1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent Pashhur, son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah the priest, sent to him to say, 2”Inquire of the LORD for us, I pray you; because Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, wages war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us as in times past, with all His wondrous works, and cause Nebuchadrezzar to withdraw from us.” 3Then Jeremiah told them, “Tell this to Zedekiah: 4‘This is what the LORD God of Israel says: “Behold, I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that you are using to defend against the king of Babylon, and the Chaldeans, who besiege you outside the walls; and I will gather them inside this city. 5And I, Myself, will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, in furious anger, and in great wrath. 6And I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die of a terrible plague. 7And afterward,” says the LORD, “I will deliver Zedekiah, king of Judah, his officials, and those in this city that survive the plague, sword, and famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar, king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies who seek their life; and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare, nor have pity, or mercy upon them.” 8And to this people you shall say, “Thus says the LORD; ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death. 9Whoever stays in this city shall die by the sword, the famine, and the plague; but they that go out, and surrender to the Chaldeans (Babylonians) that besiege you, shall live, and preserve their life. 10For I have set My mind to do this city harm, and not good,’ says the LORD; ‘it shall be handed over to the king of Babylon, who will destroy it by fire.’”

11‘And say to the royal family of the king of Judah, “Hear the word of the LORD: 12This is what the LORD says to you, O house of David: ‘Administer justice every morning, and rescue those that the oppressor has abused, or My fury shall break out like hot fire that cannot be quenched, because of your evil doings.’”

13“Behold, I am against you”, says the LORD, “and will oppose you who inhabit the valley and the rocky plateau of Jerusalem, those who say, ‘Who shall come down against us?’ or ‘Who can enter our fortress?’ 14But I will punish you as your evil deeds deserve”, says the LORD; “and I will kindle a fire in your forest, and it shall consume everything around you.”’”’”