Jeremiah Chapter 21
1 A Message from the LORD to Jeremiah
When King Zedekiah Sent Him Pashhur Son of Malchijah
and Zephaniah the Priest, Son of Maaseiah
Jerusalem to Fall to Nebuchadnezzar
2 “Inquire from the LORD for us; Nebuchadnezzar is attacking us. Maybe the LORD will show us one of his wonderful acts so our enemy will withdraw.”
Jer 21:1-2
3 Jeremiah told them,
“Tell Zedekiah 4 that the LORD God of Israel says, ‘I’m going to make your weapons useless for fighting those who are laying siege outside the wall. I’ll let them come to the center of the city. 5 I’ll fight you myself with outstretched hand and strong arm in anger, wrath, and fury. 6 I’ll strike down people and animals with a severe plague. 7 After that, I’ll turn over to Nebuchadnezzar, Zedekiah, his officials, and people that survive the sword, famine, and disease. He won’t spare, he won’t pity, he won’t have mercy.’
Jer 21:3-7
8 “Tell the people the LORD says, ‘I’m giving you a choice, a way to live and a way to die. 9 If you stay in the city, you’ll die by sword, famine, and disease. If you surrender, you’ll have your life as the reward of war. 10 I’ve decided to give this city to the king of Babylon to burn.’ Jer 21:8-10
11 “Tell the king of Judah’s household, ‘Listen to the LORD’s message, 12 dynasty of David:
“Render justice every morning;
deliver from their oppressors those being robbed
so my anger won’t flare
and burn with nobody to put it out
because of your sins.
Jer 21:11-12
13 “I’m against you, Jerusalem,
you that live above the valley in that rocky fortress,
you that say, ‘Who can touch us up here?
Nobody can break in where we live.’
14 I’ll punish you in proportion to your sin;
I’ll set a fire in your forest
and burn up everything around you.”’”
Jer 21:13-14