1Then Shephatiah8203 the son1121 of Mattan4977, and Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Pashur6583, and Jucal3116 the son1121 of Shelemiah8018, and Pashur6583 the son1121 of Malchiah4441, heard8085 the words1697 that Jeremiah3414 had spoken1696 unto all the people5971, saying559,
2Thus saith559 the LORD3068, He that remaineth3427 in this city5892 shall die4191 by the sword2719, by the famine7458, and by the pestilence1698: but he that goeth forth3318 to the Chaldeans3778 shall live2421; for he shall have his life5315 for a prey7998, and shall live2421 2425.
3Thus saith559 the LORD3068, This city5892 shall surely5414 be given5414 into the hand3027 of the king4428 of Babylon's894 army2428, which shall take3920 it.
4Therefore the princes8269 said559 unto the king4428, We beseech thee, let this man376 be put to death4191: for thus3651 he weakeneth7503 the hands3027 of the men582 of war4421 that remain7604 in this city5892, and the hands3027 of all the people5971, in speaking1696 such words1697 unto them: for this man376 seeketh1875 not the welfare7965 of this people5971, but the hurt7451.
5Then Zedekiah6667 the king4428 said559, Behold, he is in your hand3027: for the king4428 is not he that can3201 do any thing1697 against you.
6Then took3947 they Jeremiah3414, and cast7993 him into the dungeon953 of Malchiah4441 the son1121 of Hammelech4428, that was in the court2691 of the prison4307: and they let down7971 Jeremiah3414 with cords2256. And in the dungeon953 there was no water4325, but mire2916: so Jeremiah3414 sunk2883 in the mire2916.
7Now when Ebedmelech5663 the Ethiopian3569, one376 of the eunuchs5631 which was in the king's4428 house1004, heard8085 that they had put5414 Jeremiah3414 in the dungeon953; the king4428 then sitting3427 in the gate8179 of Benjamin1144;
8Ebedmelech5663 went forth3318 out of the king's4428 house1004, and spake1696 to the king4428, saying559,
9My lord113 the king4428, these men582 have done evil7489 in all that they have done6213 to Jeremiah3414 the prophet5030, whom they have cast7993 into the dungeon953; and he is like to die4191 for6440 hunger7458 in the place8478 where he is: for there is no more bread3899 in the city5892.
10Then the king4428 commanded6680 Ebedmelech5663 the Ethiopian3569, saying559, Take3947 from hence thirty7970 men582 with thee3027, and take up5927 Jeremiah3414 the prophet5030 out of the dungeon953, before he die4191.
11So Ebedmelech5663 took3947 the men582 with him3027, and went935 into the house1004 of the king4428 under the treasury214, and took3947 thence old1094 cast clouts5499 and old1094 rotten rags4418, and let them down7971 by cords2256 into the dungeon953 to Jeremiah3414.
12And Ebedmelech5663 the Ethiopian3569 said559 unto Jeremiah3414, Put7760 now these old1094 cast clouts5499 and rotten rags4418 under thine armholes679 3027 under the cords2256. And Jeremiah3414 did6213 so.
13So they drew up4900 Jeremiah3414 with cords2256, and took him up5927 out of the dungeon953: and Jeremiah3414 remained3427 in the court2691 of the prison4307.
14Then Zedekiah6667 the king4428 sent7971, and took3947 Jeremiah3414 the prophet5030 unto him into the third7992 entry3996 that is in the house1004 of the LORD3068: and the king4428 said559 unto Jeremiah3414, I will ask7592 thee a thing1697; hide3582 nothing from me.
15Then Jeremiah3414 said559 unto Zedekiah6667, If I declare5046 it unto thee, wilt thou not surely4191 put me to death4191? and if I give thee counsel3289, wilt thou not hearken8085 unto me?
16So Zedekiah6667 the king4428 sware7650 secretly5643 unto Jeremiah3414, saying559, As the LORD3068 liveth2416, that made6213 us this soul5315, I will not put thee to death4191, neither will I give5414 thee into the hand3027 of these men582 that seek1245 thy life5315.
17Then said559 Jeremiah3414 unto Zedekiah6667, Thus saith559 the LORD3068, the God430 of hosts6635, the God430 of Israel3478; If thou wilt assuredly3318 go forth3318 unto the king4428 of Babylon's894 princes8269, then thy soul5315 shall live2421, and this city5892 shall not be burned8313 with fire784; and thou shalt live2421, and thine house1004:
18But if thou wilt not go forth3318 to the king4428 of Babylon's894 princes8269, then shall this city5892 be given5414 into the hand3027 of the Chaldeans3778, and they shall burn8313 it with fire784, and thou shalt not escape out4422 of their hand3027.
19And Zedekiah6667 the king4428 said559 unto Jeremiah3414, I am afraid1672 of the Jews3064 that are fallen5307 to the Chaldeans3778, lest they deliver5414 me into their hand3027, and they mock5953 me.
20But Jeremiah3414 said559, They shall not deliver5414 thee. Obey8085, I beseech thee, the voice6963 of the LORD3068, which I speak1696 unto thee: so it shall be well3190 unto thee, and thy soul5315 shall live2421.
21But if thou refuse3986 to go forth3318, this is the word1697 that the LORD3068 hath shewed7200 me:
22And, behold, all the women802 that are left7604 in the king4428 of Judah's3063 house1004 shall be brought forth3318 to the king4428 of Babylon's894 princes8269, and those women shall say559, Thy friends582 7965 have set thee on5496, and have prevailed3201 against thee: thy feet7272 are sunk2883 in the mire1206, and they are turned away5472 back268.
23So they shall bring out3318 all thy wives802 and thy children1121 to the Chaldeans3778: and thou shalt not escape out4422 of their hand3027, but shalt be taken8610 by the hand3027 of the king4428 of Babylon894: and thou shalt cause this city5892 to be burned8313 with fire784.
24Then said559 Zedekiah6667 unto Jeremiah3414, Let no man376 know3045 of these words1697, and thou shalt not die4191.
25But if the princes8269 hear8085 that I have talked1696 with thee, and they come935 unto thee, and say559 unto thee, Declare5046 unto us now what thou hast said1696 unto the king4428, hide3582 it not from us, and we will not put thee to death4191; also what the king4428 said1696 unto thee:
26Then thou shalt say559 unto them, I presented5307 my supplication8467 before6440 the king4428, that he would not cause me to return7725 to Jonathan's3083 house1004, to die4191 there.
27Then came935 all the princes8269 unto Jeremiah3414, and asked7592 him: and he told5046 them according to all these words1697 that the king4428 had commanded6680. So they left off speaking2790 with him; for the matter1697 was not perceived8085.
28So Jeremiah3414 abode3427 in the court2691 of the prison4307 until the day3117 that Jerusalem3389 was taken3920: and he was there when Jerusalem3389 was taken3920.