A Warning to the Cities of Judah

1In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from YHWH, saying: 2“Thus says YHWH: Stand in the courtyard of the house of YHWH and speak over all the cities of Judah who are coming in to worship at the house of YHWH all the words that I command you to speak to them. You shall not restrain a word! 3Perhaps they will listen and turn, each from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the disaster that I am planning to bring on them because of the evil of their deeds.

4And you shall say to them, thus says YHWH: ‘If you⁺ do not listen to Me, to walk in My law that I have set before you⁺, 5to listen to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I am sending to you⁺, rising up early and sending them—and you⁺ have not listened— 6then I will give this house to be like Shiloh, and I will give this city to be a curse for all the nations of the earth.

Jeremiah Threatened with Death

7And the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of YHWH. 8And it came to pass, as Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that YHWH had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests, and the prophets, that all the people captured him, saying, “You must surely die! 9Why have you prophesied in the name of YHWH, saying that this house will become like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate without one dwelling there?”

And all the people gathered against Jeremiah in the house of YHWH.

10And the princes of Judah heard these things, and they came up from the house of the king to the house of YHWH, and they sat down in the entrance of the New Gate of YHWH.

11And the priests and the prophets spoke to the princes and to all the people, saying: “This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you⁺ have heard with your⁺ own ears.

12And Jeremiah spoke to all the princes and to all the people, saying: “YHWH sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city with all the words that you⁺ have heard. 13And now, amend your⁺ ways and your⁺ deeds, and obey the voice of YHWH your⁺ God, and YHWH will relent concerning the disaster that He has spoken against you⁺. 14And I am here in your⁺ hand, you may do to me as is good and right in your⁺ eyes. 15Only know for certain that if you⁺ put me to death, that you⁺ are bringing on yourselves innocent blood—and on this city and on its dwellers; for in truth YHWH has sent me to you⁺ to speak in your⁺ ears all these words.

Jeremiah Spared from Death

16And the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “This man is not worthy of death, for in the name of YHWH our God he has spoken to us.

17And rose up certain elders of the land, and they spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying: 18“Micah the Moreshethite was prophesying in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, thus says YHWH of Hosts:

‘Zion will be plowed like a field,

and Jerusalem will become heaps,

and the mountain of the temple as the high places of the forest.†

19Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone in Judah in any way put him to death? Did he not fear YHWH and seek the favor of YHWH? And YHWH relented concerning the disaster that He had spoken against them. And we are doing great evil against our souls!”

The Prophet Uriah

20And also there was a man prophesying in the name of YHWH, Urijah son of Shemaiah of Kiriath-jearim, and he prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah. 21And the king Jehoiakim and all his mighty men and all the princes heard his words, and the king sought to put him to death. And Urijah heard and was afraid, and he fled and went in to Egypt.

22And king Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt—Elnathan son of Achbor and men with him—to Egypt, 23and they brought out Urijah from Egypt and brought him to king Jehoiakim, and he killed him with the sword and cast his corpse into the graves of the sons of the people.

24Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so as not to give to him into the hand of the people to put him to death.