THE BOOK OF JEREMIAH

 

Jeremiah Chapter 26

1 ¶ At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah this word came from the LORD, saying,

2 The LORD says; Stand in the court of the LORD’S temple, and proclaim to all the people of the cities of Judah, who come to worship in the LORD’S house, every word that I command you to speak to them; do not leave out a word:

3 If they listen, and each of them turns from his evil way, I may change my decision about the disaster, which I intend to bring upon them because of the evil of their doings.

4 You are to say to them, The LORD says; If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

5 To hear the words of my servants the prophets, whom I repeatedly sent to you, though you have not listened;

6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.

7 ¶ So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah saying these words in the house of the LORD.

8 Now when Jeremiah had finished saying everything that the LORD had commanded him to say to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, You shall surely die.

9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house will be like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people gathered in opposition to Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

10 When the princes of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entrance of the new gate to the LORD’S house.

11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the princes and to all the people, This man deserves to die; because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the princes and to all the people, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.

13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will change his decision about the disaster that he has pronounced against you.

14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me what seems right and fitting to you.

15 But know for certain, that if you put me to death, you will surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon its inhabitants: for the LORD has truly sent me to you to tell you all these things.

16 ¶ Then the princes and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets; This man does not deserve to die: because he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.

17 Then certain of the elders of the land got up, and said to the whole assembly of the people,

18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, The LORD of hosts says; Zion will be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem will become ruins, and the temple mount like a wooded hill.

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? did he not fear the LORD, and plead with the LORD, and the LORD changed his decision concerning the disaster that he had pronounced against them? But we are going to bring disaster upon ourselves.

20 And there was another man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land in words similar to those of Jeremiah:

21 And when Jehoiakim the king, along with all his mighty men, and princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went to Egypt;

22 But Jehoiakim the king sent men to Egypt, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and the men who went with him into Egypt.

23 And they brought Urijah out of Egypt, and took him to Jehoiakim the king; who killed him with the sword, and threw his dead body in among the graves of the common people.

24 However Ahikam the son of Shaphan helped Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be killed.