shepherd that shall stand before, me?

Wherefore, hear ye The counsel of Yahweh which he hath counseled against Edom, And his devices which he hath devised against the inhabitants of Teman, - Surely the little ones of the flock shall drag them away, Surely he will cause their fold to be astounded over them.

Lo! as an eagle, he shall mount and dart, and spread his wings over Bozrah, - So shall the heart of the heroes of Edom, in that day, become as the heart of a woman in her pain.

Remove ye out of the midst of Babylon, And out of the land of the Chaldeans, come ye forth, - And become ye like he-goats before the flock;

So will I bring back Israel unto his own pasture, And he shall feed upon Carmel and Bashan; And in the hill country of Ephraim and Gilead, shall, his soul, he satisfied.

How s cut and broken the hammer of all the earth! How hath Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

So shall the most insolent one stumble and fall, And he shall have none to lift him up, - And I will kindle a fire in his cities which shall devour all who are round about him.

Their Redeemer, can hold fast, Yahweh of hosts, is his name, He will, thoroughly plead, their plea, - That he may quiet the earth, And disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon.

Lo! as a lion, shall he come up from the majesty of the Jordan, Unto the pasture perennial, But I will wink - I will make them run away therefrom, Who then shall be the Chosen One whom against it, I may set in charge? For who shall be like unto, me? And who shall appoint me, a time? And who is the Shepherd that shall stand before me?

Therefore hear ye, The counsel of Yahweh, which he hath counselled against Babylon, And his devices which he hath devised against the land a of the Chaldeans, - Surely the little ones of the flock, shall drag them away, Surely he will cause the pasture to be astounded over them.

Against the walls of Babylon, Lift ye up a standard, Strengthen ye the watch, Station the watchmen, Make ready the ambuscades, - For Yahweh hath both planned and also performed that which he had spoken against the inhabitants of Babylon.

He that Made the earth in his might, Established the world in his wisdom, - And in his understanding, stretched out the heavens

By the voice that he uttered, there was a tumult of waters in the heavens, And he caused vapours to ascend from the end of the earth, - Lightnings for the rain, made he, And brought forth wind out of his treasures.

Not like these, is the portion of Jacob, For the fashioner of all things, is he! And the portion of his inheritance, - Yahweh of hosts, is his name.

Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon - Hath devoured me Hath vexed me, Hath set me down as an empty vessel, He hath swallowed me like a sea-monster, He hath filled his belly with my dainties, - He hath driven me away!

I will bring them down As fat lambs to slaughter, - As rams with he-goats.

How hath Sheshach, been captured! How hath the praise of all the earth linen seized! How hath Babylon become an astonishment among the nations!

So will I bring punishment upon Bel in Babylon, And will bring forth what he hath swallowed out of his mouth, And the nations shall stream unto him no more, - Even the wall of Babylon hath fallen!

Though Babylon should mount the heavens, And though she should fortify her strong high-place, From me, should come spoilers unto her Declareth Yahweh.

For there hath come upon her - upon Babylon - a spoiler, And captured are their heroes And broken are their bows, - For, a GOD of recompenses, is Yahweh, He will surely repay.

The word which Jeremiah the prophet commanded Seraiah son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, when he went with Zedekiah king of Judah into Babylon, in the fourth year of his reign, - now Seraiah, was travelling-marshal.

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

And he did that which was wicked in the eyes of Yahweh, - according to all that Jehoiakim had done.

For it was, because the anger of Yahweh, had come against Jerusalem and Judah until he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.

And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his force, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it, - and he built against it a siege-wall round about.

So they seized the king, and brought him up, unto the king of Babylon at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, - and he pronounced upon him sentences of judgment.

And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes, - moreover also all the princes of Judah, slew he in Riblah;

and the eyes of Zedekiah, put he out, - and bound him with fetters of bronze and the king of Babylon took him to Babylon, and put him in prison - until the day of his death.

and he burned the house of Yahweh and the house of the king, - yea all the houses of Jerusalem even every great man's house, burned he with fire;

and the caldrons and the shovels and the snuffers and the dashing bowls, and the spoons even all the utensils of bronze wherewith ministration used to he made did they take away;

and out of the city, took he one eunuch who was in charge over the men f war and seven men of them who used to watch the face of the king, who were found in the city, and the scribe of the prince of the host, who used to muster the people of the land, - and sixty men of the people of the land, who were found in the midst of the city.

then did the king of Babylon smite them and put them to death at Riblah in the land of Hamath, - thus carried he Judah captive away from off their own soil.

And it came to pass, in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon, in the year he began to reign, lifted up, the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison;

so he changed his prison garments, - and used to eat bread before his face continually, all the days of his life.

How is seated alone, the city that abounded with people, hath become as a widow, - She who abounded among the nations was a princess among provinces, hath come under tribute.

From on high, sent he fire, among my bones, and laid them prostrate, - He spread out a net for my feet, he made me turn back, he made me desolate, all the day, faint.

My Lord, hath flouted at all my magnates, in my midst, He hath called against me a host, to crush my young men, - A winepress, hath My Lord trodden, to the virgin, the daughter of Judah.

How could My Lord, in his anger, enshroud in gloom, the daughter of Zion? have cast from the heavens to the earth, the beauty of Israel? and not have remembered his footstool, in the day of his anger?

He hath broken off - in the glow of his anger - the whole horn of Israel, hath turned back his right hand, from the face of the foe, - and hath kindled against Jacob, a very fire of flame, devouring round about.

He hath trodden his bow like a foe, his right hand erect as an adversary, and hath slain all them who delighted the eye, - In the home of the daughter of Zion, hath he poured out, as fire, his indignation.