
{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
words of Jeremiah son of 
Hilkiah, one of the 
priests at Anathoth in 
the territory of 
Benjamin. {I}2_{/}The 
word of Yahweh came to 
him in the thirteenth 
year of the reign of 
Josiah son of Amon, king 
of Judah. {I}3_{/}It came 
again during the reign of 
Jehoiakim son of Josiah, 
king of Judah, until the 
eleventh year of Zedekiah 
son of Josiah, king of 
Judah. In the fifth month 
of that year, the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem 
were taken into exile.
THE CALL OF JEREMIAH{/}

{I}4_{/}A word of Yahweh 
came to me, {I}5_{/}"Even 
before I formed you in 
the womb I have known 
you; even before you were 
born I had set you apart, 
and appointed you a 
prophet to the nations!"
{I}6_{/}I said, "Ah, Lord 
Yahweh! I do not know how 
to speak; I am still 
young!"
{I}7_{/}But Yahweh 
replied, "Do not say; 'I 
am still young', for now 
you will go whatever be 
the mission I am 
entrusting to you, and 
you will speak of 
whatever I command you to 
say. {I}8_{/}Do not be 
afraid of them, for I 
will be with you to 
protect you - it is 
Yahweh who speaks!"
{I}9_{/}Then Yahweh 
stretched out his hand 
and touched my mouth and 
said to me, "Now I have 
put my words in your 
mouth. {I}10_{/}See! 
Today I give you 
authority over nations 
and over kingdoms to 
uproot and to pull down, 
to destroy and to 
overthrow, to build and 
to plant."
{I}11_{/}A word of Yahweh 
came to me again, 
"Jeremiah what do you 
see?" I said, "I see the 
branch of a watching 
tree." {I}12_{/}And 
Yahweh said to me, "You 
are right. I too am 
watching to fulfill my 
word." {I}13_{/}The word 
of Yahweh came to me a 
second time, "What do you 
see?" I replied, "I see a 
boiling caldron coming 
from the north and it is 
tilted towards this 
direction." Then Yahweh 
said to me, 
{I}14_{/}"From the north 
disaster will boil down 
on all the people of this 
land. {I}15_{/}I am 
calling all the kingdoms 
of the north - it is 
Yahweh who speaks. Each 
of them will come and 
encamp at the entrance of 
the gates of Jerusalem; 
against all its 
surrounding walls and 
against all the cities of 
Judah.
{I}16_{/}I will pass 
judgment on my people 
because of the evil they 
do in forsaking me; they 
have burned incense to 
foreign gods and 
worshipped gods their 
hands have made.
{I}17_{/}But you, get 
ready for action; stand 
up and say to them all 
that I command you. Be 
not scared of them or I 
will scare you in their 
presence!
{I}18_{/}See, I will make 
you a fortified city, a 
pillar of iron with walls 
of bronze, against all 
the nations, against the 
kings and princes of 
Judah, against the 
priests and the people of 
the land. {I}19_{/}They 
will fight against you 
but shall not overcome 
you, for I am with you to 
rescue you - it is Yahweh 
who speaks." 
THE INFIDELITIES OF 
ISRAEL{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}A word of Yahweh 
came to me, {I}2_{/}"Go 
and shout this in the 
hearing of Jerusalem. 
This is Yahweh's word:
I remember your kindness 
as a youth,
the love of your bridal 
days,
when you followed me in 
the wilderness,
through a land not sown.
{I}3_{/}Israel was holy 
to Yahweh,
the first-fruits of his 
harvest.
All who ate of it had to 
pay
and misfortune fell on 
them -
it is Yahweh who speaks.
{I}4_{/}Hear the word of 
Yahweh, people of Jacob,
all you families of the 
nation of Israel.
{I}5_{/}What wrong did 
your fathers find in me
that they strayed far 
from me?
Why did they pursue what 
is worthless
and become worthless 
themselves?
{I}6_{/}And they did not 
say: 'Where is Yahweh
who brought us out of 
Egypt
and led us in the 
wilderness,
through a land of deserts 
and pits,
a land of drought and 
darkness,
a land still untrodden 
and without inhabitants?'
{I}7_{/}I brought you to 
a fertile land
to eat of the choicest 
fruit.
As soon as you came you 
defiled my land
and dishonored my 
heritage!
{I}8_{/}The priests did 
not ask, 'Where is 
Yahweh?'
The masters of my 
teaching did not know me;
the pastors of my people 
betrayed me;
the prophets followed 
worthless idols
and spoke in the name of 
Baal.
{I}9_{/}Therefore I 
contend with you -
it is Yahweh who speaks -
and I will contend with 
the sons of your sons!
{I}10_{/}Cross to the 
coasts of Cyprus and see,
or send to Kedar and 
observe with care
if there has ever been 
such a thing!
{I}11_{/}Has a nation 
exchanged its gods,
false though they be?
But my people have 
exchanged their Glory
for what is worthless!
{I}12_{/}Be aghast at 
that, O heavens!
Shudder, be utterly 
appalled -
it is Yahweh who speaks -
{I}13_{/}for my people 
have done two evils:
they have forsaken me, 
the fountain of living 
water,
to dig for themselves 
leaking cisterns
that hold no water!
{I}14_{/}Did I make 
Israel a slave
or was he born in 
bondage?
How then did you become 
the spoil of others?
{I}15_{/}The lions have 
roared against you,
loudly indeed have they 
roared,
making your country a 
wasteland,
your cities a ruins 
without inhabitants.
{I}16_{/}Even the 
Egyptians of Memphis and 
Tahpanhes have humbled 
you!
{I}17_{/}Didn't you bring 
this on yourself
by forsaking Yahweh, your 
God,
even as he led you in the 
way?
{I}18_{/}Now why call to 
Egypt?
Will the water of the 
Nile heal you?
And why go to Assyria?
What good will the water 
of the River do you?
{I}19_{/}Your own 
wickedness chastises you
and your own 
unfaithfulness punishes 
you!
Know, and see that it is 
bitter and evil
to forsake Yahweh your 
God
and no longer to fear me 
-
it is Yahweh, the God of 
hosts, who speaks!
{I}20_{/}It was long ago 
that you broke your yoke
and burst your bonds,
saying: 'I will not 
serve!'
On every high hill
and under every green 
tree
you played the harlot!
{I}21_{/}I planted you a 
choice vine, a shoot of 
wholesome stock;
why have you become 
degenerate, a wild vine?
{I}22_{/}Even if you wash 
with soda
and use soap in 
abundance,
the stain of your sin is 
always before me -
it is the Lord Yahweh who 
speaks.
{I}23_{/}How do you dare 
say: 'I am not defiled,
I have not gone after the 
Baals'?
See your footprints in 
the valley,
admit what you have done,
O restive young she-
camel, running here and 
there.
{I}24_{/}Wild ass of the 
desert,
sniffing the wind in her 
desire,
who can restrain her 
lust?
Those who pursue her, 
need not tire themselves,
at mating time they will 
find her.
{I}25_{/}Run if you wish, 
until your feet are sore,
and your throat is dry!
But you say: 'It's no 
use,
I love foreign gods, it 
is them I follow.'
THE CRIMES OF 
JERUSALEM{/}

{I}26_{/}As a thief is 
shamed when caught,
so is the house of 
Israel,
they, their kings, their 
princes,
their priests and their 
prophets!
{I}27_{/}To a tree they 
say: 'You are my father!'
and to a stone: 'You gave 
me birth!'
For they have turned 
their back on me instead 
of their face!
In the day of misfortune
they will call me: 'Rise 
and save us!'
{I}28_{/}Where, then, are 
the gods of your own 
making?
Let them rise and save 
you if they can,
in the time of your 
distress,
for your gods, O Judah! 
are as many
as your cities.
{I}29_{/}Why argue with 
me? You have all betrayed 
me - it is Yahweh who 
speaks.
{I}30_{/}In vain did I 
strike your sons,
they did not learn a 
lesson!
And your sword, like a 
destroying lion
devoured your prophets!
{I}31_{/}All you of this 
generation, hear what 
Yahweh says:
Have I been a desert for 
Israel,
a land of darkness?
Why do my people say:
'We will depart from you
and no more return to 
you'?
{I}32_{/}Does a virgin 
forget her ornaments, or 
a bride her sash?
But my people have 
forgotten me
for days without number!
{I}33_{/}How well you 
direct your steps in your 
search for lovers,
even to walking along 
with crime!
{I}34_{/}Look at your 
garments
stained with the blood of 
the innocent poor, 
although you did not 
catch them breaking in!
{I}35_{/}I know you say: 
'I am innocent. Why does 
his anger not turn away 
from me?'
I will accuse you: Yes, 
you have sinned!
{I}36_{/}How lightly do 
you change your way!
You will be put to shame 
by Egypt as you were by 
Assyria.
{I}37_{/}You will also 
leave that place with 
your hands on your head,
for Yahweh has rejected 
those you trust, and they 
will not help you!
ARE YOU REALLY RETURNING 
TO ME?{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}If a man divorces 
his wife and she leaves 
him and marries another 
man, should he come back 
to her? Wouldn't the land 
be totally polluted? But 
you, you are a harlot 
with many lovers, and you 
still have the nerve to 
return to me? - it is 
Yahweh who speaks.
{I}2_{/}Lift your eyes to 
the hills and see: Where 
have you not been 
violated? By the wayside 
you sat waiting for your 
lovers, like an Arab in 
the wilderness, and you 
have dishonored the land 
with your evil and your 
harlotry!
{I}3_{/}The showers held 
back and there was no 
spring rain for you, yet 
you have a harlot's brow 
and refuse to be ashamed! 
{I}4_{/}Worse still you 
called to me: 'Father, 
guide of my youth! 
{I}5_{/}Will you always 
be angry? Will your wrath 
last forever?' That is 
what you said, and did 
evil as much as you were 
able to."
COMPARISON OF THE TWO 
SISTERS{/}

{I}6_{/}During the reign 
of King Josiah, Yahweh 
said to me, "Have you 
seen what faithless 
Israel has done? She has 
gone on every high hill 
and under every green 
tree and there played the 
harlot! {I}7_{/}So I 
thought: After all this 
she will return to me; 
but she did not.
Her perverse sister, 
Judah, saw {I}8_{/}that 
for all the adulteries of 
that unfaithful Israel, I 
sent her away with a 
certificate of divorce. 
Yet I saw that the 
disloyal Judah had no 
fear and that she too 
went and played the 
harlot! {I}9_{/}Because 
of her harlotry, she 
dishonored the land, 
sinning with stones and 
trees. {I}10_{/}And even 
after that her sister, 
the unfaithful Judah, did 
not come to me 
wholeheartedly. It was 
only pretense. It is 
Yahweh who speaks."
{I}11_{/}And Yahweh 
continued, "Rebellious 
Israel has been less 
guilty than false Judah. 
{I}12_{/}Go and shout 
this message to the 
north:
Come back, unfaithful 
Israel - it is Yahweh who 
speaks - I will not let 
my anger fall on you for 
I am merciful, I will not 
be angry forever.
{I}13_{/}Simply confess 
your guilt; you have 
rebelled against Yahweh 
your God, and have 
scattered your favors 
among strangers under 
every green tree, and you 
have not obeyed my voice 
- it is the word of 
Yahweh.
THE NEW JERUSALEM{/}

{I}14_{/}Come back, 
faithless people - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - for I 
am your master. I will 
select one from a city 
and two from a family and 
bring you to Zion. 
{I}15_{/}Then I will give 
you shepherds after my 
own heart, who will feed 
you with knowledge and 
prudence. {I}16_{/}And 
when you have increased 
and multiplied in the 
land in those days - it 
is Yahweh who speaks - 
people will no longer 
speak of the ark of the 
covenant of Yahweh; it 
will not be remembered or 
missed, nor shall it be 
made again!
{I}17_{/}Then they will 
call Jerusalem 'The 
Throne of Yahweh' and all 
the nations will gather 
there to honor the name 
of Yahweh and no longer 
will they follow the 
stubbornness of their 
wicked hearts.
{I}18_{/}In those days 
the people of Judah will 
unite with the people of 
Israel and together they 
will return from the 
north to the land that I 
gave to their ancestors 
as a heritage.
CONTINUATION OF THE POEM 
FOR CONVERSION{/}

{I}19_{/}And I thought: 
How gladly would I have 
placed you among my 
children and given you as 
your inheritance a 
beautiful land, the most 
splendid among all the 
nations! And I thought 
you would call me 'my 
father' and not turn from 
following me!
{I}20_{/}But, like a 
woman unfaithful to her 
husband, you have been 
unfaithful to me, O 
people of Israel! - it is 
Yahweh who speaks."
{I}21_{/}A cry is heard 
in the barren heights, 
the weeping and pleading 
of the children of 
Israel, because they have 
perverted their way and 
have forgotten Yahweh 
their God!
{I}22_{/}"Come back, 
unfaithful people, I will 
heal you of your 
rebelliousness!"
'Yes, we come to you, for 
you are Yahweh our God!
{I}23_{/}Truly the 
temples on the heights 
and the feasts on the 
hills are useless; only 
Yahweh our God can save 
Israel.
{I}24_{/}The infamous god 
has devoured all the 
fruits of our 
forefathers' labor since 
our youth, their flocks 
and their herds, their 
sons and their daughters. 
{I}25_{/}Let us lie down 
in our shame and let our 
confusion cover us, for 
it is against Yahweh our 
God that we have sinned 
from our youth until this 
day, we and our fathers, 
and we have not obeyed 
the voice of Yahweh our 
God!'
DISASTER FORETOLD{/}

{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}"If you return to 
me, O Israel - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - if 
you convert to me and 
remove your dirty idols 
from my sight you will 
have no need to hide from 
me; {I}2_{/}if you 
truthfully, justly and 
honestly swear by 
Yahweh's life, then you 
will be a blessing for 
all nations, and you will 
be their glory."
{I}3_{/}For thus says 
Yahweh to the people of 
Judah and Jerusalem, 
"Break up deeply your 
fallow land and do not 
sow among the thorns. 
{I}4_{/}O men of Judah 
and Jerusalem! circumcise 
yourselves for Yahweh and 
purify your hearts, lest 
my wrath spread like a 
fire that cannot be 
quenched because of your 
evil deeds."
{I}5_{/}Announce this in 
Judah,
proclaim it in Jerusalem.
Sound the trumpet through 
the land;
shout aloud and say:
"Assemble and go to the 
fortified cities!
{I}6_{/}Raise a banner 
towards Zion!
Run for your lives, do 
not tarry,
for I will bring evil 
and great destruction 
from the north.
{I}7_{/}The lion has come 
out of his den; the 
destroyer of nations has 
set out to devastate your 
country and make your 
cities ruins without 
inhabitants!
{I}8_{/}Because of this, 
wrap yourselves in 
sackcloth; lament and 
groan, for the fury of 
Yahweh's anger has not 
turned away from us.
{I}9_{/}On that day - it 
is Yahweh who speaks - 
the king and the leaders 
will be discouraged, the 
priests will be terrified 
and the prophets will be 
astounded. 
{I}10_{/}People will say, 
"Ah! Lord Yahweh, you 
have truly deceived this 
people and Jerusalem, 
saying: 'You will have 
peace' even as the sword 
is at our throat."

{I}11_{/}When the time 
comes it will be said to 
the people of Jerusalem: 
"Wearing wind from the 
desert heights is coming 
to the daughter of my 
people, neither to winnow 
nor to cleanse! 
{I}12_{/}A strong wind 
comes from there.
Now I will declare my 
judgments against them."
{I}13_{/}See! Someone 
comes like the clouds,
his chariots are like a 
whirlwind,
his horses swifter than 
eagles!
Woe to us for we are 
ruined!
{I}14_{/}Cleanse your 
heart of every evil, 
Jerusalem, that you may 
be saved! How long will 
you harbor evil plans 
within you?
{I}15_{/}A voice from Dan 
declares of a coming 
disaster from Mount 
Ephraim! "Warn the 
nations. {I}16_{/}Let 
everyone know in 
Jerusalem and Judah that 
enemies are coming from a 
distant land." 
{I}17_{/}They encircle 
Jerusalem like men 
guarding a field, because 
she has rebelled against 
me - it is Yahweh who 
speaks.
{I}18_{/}Your own conduct 
and actions have brought 
this upon you. How bitter 
is your punishment and 
how it deeply penetrates 
your heart because you 
have rebelled against 
me!"
BARREN SOIL{/}

{I}19_{/}I am in anguish! 
I tremble in the depths 
of my being; my heart 
beats wildly. I cannot 
remain silent for I hear 
the sound of the trumpet 
and the clamor of war!
{I}20_{/}Disaster after 
disaster; all the land is 
laid waste; my tents are 
suddenly destroyed and in 
an instant all that 
shelters me is wiped out. 
{I}21_{/}For how long 
must I see the banner 
raised and hear the sound 
of the trumpet?
{I}22_{/}"This happens 
because my people are 
foolish and do not know 
me. They are senseless 
and have no 
understanding, - wise in 
doing evil but stupid in 
doing good!"
{I}23_{/}I looked at the 
earth and I found it 
formless and void; I 
looked at the sky but 
darkness engulfed it.
{I}24_{/}I looked at the 
mountains and they were 
quaking, and all the 
hills were swaying to and 
fro.
{I}25_{/}I looked and saw 
that it was a no-man's 
land; even the birds 
deserted the skies.
{I}26_{/}I looked and saw 
that the fruitful land 
was a desert and that all 
the cities were in ruins 
because of Yahweh and his 
fierce anger.
{I}27_{/}Yahweh says, 
"The whole land may be 
desolate but I will not 
totally destroy it! 
{I}28_{/}Because of this 
the earth shall mourn and 
the skies be darkened: I 
have declared my purpose 
and will not relent; I 
have made up my mind and 
will not change it."
{I}29_{/}At the sound of 
the horsemen and
archers every town takes 
flight;
some go to the thickets
and climb among the 
rocks.
All the towns are 
deserted
and no one is left.
{I}30_{/}And you, 
desolate one,
what will you do?
Even if you are garbed in 
scarlet
and wear jewels of gold
and put make-up on your 
eyes,
in vain do you beautify 
yourself,
for your lovers despise 
you
and are ready to take 
your life.
{I}31_{/}I hear a cry as 
of a woman in labor, 
anguish as of one giving 
birth the first time. It 
is the cry of the 
daughter of Zion, gasping 
for breath with hands 
outstretched: "Woe is me! 
I am fainting amidst a 
band of murderers!"
NOT ONE IS UPRIGHT{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}"Go through the 
streets of Jerusalem; 
observe carefully and 
take note. Search the 
entire city squares and 
find, if you can, even 
one man who acts justly 
and seeks the truth, that 
I may forgive this city." 
{I}2_{/}Even though they 
swear, 'As surely as 
Yahweh lives' they do not 
mean what they say.
{I}3_{/}O Yahweh, are you 
not looking for truth? 
You struck them but they 
did not feel it; you 
crushed them but they 
rejected correction. They 
set their faces harder 
than a rock and refused 
to repent.
{I}4_{/}Then I thought: 
"Such are the poor, they 
act foolishly because 
they do not know the way 
of Yahweh, the law of 
their God! {I}5_{/}So I 
will go to the well-to-do 
and speak to them for 
they know the way of 
Yahweh and the law of 
their God." But they, 
too, have broken their 
yoke and burst their 
bonds!
{I}6_{/}That is why the 
lion from the forest will 
slay them and the wolf 
from the desert will 
destroy them, while the 
leopard lurks around 
their cities. Anyone who 
comes out is torn to 
pieces, for great is 
their sin and many are 
their desertions!
{I}7_{/}"Why should I 
pardon you? Your sons 
have rejected me and 
sworn by false gods. I 
gave them all they needed 
and yet they committed 
adultery and trooped to 
the harlot's house. They 
are well-fed, 
{I}8_{/}lusty stallions, 
each one neighing for his 
neighbor's wife.
{I}9_{/}Shall I not call 
them to account - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - shall 
I not take vengeance 
against a nation like 
this?
{I}10_{/}Go up, nations, 
through her vineyards and 
ravage them, but do not 
entirely destroy my vine. 
Cut off her branches for 
they are not Yahweh's. 
{I}11_{/}For the people 
of Israel and Judah have 
been utterly unfaithful 
to me - it is Yahweh who 
speaks.
{I}12_{/}They have spoken 
falsely of Yahweh, 
saying, "He does not 
exist; no harm will 
happen to us; we shall 
see neither the sword nor 
famine! {I}13_{/}As for 
the prophets, they are 
but wind. God doesn't 
speak to them."
{I}14_{/}Because of this, 
Yahweh the God of hosts 
has spoken, "This is what 
I am going to do to them: 
I will put words in your 
mouth. They will be like 
a fire, and this people 
will be the wood it 
devours."
{I}15_{/}People of 
Israel! I will bring 
against you a nation from 
afar - it is Yahweh who 
speaks - ( ) whose 
language you do not 
understand. 
{I}16_{/}( ) All of them 
are mighty warriors.
{I}17_{/}They will devour 
your harvest and your 
food,
devour your sons and 
daughters,
devour your flocks and 
herds,
devour your vines and 
your fig trees.
They will devastate with 
the sword
the fortified cities in 
which you trust.
{I}18_{/}But even in 
those days - it is Yahweh 
who speaks - I will not 
utterly destroy them. 
{I}19_{/}And when they 
ask, "Why has Yahweh our 
God done all this to us?" 
you shall say to them, 
"Just as you have 
forsaken me and served 
foreign gods in your 
land, so shall you serve 
strangers in a land that 
is not your own."
{I}20_{/}Declare this to 
the people of Jacob and 
make it known in Judah,
{I}21_{/}listen, stupid 
and senseless people!
who have eyes and do not 
see,
who have ears and do not 
hear!
{I}22_{/}Do you not fear 
me? -
it is Yahweh who speaks -
Will you not tremble 
before me?
I set the sand as a limit 
to the sea, an 
everlasting barrier it 
may never pass;
its waves toss but cannot 
prevail;
they roar but are unable 
to go beyond it.
{I}23_{/}But this 
people's heart is 
rebellious and stubborn; 
they have turned aside 
and gone away! 
{I}24_{/}They do not say 
in their hearts, "Let us 
fear Yahweh our God who 
sends in season the rain, 
and has in store for us 
the harvest."
{I}25_{/}Your crimes have 
turned order into chaos, 
your sins have deprived 
you of these blessings, 
{I}26_{/}for among my 
people are wicked men; 
they set traps like 
fowlers and catch human 
beings.
{I}27_{/}Their houses are 
filled with loot,
like a cage full of 
birds.
It has turned them rich 
and powerful;
{I}28_{/}they have become 
fat and sleek.
Great is their 
wickedness;
there is no justice in 
their judgment,
for they do not protect 
the orphan's rights nor 
defend the needy's cause!
{I}29_{/}Should I not 
severely punish them for 
such things? - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - 
Should I not exact 
vengeance against a 
people like them?
{I}30_{/}A terrible and 
abominable thing has 
happened in the land, 
{I}31_{/}prophets 
prophesy lies and priests 
teach what pleases them, 
and my people like it to 
be so. But what will you 
do soon?
JERUSALEM IS BESIEGED{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}People of 
Benjamin! Seek safety 
beyond Jerusalem.
Sound the trumpet in 
Tekoa,
raise a signal in Beth-
hacherem,
for misfortune pours out 
from the north:
it will be a huge 
disaster.
{I}2_{/}Shall I not 
compare you, daughter of 
Zion, to a beautiful 
pasture? 
{I}3_{/}Shepherds with 
their flocks are coming 
to her, they pitch their 
tents and feed their 
flocks all over her.
{I}4_{/}Declare a holy 
war against her,
attack her at noontime.
Woe to us! For the day 
declines;
the evening shadows 
lengthen!
{I}5_{/}Rise up! We shall 
attack by night
and destroy her palaces!
{I}6_{/}For Yahweh of 
hosts has spoken: "Cut 
down trees and build a 
siege-ramp against 
Jerusalem. This city must 
be punished for all in 
her is oppression. 
{I}7_{/}Evil springs from 
her as water from a well. 
Violence and opression 
are heard in the city, 
suffering and cruelty are 
always before me.
JEREMIAH'S THREATS{/}

{I}8_{/}Take warning, 
Jerusalem, lest I turn 
away from you and make 
you a desolation, a no-
man's land."
{I}9_{/}Yahweh of hosts 
further said, "You shall 
glean thoroughly as a 
vine, what is left of 
Israel. You shall do what 
the grape-gatherer does 
when his hand goes over 
the branches again."
{I}10_{/}To whom shall I 
speak, whom shall I warn? 
No one of them wants to 
listen, that they may 
understand. Their ears 
are stuffed and they pay 
no attention. They scorn 
what Yahweh says and 
refuse to listen. 
{I}11_{/}The anger of 
Yahweh has filled me and 
I can bear it no longer!
"Then pour it out on the 
children in the street 
and on the gathering of 
young men; both husband 
and wife will be caught, 
both the elderly and 
those who are not of age. 
{I}12_{/}Their houses 
will be passed to others, 
together with their 
fields and their wives, 
when I stretch out my 
hand and strike the 
people of the land - it 
is Yahweh who speaks.
{I}13_{/}All of them - 
from the least to the 
greatest - are greedy for 
gain; prophet and priest 
alike are deceitful. 
{I}14_{/}They treat 
lightly the disaster of 
my people saying, "Peace, 
peace," when there is no 
peace.
{I}15_{/}They should be 
ashamed of their 
abominable deeds. But 
they have no shame and 
don't even know how to 
blush. Surely they shall 
fall with those who will 
fall; when I ask them to 
account they will stumble 
- it is Yahweh who 
speaks.
{I}16_{/}This is what 
Yahweh says, "Stand in 
the roads and look. Ask 
for the ancient paths and 
know where the good way 
is. Walk on it and 
experience peace for 
yourselves." But you 
said, "We will not take 
it." {I}17_{/}Then Yahweh 
set watchmen over you: 
"Pay attention to the 
sound of the horn!" But 
you said, "We will not 
listen."
{I}18_{/}Listen nations; 
know what will befall 
them! {I}19_{/}Listen 
earth! I am bringing 
disaster on this people! 
It is the fruit of their 
rebellion, because they 
ignored my words and 
despised my Law.
{I}20_{/}The incense from 
Sheba is useless for me, 
don't bring me the 
fragrant cane from a 
distant land. Your burnt 
offerings are not 
acceptable to me nor do I 
find your sacrifices 
pleasing."
{I}21_{/}This is what 
Yahweh says, "I will 
place stumbling blocks 
before this people to 
make them stumble, 
parents and children, 
neighbors and friends 
together."
{I}22_{/}It is Yahweh who 
speaks, "See, a people 
comes from the north, a 
powerful nation from the 
ends of the earth. 
{I}23_{/}Armed with bow 
and spear they are cruel 
and merciless. Their 
voice roars like the 
roaring sea. Mounted on 
horses, in battle 
formation they come as a 
fire, against you, 
daughter of Zion."
{I}24_{/}When we heard 
this our hands went limp, 
anguish seized us like 
the birthpangs of a 
woman. {I}25_{/}"Let us 
not go to the fields or 
onto the roads, for the 
enemy's sword brings 
terror on every side."
{I}26_{/}O my people! 
Wrap yourself in 
sackcloth and roll in 
ashes; mourn with bitter 
lament as for an only 
child, for the destroyer 
is coming against us.
{I}27_{/}"I have 
appointed you as an 
examiner among my people, 
that you may see and 
appreciate their ways."
{I}28_{/}They are all 
rebels and slanderers. 
They are like bronze and 
iron and all are corrupt. 
{I}29_{/}The bellows blow 
to burn away the lead 
with fire, but the 
smelter works in vain for 
the evil elements remain. 
{I}30_{/}They will be 
called 'worthless silver' 
for Yahweh has rejected 
them.
I CAN DESTROY THIS 
TEMPLE{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}These words were 
spoken by Yahweh, to 
Jeremiah, {I}2_{/}"Stand 
at the gate of Yahweh's 
house and proclaim this 
in a loud voice: Listen 
to what Yahweh says, all 
you people of Judah (who 
enter these gates to 
worship Yahweh). 
{I}3_{/}Yahweh the God of 
Israel says this: 
Amend your ways and your 
deeds and I will stay 
with you in this place. 
{I}4_{/}Rely not on empty 
words such as: "Look, the 
Temple of Yahweh! the 
Temple of Yahweh! This is 
the Temple of Yahweh!"
{I}5_{/}It is far better 
for you to amend your 
ways and act justly with 
all. {I}6_{/}Do not abuse 
the stranger, orphan or 
widow or shed innocent 
blood in this place or 
follow false gods to your 
own ruin. {I}7_{/}Then I 
will stay with you in 
this place, in the land I 
gave to your forefathers 
in times past and 
forever.
{I}8_{/}But you trust in 
deceptive and useless 
words. {I}9_{/}You steal, 
kill, take the wife of 
your neighbor; you swear 
falsely, worship Baal and 
follow foreign gods who 
are not yours. 
{I}10_{/}Then, after 
doing all these horrible 
things, you come and 
stand before me in this 
temple that bears my Name 
and say, "Now we are 
safe."
{I}11_{/}Is this house on 
which rests my Name a den 
of thieves? I have seen 
this myself - it is 
Yahweh who speaks. 
{I}12_{/}Go to the 
sanctuary at Shiloh in 
Israel, where I first let 
my Name rest, and see 
what I did to that place 
because of the wickedness 
of my people Israel.
{I}13_{/}You have done 
all this and have not 
listened when I 
repeatedly warned you; 
neither have you answered 
when I called you. 
{I}14_{/}What I did in 
Shiloh, I will likewise 
do to this temple on 
which rests my Name, this 
sacred place in which you 
trust and which I have 
given to you and to your 
forefathers.
{I}15_{/}As for you, I 
will drive you out of my 
sight, just as I cast 
away all your kinsmen in 
the north, the entire 
race of Ephraim.
{I}16_{/}Do not plead for 
this people. Make no 
prayer or supplication 
for them; do not press me 
on their behalf because I 
will not listen to you.
{I}17_{/}Don't you see 
what they do in the 
cities of Judah and in 
the streets of Jerusalem? 
{I}18_{/}The children 
gather wood and the 
fathers light fire. The 
women knead dough to make 
cakes for the Queen of 
Heaven and pour out drink 
offerings for foreign 
gods. {I}19_{/}They do 
this to belittle me. But 
is it me they belittle? 
asks Yahweh. No, they 
belittle themselves to 
their own confusion.
{I}20_{/}Because of this 
Yahweh has spoken, "The 
fury of my anger will be 
poured out on this place, 
both on man and beast, on 
the trees in the fields 
and on the produce of the 
earth; it will burn and 
not be extinguished."
TRUE RELIGION{/}

{I}21_{/}This is what 
Yahweh of hosts, says to 
you, "Add your burnt 
offerings to your 
sacrifices and eat the 
flesh. {I}22_{/}When I 
brought your forefathers 
out of Egypt I did not 
give them mandate 
regarding sacrifices and 
burnt offerings. 
{I}23_{/}One thing I did 
command them: Listen to 
my voice and I will be 
your God and you will be 
my people. Walk in the 
way I command you and all 
will be well with you. 
{I}24_{/}But they did not 
listen and paid no 
attention; they followed 
the bad habits of their 
stubborn heart and turned 
away from me.
{I}25_{/}From the time I 
brought their forefathers 
out of Egypt until this 
day I have continually 
sent them my servants, 
the prophets, 
{I}26_{/}but this stiff-
necked people did not 
listen. They paid no 
attention and were worse 
than their forefathers.
{I}27_{/}You may say all 
these things to them but 
they will not listen; you 
will call them but they 
will not answer. 
{I}28_{/}This is a nation 
that did not obey Yahweh 
and refused to be 
disciplined; truth has 
perished and is no longer 
heard from their lips.
{I}29_{/}Cut off your 
hair and throw it away. 
Intone a lament on the 
bare heights, for Yahweh 
has rejected and 
foresaken these people.' 
This is Yahweh's word.
{I}30_{/}The people of 
Judah have done what 
disgusts me; they have 
placed their idols in the 
sanctuary that houses my 
Name and defiled it. 
{I}31_{/}They have built 
the temple of Topheth in 
the valley of Hinnom 
where they burn their 
sons and daughters, 
something I never 
commanded or even thought 
of.
{I}32_{/}Hence the time 
will come when it will no 
longer be called Topheth 
or the valley of Hinnom, 
but rather the valley of 
Slaughter, for they will 
bury the dead in Topheth 
for lack of space 
elsewhere. {I}33_{/}And 
the corpses of this 
people will be eaten by 
birds and animals; and 
none will scare them 
away.
{I}34_{/}In the cities of 
Judah and the streets of 
Jerusalem I will bring to 
an end all expressions of 
joy and happiness, the 
songs of the bride and 
bridegroom, for the land 
will become a wilderness.
{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}When that time 
comes - it is Yahweh who 
speaks - they will bring 
from the tombs the bones 
of the kings of Judah, 
the bones of their 
leaders, priests, 
prophets and of the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem. 
{I}2_{/}They will expose 
them to the Sun and Moon 
and all the gods of the 
skies, because they have 
loved and served them, 
and they have followed 
and worshiped them. These 
bones will not be 
gathered up to be 
replaced in tombs but 
will remain like dung on 
the ground.
{I}3_{/}Death will be 
preferable to life for 
the survivors of this 
perverse race who remain 
in places to which I have 
driven them.
SIN AND PUNISHMENT{/}

{I}4_{/}This is what 
Yahweh told me, "You will 
say to them: Doesn't the 
one who falls get up and 
the one who goes away 
return? {I}5_{/}Why then 
has this people turned 
away in stubborn 
rebellion? They make a 
habit of deceit and 
refuse to repent.
{I}6_{/}I listened 
attentively; they did not 
speak truthfully nor did 
they repent of their 
wickedness. No one says: 
'What have I done!' They 
all follow their own 
course like horses 
plunging into battle. 
{I}7_{/}Even the stork in 
the sky knows her times; 
the dove, the swallow and 
the crane know the time 
to return, but my people 
do not know the 
ordinances of Yahweh.
{I}8_{/}How dare you say: 
'We are wise and the Law 
of Yahweh is with us' 
when the deceiving pen of 
the scribe has turned it 
into a lie? {I}9_{/}The 
wise will be put to 
shame; they shall be 
dismayed and trapped. 
Since they have despised 
the word of Yahweh, what 
then is left as the basis 
of their wisdom?
{I}10_{/}That is why I 
will give their wives to 
other men, their fields 
to conquerors, for all of 
them, the smallest to the 
greatest, are greedy for 
gain. All, from the 
prophet to the priest, 
practice deceit. 
{I}11_{/}They treat 
lightly the wound of my 
people saying 'Peace, 
peace!' when there is no 
peace.
{I}12_{/}They should be 
ashamed of their 
aborminable deeds. They 
have no shame and don't 
even know how to blush. 
Surely they shall fall 
along with those who will 
fall; for I will ask them 
to account and they will 
stumble.
{I}13_{/}I will make an 
end of them - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - for 
the vine yields no 
grapes, the fig tree no 
figs, even the leaves are 
withered. I will hand 
them over to the 
passersby."
{I}14_{/}"Why do we sit 
still? Get up! We shall 
go to the fortified 
cities to perish there. 
See, Yahweh our God wants 
us to die and gives us 
poisoned water, because 
we have sinned against 
him.
{I}15_{/}We hoped for 
peace and we see nothing 
good! for a time of 
healing, but terror came! 
{I}16_{/}From Dan we hear 
the snorting of his 
horses; at the sound of 
the neighing of his 
stallions the whole earth 
trembles."
- "They are coming to 
devour the land and all 
it contains, the city and 
all who dwell in it. 
{I}17_{/}For I am letting 
loose against you snakes 
and adders that cannot be 
charmed, and they will 
bite you."
{I}18_{/}Sorrow takes 
hold of me, my heart 
fails me. {I}19_{/}The 
pleading of the daughter 
of my people is heard all 
over the land: Has Yahweh 
abandoned Zion? Is her 
king no longer there? -
"Why have they provoked 
me with their images, 
with their foreign gods?"
{I}20_{/}The harvest is 
over, the summer is past 
and we have not been 
saved. {I}21_{/}I am 
brokenhearted because of 
my people's misfortune.
I am crushed and 
dismayed. {I}22_{/}Is 
there no balm in Gilead? 
Is there no healer there? 
Why is no remedy given to 
my people?
{I}23_{/}I would that my 
head were a well of water 
and my eyes a fountain of 
tears to weep day and 
night for the slain of my 
people.
{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}Who will give me 
a lodging, in the desert, 
that I may leave my 
people
and go far from them?
For they are all 
adulterers,
a band of traitors.
{I}2_{/}They bend their 
tongue like bows.
Deceit and not truth 
prevail in the land.
They commit one crime 
after another
and do not know me.
{I}3_{/}Each one is 
suspicious of his friend
and no one trusts his 
brother,
brother deceives brother,
friend slanders friend.
{I}4_{/}They deceive each 
other;
no one speaks the truth.
Their tongues are 
addicted to lying;
they are perverse and too 
hardened to repent.
{I}5_{/}They live amidst 
deceitfulness
and deceitfulness 
prevents them from 
knowing me.
{I}6_{/}That is why - 
word of Yahweh God of 
hosts -
I will refine and test 
them,
for what else can I do 
for my people?
{I}7_{/}Their tongues are 
like deadly arrows,
uttering deceitful words.
With their friend they 
speak of peace
but in their heart they 
set a trap for him.
{I}8_{/}Isn't it reason 
enough for me to punish 
them?
Shall I not avenge myself 
on such a nation?
{I}9_{/}On the mountains 
there will be weeping and 
wailing, and on the 
prairies of the 
wilderness a dirge, 
because they have been 
burnt and deserted, and 
the sound of flock is 
heard no more. The birds 
of the sky and the beasts 
have all fled and are 
gone.
{I}10_{/}I will make 
Jerusalem a heap of 
ruins, a den of jackals.
I will make the cities of 
Judah a wasteland without 
inhabitants."
{I}11_{/}Who is wise 
enough to understand 
these events? And who is 
the one Yahweh has chosen 
to reveal them? Why has 
the land perished and 
been laid waste like a 
desert where no one 
passes?
{I}12_{/}Yahweh answered, 
"It is because they have 
forsaken the Law that I 
gave them. They have not 
listened to me 
{I}13_{/}but in the 
stubbornness of their 
heart they have followed 
the Baals as they were 
instructed by their 
fathers."
{I}14_{/}That is why 
Yahweh, the God of hosts 
and the God of Israel 
says, "I will make this 
people eat bitter food 
and I will give them 
poisoned water. 
{I}15_{/}I will scatter 
them among nations that 
neither they nor their 
fathers knew and I will 
send the sword after them 
until I have finished 
with them."
{I}16_{/}Listen! Call for 
the wailing women to 
come, send for the most 
skillful!
{I}17_{/}Let them hasten 
to intone a funeral song, 
and let us weep,
our eyes running with 
tears.
{I}18_{/}The sound of 
wailing is heard in Zion.
A terrible disaster has 
befallen us!
How great our shame to 
leave the land,
to see our homes broken 
down!
{I}19_{/}You women, take 
heed of what Yahweh says, 
let your ears pay 
attention to his words.
Teach this lament to your 
daughters
and each of them to their 
friends:
{I}20_{/}"Death has come 
through our windows and 
invaded our palaces,
cutting down the children 
in the street
and young men in the 
squares!

{I}21_{/}The corpes are 
scattered in the fields 
like dung;
like sheaves cut by the 
reaper
with no one to gather 
them!"
TRUE WISDOM{/}

{I}22_{/}It is Yahweh who 
speaks:
"Let not the wise boast 
of his wisdom,
nor the valiant of his 
valor
nor the wealthy of his 
wealth!
{I}23_{/}But if someone 
wants to boast,
let him boast of this:
of understanding and 
knowing me.
I am Yahweh, the 
merciful;
I implement justice
and rule the world with 
righteousness.
"For in these things I 
delight,"
- this is Yahweh's word.
{I}24_{/}"The time is 
coming," Yahweh says, 
"when I will ask to 
account both those who 
are circumcised and those 
who are not: 
{I}25_{/}Egypt, Juda, the 
Amonites and the Moabites 
with all the Arabs of the 
desert, for all these 
nations are not 
circumcised, and the 
people of Israel are not 
circumcised in their 
heart."
IDOLS AND THE TRUE GOD{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}Hear the word 
which Yahweh speaks to 
you, people of Israel,
{I}2_{/}"Do not follow 
the way of the foreign 
nations and do not fear 
signs in the sky as they 
do. The Awesome God of 
these nations is but 
nothing. {I}3_{/}It is 
only wood cut from a tree 
in the forest and shaped 
by a craftsman's chisel. 
{I}4_{/}They adorn it 
with silver from Tarshish 
and gold from Ophir and 
then fasten it with 
hammer and nails to keep 
it from falling. 
{I}5_{/}Their idols are 
like scarecrows in a 
cucumber field; they 
cannot speak. They have 
to be carried because 
they cannot walk. Have no 
fear of them; they can do 
neither harm nor good."
{I}6_{/}No one equals 
you, Yahweh,
you are great.
Power is yours, and great 
is your Name!
{I}7_{/}Who would not 
fear you, King of 
nations?
You are to be feared,
for among the wise of the 
nations
and in all their kingdoms
no one equals you.
{I}8_{/}They are all 
brutish and stupid;
their idols are proof of 
their foolishness.
{I}10_{/}But Yahweh is 
the true God,
the living God and 
eternal King.
His anger makes the earth 
quake;
the nations cannot endure 
his fury.
{I}11_{/}You will say 
this to them, "The gods 
who did not make either 
the heavens or the earth 
shall disappear from the 
earth and from under the 
heavens."
{I}12_{/}By his power he 
made the earth,
by his wisdom he 
established the world;
by his understanding he 
extended the heavens.
{I}13_{/}When he raises 
his voice
the waters pile up in the 
heavens.
He calls the clouds from 
the ends of  the earth; 
he sends lightning with 
the rain and from his 
storehouse sends out the 
wind.
{I}14_{/}At this all men 
feel stupid and without 
knowledge. Every 
goldsmith is ashamed of 
his idol which is a fraud 
without breath. 
{I}15_{/}They are 
worthless, ridiculous 
objects; they shall 
perish when the time of 
retribution comes.
{I}16_{/}He instead has 
formed the universe and 
Israel as well, the tribe 
of his inheritance,
for he is the portion of 
Jacob:
Yahweh, God of hosts is 
his name.
{I}17_{/}Gather up your 
belongings and leave the 
land, you who are the 
victims of siege,
{I}18_{/}for thus says 
Yahweh,
"I am hurling far away 
the inhabitants of this 
land, and I will let them 
be pursued and captured."
{I}19_{/}Woe is me! What 
suffering!
My wound is incurable!
But I shall say; "Mine is 
this illness,
I must bear it."
{I}20_{/}My tent is 
destroyed,
all its cords are 
snapped.
My children have left me 
and are no more;
no one is left to pitch 
my tent
or to set my shelter up.
{I}21_{/}For the pastors 
have become senseless and 
have not consulted 
Yahweh;
they have not prospered
and all their flocks are 
scattered.
{I}22_{/}Heed the news! 
Pay attention!
A great commotion is 
heard from the north;
they are coming to make 
the cities of Judah a 
desolate land, a den of 
jackals.
JEREMIAH'S PRAYER{/}

{I}23_{/}You know, 
Yahweh, that man's life 
is not within his own 
control and it is not for 
him to direct his steps! 
{I}24_{/}Correct us, 
Yahweh, with prudence, 
not in anger, lest you 
destroy us completely.
{I}25_{/}Put out your 
anger on the nations that 
do not know you, on the 
people who do not call on 
your Name. For they have 
devoured Jacob and 
consumed him thoroughly; 
his homeland is already 
laid waste.
JEREMIAH SUPPORTS 
JOSIAH'S REFORM{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the word 
that came to Jeremiah 
from Yahweh: {I}2_{/}Say 
to the men of Jerusalem: 
{I}3_{/}Cursed be the man 
who does not heed the 
terms of this covenant 
{I}4_{/}which I ordained 
for your fathers the day 
I freed them from that 
cleansing furnace that 
Egypt is. I said to them: 
'If you obey my voice and 
do all that I command 
you, you will be my 
people and I will be your 
God. {I}5_{/}Then I will 
fulfill the promise I 
swore to your fathers, to 
give you a land flowing 
with milk and honey,' (as 
it is today)."
I replied, "Amen, 
Yahweh."
{I}6_{/}Yahweh said to 
me, "Publish what I say 
in the cities of Judah 
and the streets of 
Jerusalem, 'Hear the 
terms of this covenant 
and keep them. 
{I}7_{/}When I brought 
your forefathers out of 
Egypt, I solemnly warned 
them and have continued 
to tell them: 'Obey me.' 
{I}8_{/}But they did not 
listen to me or heed what 
I said; each one followed 
his own stubborn heart. 
So I fulfilled against 
them all the words of 
this covenant that I had 
commanded them, but which 
they did not follow."
{I}9_{/}Yahweh said to 
me, "There is a 
conspiracy among the men 
of Judah and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem. 
{I}10_{/}They have 
returned to the sins of 
their forefathers who 
refused to obey me; they 
have followed and served 
foreign gods. The nation 
of Israel and the nation 
of Judah have broken the 
covenant I made with 
their fathers."
{I}11_{/}That is why 
Yahweh says to you, "I 
will bring upon them a 
disaster from which there 
will be no escape. When 
they cry to me I will not 
listen. {I}12_{/}Then the 
cities of Judah and the 
people of Jerusalem will 
go crying to the gods 
they worship, but these 
will not help them in the 
time of misfortune. 
{I}13_{/}For you, Judah, 
have as many gods as 
there are cities; as 
numerous as the streets 
in Jerusalem are the 
altars you have raised to 
Baal."
{I}14_{/}For your part, 
do not intercede for this 
people, nor offer a plea 
or petition because I 
will not listen when they 
cry to me in the time of 
their distress.
{I}15_{/}What is my 
beloved doing in my 
House?
She is plotting evil 
deeds.
Will your vows and the 
meat of your
victims cleanse you from 
your wickedness and allow 
you to rejoice?
Yahweh had called you
{I}16{/} 'Beautiful Green 
Olive Tree -
fair and fruitful!'
But with the roar of a 
storm,
its foliage took fire
and its branches were 
broken.
{I}17_{/}And Yahweh, God 
of host, who planted you, 
has condemned to shame. 
Indeed the nation of the 
Israel and the nation of 
Jacob harmed themselves 
when they worshiped Baal 
and aroused my anger.
PLOT AGAINST JEREMIAH{/}

{I}18_{/}Yahweh made it 
known to me and so I 
know! And you let me see 
their scheming: (126) 
"Take care, even your own 
brothers and family are 
false with you and behind 
your back they freely 
criticize you. Do not 
trust them when they 
approach you in a 
friendly way."
{I}19_{/}But I was like a 
gentle lamb led to the 
slaughter. I did not know 
it was against me that 
they were plotting, "Let 
us feed him with trials 
and remove him from the 
land of the living and 
let his name never be 
mentioned again."
{I}20_{/}Yahweh, God of 
hosts, you who judge with 
justice and know everyone 
in his heart and in his 
intentions, let me see 
your vengeance on them, 
for to you I have 
entrusted my cause.
{I}21_{/}This is what 
Yahweh has to say against 
the people of Anathoth 
who threatened me with 
death and said, "Do not 
prophesy any more in the 
name of Yahweh and we 
will spare your life."
{I}22_{/}Yahweh says to 
them, "This is how I will 
punish you: the young men 
shall die by the sword; 
their sons and daughters 
shall die of hunger. 
{I}23_{/}No one will 
survive when I bring 
disaster on the people of 
Anathoth in the year of 
their punishment."
WHY DO THE WICKED 
PROSPER?{/}

{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh, you are 
always right
when I complain to you;
nevertheless, where is 
your justice?
Why do the wicked 
prosper?
And why do traitors live 
in peace?
{I}2_{/}You plant them 
and they take root;
they grow and are 
fruitful;
they honor you with words
but their heart is far 
from you.
{I}3_{/}But you, Yahweh, 
you know me and see me;
you search my heart - it 
is close to you.
Send them off like sheep 
to be butchered;
put them aside for the 
day of slaughter.
{I}4_{/}How long will the 
land be in mourning
and the grass of the 
fields remain withered?
The birds and the beasts 
have perished
because of the wickedness 
of the inhabitants,
for they say: 'God does 
not see what we do.'
{I}5_{/}"If you tire when 
running with those on 
foot,
how can you compete with 
horses?
If you do not feel secure 
in a peaceful land,
what will you do in the 
thickets of the Jordan?"
{I}7_{/}I have abandoned 
my house,
I have given up my own 
people;
I have given over those I 
most cherished into the 
hands of their enemies.
{I}8_{/}My own have been 
for me like a lion in the 
forest;
they have roared against 
me - now I hate them.
{I}9_{/}My own have 
become for me like a bird 
of prey.
Let all the birds of prey 
attack them.
Come here, all you wild 
beasts and devour them!
{I}10_{/}Many shepherds 
have ravaged my vine;
they have trampled my 
beloved field
and made it a desolate 
wasteland,
{I}11_{/}parched and 
mournful in my sight.
But no one cares!
{I}12_{/}To every height 
in the desert destroyers 
have come,
for Yahweh has a 
devouring sword.
It reaches from one end 
of the land to the other;
no one is safe!
{I}13_{/}They have sown 
grain and reaped thorns;
they have toiled for 
nothing.
Your harvests bring shame 
on you because of 
Yahweh's anger.
{I}14_{/}Yahweh declares, 
"Because all my wicked 
neighbors have laid hands 
on the land I gave my 
people Israel, I will 
uproot them from their 
own land, and I will 
uproot the people of 
Judah from among them. 
{I}15_{/}But after I have 
done this, I will have 
compassion on them and 
bring them back to their 
possession, each one to 
his own land.
{I}16_{/}If then they 
learn the ways I taught 
my people and call upon 
my name when taking an 
oath, they who once 
taught my people to swear 
by Baal, may settle among 
my people. {I}17_{/}But 
if then any nation does 
not obey me, I will 
uproot and destroy it - 
it is Yahweh who speaks."
THE LINEN BELT{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}This is what 
Yahweh said to me: "Go! 
Buy yourself a linen belt 
and put it around your 
waist; do not put it in 
water." {I}2_{/}So I 
bought the belt as Yahweh 
ordered and put it around 
my waist.
{I}3_{/}The word of 
Yahweh came to me a 
second time, 
{I}4_{/}"Take the belt 
you bought, the one you 
put around your waist, 
and go to the torrent 
Perah; hide it there in a 
hole in the rock." 
{I}5_{/}I went and hid it 
as Yahweh instructed me.
{I}6_{/}After many days 
Yahweh said to me, "Go to 
the torrent Perah and get 
the belt I ordered you to 
hide there." {I}7_{/}I 
went to the torrent and 
dug up the belt but it 
was ruined and good for 
nothing, {I}8_{/}and 
Yahweh said to me, 
{I}9_{/}"In this way I 
will destroy the pride 
and great glory of Judah, 
{I}10_{/}this wicked 
people who refuse to heed 
what I say, this stubborn 
people who go after other 
gods to serve and worship 
them. And they shall 
become like this belt 
which is now good for 
nothing.
{I}11_{/}For just as a 
belt is to be bound 
around a man's waist so 
was the people of Israel 
and Judah bound to me - 
it is Yahweh who speaks - 
to be my people, my glory 
and my honor; but they 
would not listen.
THE BROKEN WINE JARS{/}

{I}12_{/}You will say to 
them this word of Yahweh 
the God of Israel, "Every 
pitcher should be filled 
with wine." And they will 
say: 'Don't we know that 
a pitcher should be 
filled with wine?'
{I}13_{/}You will reply, 
"You are the pitchers 
that Yahweh will fill 
until you are drunk. I am 
going to fill with 
drunkenness all who live 
in this land - kings who 
succeed David, the 
priests, the prophets and 
all who live in 
Jerusalem. {I}14_{/}I 
will dash them one 
against another, father 
and sons together.
I will have neither 
compassion nor mercy: I 
am going to destroy 
them."
A VISION OF EXILE{/}

{I}15_{/}Hear and pay 
attention; do not be 
proud, for Yahweh has 
spoken!
{I}16_{/}Give glory to 
Yahweh your God before he 
brings darkness, and your 
feet stumble in the 
darkening hills.
You were hoping for 
light, but he will turn 
it into the darkness of 
death and deep gloom!
{I}17_{/}If you do not 
heed this warning I will 
weep in secret because of 
your pride and I will 
shed tears when Yahweh's 
flock has been taken 
captive.
{I}18_{/}Say to the king 
and the queen mother,
"Humble yourselves,
for the crown of glory
has fallen from your 
head.
{I}19_{/}The cities of 
the Negeb have been shut 
and no one comes to open 
them,
all Judah is deported,
completely carried off."
{I}20_{/}Look up 
Jerusalem and see those 
who come from the north. 
Where is the flock that 
was entrusted to you and 
where are your beautiful 
sheep?
{I}21_{/}What will you 
say when those you let 
take liberties with you 
come back to oppress you?
Won't your pain be like 
that of a woman giving 
birth? {I}22_{/}And if 
you ask yourself, "Why 
has all this disgrace 
fallen on me?" It is 
because of your great 
wickedness that they have 
torn away your clothes 
and dealt violently with 
you.
{I}23_{/}Can an Ethiopian 
change his skin or a 
leopard his spots? And 
can you do good, you who 
are accustomed to doing 
evil?
{I}24_{/}I will scatter 
you like straw blown by 
the desert wind; 
{I}25_{/}that is your 
reward - it is Yahweh who 
speaks - because you have 
forgotten me and trusted 
in Falsehood.
{I}26_{/}I myself will 
pull your skirts over 
your face and your shame 
shall be seen. 
{I}27_{/}Your adultery, 
your neighing, your 
brazen prostitution, all 
this abomination I have 
seen on the hills and in 
the fields.
Woe to you Jerusalem! 
When at last will you be 
cleansed?"
THE GREAT DROUGHT{/}

{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}The word of 
Yahweh concerning drought 
came to Jeremiah:
{I}2_{/}Judah mourns, the 
cities languish,
desolate, they sink to 
the ground.
From Jerusalem a cry is 
heard.
{I}3_{/}The rich sent the 
poor for water,
but they found none at 
the cisterns,
and returned with empty 
vessels.
{I}4_{/}The soil is 
cracked
because there is no rain 
in the land;
the farmers are dismayed
and have covered their 
heads like mourners.
{I}5_{/}Even the doe in 
the fields
abandons her newborn calf
because there is no 
pasture.
{I}6_{/}The wild donkeys 
stand on the heights
sniffing the air like 
jackals
and languish as they find 
not even a thistle!
{I}7_{/}Even if our 
faults accuse us,
you Yahweh, work for the 
glory of your Name.
In truth, many have been 
our rebellions
and great is our sin 
against you.
{I}8_{/}O Yahweh! Hope of 
Israel,
you who save in the time 
of distress,
why are you as a stranger 
in this land,
or like a traveler who 
stays only a night?
{I}9_{/}Why should you be 
as if bewildered,
like a warrior unable to 
save?
But you are in our midst 
Yahweh,
and on us your Name has 
been invoked.
Do not abandon us!
DO NOT INTERCEDE FOR THIS 
PEOPLE{/}

{I}10_{/}This is what 
Yahweh says about this 
people, "They like to 
wander here and there, 
not stopping for a 
moment, so Yahweh takes 
no pleasure in them; he 
remembers their 
wickedness and will 
punish their sins."
{I}11_{/}And Yahweh said, 
"Do not pray for the 
well-being of this 
people! {I}12_{/}If they 
fast I will not listen to 
their cry; if they offer 
me burnt offerings and 
oblations, I will not 
accept them. Instead I am 
going to make an end of 
them with sword, famine 
and plague."
{I}13_{/}And I said, "Ah, 
Lord Yahweh! You know 
what the prophets are 
saying to them: 'You will 
not see the sword nor 
suffer famine for I will 
give you true peace in 
this place.'"
{I}14_{/}But Yahweh said, 
"These prophets have 
proclaimed untruths in my 
name. I did not send 
them, nor did I command 
them or speak to them. 
False visions, worthless 
divinations and delusions 
of their own imagination 
- that is what they 
prophesy."
{I}15_{/}And Yahweh 
added, "These prophets 
whom I did not send and 
who prophesy in my name, 
saying that the sword and 
famine will not touch 
this land - these same 
prophets will perish by 
the sword and famine.
{I}16_{/}As for the 
people listening to them, 
their corpses will be 
thrown into the streets 
of Jerusalem. There will 
be no one to bury them or 
their wives, their sons 
or daughters, when they 
die of famine and by the 
sword. For I shall make 
their own malice fall 
upon them.
{I}17_{/}This you will 
say to them: Let my eyes 
shed tears night and day 
without ceasing! For with 
a great wound has the 
virgin daughter of my 
people been wounded, a 
most grievous wound.
{I}18_{/}If I go into the 
country, I see those 
slain by the sword. If I 
enter the city I see the 
ravages of famine. For 
the prophet and the 
priest did not understand 
what was happening in the 
land."
{I}19_{/}Have you then 
rejected Judah forever? 
Do you abhor Zion? Why 
have you wounded us and 
left us with no hope of 
recovery?
We hoped for salvation 
but received nothing 
good; we waited for 
healing, but terror came!
{I}20_{/}Yahweh, we know 
our wickedness and that 
of our fathers, and the 
times we have sinned 
against you.
{I}21_{/}For your name's 
sake do not despise us; 
do not dishonor the 
throne of your glory. 
Remember us. Do not break 
your covenant with us!
{I}22_{/}Among the 
worthless idols of the 
nations, are there any 
who can bring rain, or 
make the skies send 
showers?
Only in you, Yahweh our 
God, do we hope, for it 
is you who do all this. 
{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh answered 
me, "Even if Moses and 
Samuel came in person to 
plead for this people, my 
heart would have no pity. 
Send them away from my 
presence! Let them go! 
{I}2_{/}And if they say: 
"Where shall we go?" tell 
them: Yahweh says this: 
Those destined for the 
plague, to the plague; 
for the sword, to the 
sword; for starvation, to 
starvation; those for 
captivity, to captivity.
{I}3_{/}For I shall send 
them four kinds of 
destroyers: the sword to 
slay, dogs to ravage, 
birds of the sky and 
beasts of the earth to 
devour and destroy. 
{I}4_{/}I shall make them 
an object of horror for 
all the kingdoms of the 
world because of what 
Manasseh, son of 
Hezekiah, king of Judah, 
did in Jerusalem.
THE HORRORS OF WAR{/}

{I}5_{/}Who will take 
pity on you, Jerusalem?
Who will feel sorry for 
you?
Who will turn to ask how 
you are?
{I}6_{/}It was you who 
rejected me - word of 
Yahweh -  you turned your 
back on me, and because 
of that I have stretched 
out my hand to destroy 
you.
I was weary of showing 
mercy!
{I}7_{/}I winnowed them 
with a fork in the cities 
of the land,
I left my people without 
children;
I brought them to ruin,
but they did not change 
their ways.
{I}8_{/}Their widows are 
more numerous than the 
sand of the seas. On the 
mothers of young men I 
have brought a destroyer 
who ravages in broad 
daylight. Suddenly terror 
and fear grips them.
{I}9_{/}The mother who 
had seven sons is 
confused and discouraged 
as if breathing her last. 
Although it is still day 
her sun has set.
As for those who remain, 
I shall let them be slain 
by the sword in sight of 
their enemies - it is 
Yahweh who speaks.
{I}12_{/}Can you break 
iron that comes from the 
north, or bronze?
{I}13_{/}I will let your 
wealth and your treasures 
be handed over to 
plunderers,
not for a price but 
because of all your sins 
within your frontiers.
{I}14_{/}You shall be 
slaves of your enemies
among a people you do not 
know,
for the fury of my anger 
is on fire and will burn 
you up."
YAHWEH, REMEMBER ME!{/}

{I}10_{/}Woe is me, 
Mother, why did you bring 
me to the light?
A man of dissension 
throughout the land!
I owe them nothing, 
neither do they owe me,
yet they all curse me!
{I}11_{/}Tell me Yahweh, 
if I have not served you 
well!
Did I not plead with you 
for my enemies
in the time of their 
shame and disgrace?
{I}15_{/}You know I have, 
Yahweh!
Take care of me, defend 
me;
take vengeance on my 
persecutors.
Remember! For you I have 
suffered great 
humiliations.
{I}16_{/}I devoured your 
words when they came.
They were my happiness
and I felt full of joy
when you made your Name 
rest on me.
Never did I associate 
with worldly people,
{I}17_{/}amusing myself 
with scoffers!
When your hand was upon 
me I stood apart
and you filled me with 
your anger.
{I}18_{/}Why is there no 
end to my sorrow
or healing for my wound?
Why do you deceive me,
and why does my spring 
suddenly dry up?
{I}19_{/}Then Yahweh 
spoke to me,
"If you return I will 
take you back
and you will serve me 
again.
Draw the gold from the 
dross
and you will be as my own 
mouth.
You must draw them to you 
and not go over to them.
{I}20_{/}I will make you 
a fortress
and a wall of bronze 
facing them;
if they fight against you
they will not overcome 
you;
{I}21_{/}I am with you to 
free you and save you.
I will redeem you from 
the wicked
and free you from the 
hands of tyrants."
DO NOT TAKE A WIFE{/}

{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}The word of 
Yahweh came to me in 
these terms: {I}2_{/}"Do 
not take a wife nor have 
sons and daughters in 
this place, {I}3_{/}for 
this is what Yahweh says 
about sons and daughters 
born here, and about 
fathers and mothers who 
bring them to light in 
this country:
{I}4_{/}All will die of 
fatal diseases and no one 
will mourn for them or 
bury them; their corpses 
will be like dung on the 
ground. They will perish 
by the sword and by 
starvation and their 
corpses will be devoured 
by birds of prey and wild 
animals."
{I}5_{/}Yahweh further 
insisted, "Do not go into 
a house of mourning; 
neither weep nor loudly 
lament with the bereaved 
for I have already 
withdrawn my peace from 
these people - even my 
unwavering love and 
compassion. {I}6_{/}Both 
the great and the lowly 
in this country will 
perish and no one will 
mourn for them or bury 
them. No one shall gash 
his skin or shave his 
head as an act of 
mourning. {I}7_{/}No 
funeral meal shall be 
shared to comfort the 
bereaved or console them 
on the death of their 
fathers and mothers.
{I}8_{/}Do not go to a 
house of celebration to 
feast with them before 
foods and drinks, 
{I}9_{/}for Yahweh, 
Saboath God of Israel has 
this to say:
In this place and before 
your very eyes, I will 
muffle every sound of 
pleasure and joy, even 
the song of the newlywed.
{I}10_{/}When you 
announce all these things 
to the people, they will 
ask you: 'Why has Yahweh 
decided to bring such 
terrible disasters on us? 
What wickedness or sin 
have we committed against 
Yahweh our God?'
{I}11{/}Then you shall 
tell them: 'It is because 
your fathers turned away 
from me and went after 
other gods to serve and 
worship them. They have 
forsaken me and refused 
to obey my Law. 
{I}12_{/}But you are 
worse than your 
forefathers because each 
of you has gone his own 
evil ways following his 
stubborn heart in 
complete defiance of me. 
{I}13_{/}Therefore, I 
will kick you out of this 
land into a place which 
is strange to you and 
your forefathers. There, 
you will serve other gods 
day and night, and you 
will get no compassion 
from me.' "
{I}14_{/}Yahweh says, 
"The days are coming when 
people will no longer 
say, 'Yahweh is a living 
God for he brought the 
Israelites  out  of  
Egypt,'  {I}15_{/}Rather, 
they will say,  'Yahweh 
is a living God for he 
liberated the Israelites 
out of the northern land 
and out of all the 
countries where he had 
banished them.' Yes, I 
will bring them back to 
their own country - the 
land that I bestowed to 
their forefathers."
{I}16_{/}But now Yahweh 
says, "I am sending for 
many fishermen to catch 
them. Afterwards, I will 
send for many hunters to 
hunt them down on every 
mountain, hill and cave 
in the rocks. 
{I}17_{/}The things that 
they do are manifest 
before my eyes and the 
sins that they commit are 
not hidden from me. 
{I}18_{/}I will make them 
pay double for their 
wickedness and sin; they 
have contaminated my land 
with their idols that are 
as dead as corpses and 
have filled it with their 
abominations."
WILL MAN MAKE HIS OWN 
GODS?{/}

{I}19_{/}Yahweh, my 
strength and my fortress,
my refuge in times of 
distress!
From the furthest limits 
of the earth
nations will come to you 
and say,
"Our fathers possessed 
only falsehood,
worthless idols bereft of 
power."
{I}20_{/}Will man make 
his own gods?
Then they are not gods!
{I}21_{/}Hence Yahweh 
says: "I will show
and let them know my 
power and my might.
And they will know that 
Yahweh is my name.
{1}17{/}

{I}1_{/}The sin of Judah 
is engraved with  a tool 
of steel, with a point of 
diamond. It is written on 
the tablets of their 
hearts as on the horns of 
their altars. 
{I}2_{/}Their altars and 
sacred poles witness of 
it beside every green 
tree, {I}3_{/}on the high 
hills and in the open 
country! I will give away 
your wealth and your 
treasures as plunder 
because of your sin in 
the high places of your 
land.
{I}4_{/}Because of your 
fault you will lose the 
land I gave you. I will 
give you as slaves to 
your enemies in a land 
that you have never known 
before, for you have 
kindled the fire of my 
anger and it will burn 
forever.
WORDS OF WISDOM{/}

{I}5_{/}This is what 
Yahweh says,
"Cursed is the man who 
trusts in human beings 
and depends on a mortal 
for his life, while his 
heart is drawn away from 
Yahweh!
{I}6_{/}He is like a 
bunch of thistles in dry 
land, in parched desert 
places, in a salt land 
where no one lives and 
who never finds 
happiness.
{I}7_{/}Blessed is the 
man who puts his trust in 
Yahweh and whose 
confidence is in him! 
{I}8_{/}He is like a tree 
planted by the water, 
sending out its roots 
towards the stream.
He has no fear when the 
heat comes, his leaves 
are always green; the 
year of drought is no 
problem and he can always 
bear fruit.
{I}9_{/}Most deceitful is 
the heart. What is there 
within man, who can 
understand him? 
{I}10_{/}I, Yahweh, 
search the heart and 
penetrate the mind. I 
reward each one according 
to his ways and the fruit 
of his deeds.
{I}11_{/}Like a partridge 
hatching eggs it did not 
lay, is someone who 
hoards riches that he 
unjustly gained.
At the noontime of his 
life, his wealth will 
abandon him; at the 
twilight of his breath, 
his folly will be 
confirmed."
{I}12_{/}What a glorious 
and exalted throne is our 
Sanctuary! 
{I}13_{/}Yahweh, hope of 
Israel, all who forsake 
you will be put to shame 
and those who turn from 
you will be cast out from 
your land, for they have 
rejected Yahweh, the 
fountain of living water.
{I}14_{/}Heal me, Yahweh, 
and I shall be whole; 
save me and I shall be 
safe, O you, my hope!
{I}15_{/}People say to 
me, "Where are Yahweh's 
threats? Let them be 
carried out now!"
{I}16_{/}But I did not 
urge you to bring 
devastation
nor a time of tragic 
death;
you well know my desire
and my pleading is in 
your ears.
{I}17_{/}Do not terrorize 
my heart;
be my refuge in the day 
of disaster.
{I}18_{/}Let my 
persecutors be humbled, 
rather than me!
Let them be terrified but 
not me!
Let the day of misfortune 
fall on them!
Crush them twice over!
OBSERVANCE OF THE 
SABBATH{/}

{I}19_{/}The word of 
Yahweh came to me in 
these terms,
"Go and stand at the gate 
they call the People 
Gate, where the kings of 
Judah enter and leave; 
{I}20_{/}and tell the 
king and all the people 
of Judah that this is 
what Yahweh says:
{I}21_{/}For the sake of 
your lives, be careful 
not to carry a load on 
the sabbath day or bring 
it through the gates of 
Jerusalem. {I}22_{/}Carry 
no burden out of your 
adobes and refrain from 
work on the day of the 
sabbath. Uphold its 
sacredness as I commanded 
your forefathers.
{I}23_{/}They did not 
obey me or pay attention 
to what I said. Stiff-
necked as they were, they 
would not hear or accept 
my warnings.
{I}24_{/}But if you pay 
attention - it is Yahweh 
who speaks - and keep the 
sabbath holy, not working 
or carrying loads 
{I}25_{/}through the 
gates of Jerusalem, then 
you will be witnesses to 
the entry of kings of 
David's descent through 
these gates, riding in 
chariots and on horses. 
You shall see them and 
their princes along with 
the people of Judah and 
the inhabitants of 
Jerusalem; and this city 
shall last forever.
{I}26_{/}People will come 
from the towns of Judah 
and from the suburbs of 
Jerusalem, from the 
territory of Benjamin, 
from the Lowland and the 
hill country and from the 
Negeb, bringing into the 
temple burnt offerings 
and sacrifices, grain 
offerings and incense, as 
an act of thanksgiving to 
Yahweh.
{I}27_{/}But if you do 
not listen and do not 
keep the sabbath holy, if 
you work and carry loads 
through the gates of 
Jerusalem, then I will 
set fire to those gates. 
It will burn the city and 
will not be quenched."
AT THE POTTER'S HOUSE{/}

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the word 
of Yahweh that came to 
Jeremiah: {I}2_{/}"Go 
down to the potter's 
house and there you will 
hear what I have to say."
{I}3_{/}So I went to the 
potter's house and found 
him working at the wheel. 
{I}4_{/}But the pot he 
was working on was 
spoiled in his hands, so 
he reworked it all over 
again into another pot 
that suits his desire.
{I}5_{/}Meanwhile Yahweh 
sent me his word, 
{I}6_{/}"People of 
Israel, can I not do with 
you what this potter 
does? As clay in the 
potter's hand so are you 
in my hands.
{I}7_{/}At times I warn a 
nation or a kingdom that 
I will uproot or destroy 
it. {I}8_{/}But if they 
change their ways, I then 
relent and refrain from 
doing the harm I had 
intended to do.
{I}9_{/}At other times I 
declare that a nation or 
kingdom will be built up 
and planted {I}10_{/}but 
then they do what 
displeases me and do not 
listen to me, so I decide 
to reverse the good deeds 
that I intend to do."
{I}11_{/}And Yahweh 
added, "Now tell the 
people of Judah and to 
those who live in 
Jerusalem: Yahweh says to 
you, 'Listen, I am 
planning to destroy you; 
I am hatching a 
devastating plot against 
you! Turn from your evil 
ways; rectify your 
conduct and your deeds.' 
{I}12_{/}But you reply: 
'It's no use! We shall 
follow our own plans'; 
and each one goes on 
obeying his stubborn 
heart."
MY PEOPLE HAVE FORSAKEN 
ME {/}

{I}13_{/}Because of this 
Yahweh has to say:
Ask among the nations,
'Has anyone heard the 
like of this?
The Virgin Israel has 
done a most abominable 
thing.
{I}14_{/}Does the snow of 
Lebanon ever leave the 
rocky heights of the 
field?
Do the fresh waters of 
great rivers ever dry up?
{I}15_{/}Yet my people 
have forgotten me,
offering incense to empty 
idols
that made them stumble on 
their way
as they left the ancient 
paths.
Now they have taken the 
wrong way,
the crooked way that 
leads nowhere.
{I}16_{/}Their land will 
be left desolate,
and an object of lasting 
derision.
All who pass by will be 
astonished
and shake their heads.
{I}17_{/}Like the wind 
that blows from the east 
I will scatter them 
before their enemies;
I will turn my back to 
them, not my face, in the 
day of their disaster!
DO NOT FORGIVE THEIR 
SIN{/}

{I}18_{/}Then, they said, 
"Come, let us plot 
against Jeremiah, for 
even without him, there 
will be priests to 
interpret the Teachings 
of the Law; there will 
always be wisemen to 
impart counsel and 
prophets to proclaim the 
word. Come, let us accuse 
him and strike him down 
instead of listening to 
what he says."
{I}19_{/}Hear me, O 
Yahweh!
Listen to what my 
accusers say.
{I}20_{/}Is evil the 
reward for good?
Why do they dig a grave 
for me?
Remember how I stood 
before you
to speak well on their 
behalf
so that your anger might 
subside.
{I}21_{/}Now let their 
children starve;
hand them over to the 
sword!
Let their wives become 
childless and widows!
Let their men be victims 
of plague
and their young men be 
slain in battle!
{I}22_{/}Let cries be 
heard in their houses
when you suddenly bring 
bandits against them,
for they have dug a pit 
to trap me
and hidden snares to 
catch my feet.
{I}23_{/}O Yahweh, you 
know all of their plots 
to take my life!
Forgive not their crime; 
forget not their sin;
crush them on the day of 
your anger.
THE BROKEN JAR{/}

{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}This was an order 
of Yahweh to Jeremiah, 
"Go and buy a jar from 
the potter. Take with you 
some elders of the people 
and a few senior priests, 
{I}2_{/}and go out to the 
valley of Ben-Hinnom at 
the entrance to the 
Potsherd Gate. Proclaim 
there what I tell you.
{I}3_{/}Say this: Hear 
the word of Yahweh, kings 
of Judah and citizens of 
Jerusalem! Yahweh the God 
of hosts and the God of 
Israel is the one who 
speaks. I am about to 
send a disaster upon this 
place that will make the 
ears of those who hear it 
tingle. {I}4_{/}Here they 
have forsaken me, 
offering incense to 
foreign gods that neither 
they, their fathers nor 
the kings of Judah have 
known. They have profaned 
this place by filling it 
with the blood of the 
innocent. {I}5_{/}They 
have put up high places 
for Baal to burn their 
children in fire as a 
sacrifice. This is 
something that I have 
never commanded them to 
do, much less conceived 
in my mind.
{I}6_{/}'Hence, I, 
Yahweh, tell you now that 
the days will surely come 
when this place will no 
longer be called Topheth 
or the Valley of Ben 
Hinnom, but the Valley of 
Massacre.
{I}7_{/}In this place I 
will frustrate the plans 
of Judah and Jerusalem 
and let them be slain by 
their enemies - the very 
people who have doggedly 
sought their lives. Then, 
I will commit their 
corpses to the birds and 
the beasts as food. 
{I}8_{/}I will transform 
this city into a horrible 
wasteland - an object of 
scorn and a panorama of 
horror that will shock 
passers-by and make them 
kiss upon witnessing the 
terrible catastrophe! 
{I}9_{/}The city will be 
surrounded by the enemies 
who have vowed to 
massacre the people. No 
one will be able to flee 
from this tight siege and 
the people in the city 
will be forced to eat the 
flesh of one another, 
even that of their very 
own children.
{I}10_{/}Then, you shall 
break the jar before the 
people who have 
accompanied you 
{I}11_{/}and you will 
tell them that I, Yahweh 
the God of hosts, will 
smash the people of this 
city like the shattered 
jar of the potter which 
is beyond repair. People 
will bury the dead even 
in Topheth, for there is 
no more space in the land 
to bury them. 
{I}12_{/}This is 
precisely what I will do 
to Jerusalem and its 
citizens, making this 
city like Topheth. 
{I}13_{/}The houses of 
Jerusalem and the palaces 
of the kings of Judah 
will be defiled like 
Topheth because the roofs 
of these houses have been 
used to burn incense for 
the stars of the skies 
and to pour wine-
offerings for strange 
gods."
CONFRONTATION IN THE 
TEMPLE{/}

{I}14_{/}Then Jeremiah 
left Topheth where Yahweh 
had sent him to prophesy, 
and stood in the porch of 
the House of Yahweh. 
There he told all the 
people, {I}15_{/}"Listen 
to the word of Yahweh, 
God of Israel: I am about 
to bring on this city and 
the towns surrounding the 
disaster that I have 
already foretold, because 
they are a stiff-necked 
people and will not 
listen to me."
{1}20{/}

{I}1_{/}When the priest 
Pashur, son of Immer, who 
was the chief officer in 
the House of Yahweh, 
heard Jeremiah 
prophesying like this, 
{I}2_{/}he ordered his 
people to beat Jeremiah 
and put him in chains at 
the Gate of Benjamin, the 
upper gate at the House 
of Yahweh. {I}3_{/}The 
next day, after Pashur 
ordered the release of 
Jeremiah, the latter told 
the former, "Yahweh has 
already changed your 
name. It is not Pashur 
anymore but 'Terror on 
every side.' {I}4_{/}For 
Yahweh says: I am going 
to hand you over to 
terror, you and your 
friends. They will fall 
under the sword of their 
enemies while you look 
on.
I will deliver the people 
of Judah into the hands 
of the king of Babylon 
who will deport them to 
Babylon or slay them by 
the sword. {I}5_{/}I will 
likewise allow the 
enemies plunder all the 
wealth of this city. All 
the possessions and 
treasures of the kings of 
Judah will be seized and 
carried off to Babylonia. 
{I}6_{/}As for you, 
Pashur, you and your 
entire family will be 
taken as captives to 
Babylon where you will 
die and be buried - you 
and all your friends whom 
you deceived with lies."
YOU HAVE SEDUCED ME{/}

{I}7_{/}Yahweh, you have 
seduced me
and I let myself be 
seduced.
You have taken me by 
force and prevailed.
I have become a 
laughingstock all day 
long;
they all make fun of me,
{I}8_{/}for every time I 
speak
I have to shout, 
"Violence! Devastation!"
Yahweh's word has brought 
me
insult and derision all 
day long.
{I}9_{/}So I decided to 
forget about him
and speak no more in his 
name.
But his word in my heart 
becomes like a fire
burning deep within my 
bones.
I try so hard to hold it 
in,
but I cannot do it.
{I}10_{/}I hear many 
people whispering,
"Terror is all around!
Denounce him! Yes, 
denounce him!"
All my friends watch me 
to see if I will slip:
"Perhaps he can be 
deceived," they say;
"then we can get the 
better of him
and have our revenge."
{I}11_{/}But Yahweh, a 
mighty warrior, is with 
me.
My persecutors will 
stumble and not prevail;
that failure will be 
their shame
and their disgrace will 
never be forgotten.
{I}12_{/}Yahweh, God of 
hosts, you test the just
and probe the heart and 
mind.
Let me see your revenge 
on them,
for to you I have 
entrusted my cause.
{I}13_{/}Sing to Yahweh! 
Praise Yahweh and say:
he has rescued the poor 
from the clutches of the 
wicked!
{I}14_{/}Cursed be the 
day I was born!
Bless not the day my 
mother brought me to 
light!
{I}15_{/}Cursed be the 
man who broke the news to 
my father: 'It's a boy!'
and it made him joyful!
{I}16_{/}Let him be like 
the towns that Yahweh 
destroyed without mercy.
Let him hear a warning 
shout in the morning
and a battle cry at noon!
{I}17_{/}For he did not 
kill me in the womb,
that my mother would have 
been my grave,
and have carried me 
forever.
{I}18_{/}Why did I ever 
leave the womb
to live in trouble and 
sorrow,
and spend my days in 
shame?
AN ANSWER FOR ZEDEKIAH{/}

{1}21{/}

{I}1_{/}These words of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah 
when king Zedekiah sent 
Pashur, son of Malchiah 
and the priest Zephaniah 
son of Maaseiah, to say 
to him: {I}2_{/}"Consult 
Yahweh on our behalf, for 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, has started a 
war with us. Perhaps 
Yahweh will work a few of 
his miracles and make the 
enemy withdraw."
{I}3_{/}Jeremiah replied, 
"This is what Yahweh the 
God of Israel says to 
Zedekiah: {I}4_{/}I am 
about to bring back to 
you the weapons with 
which you are fighting 
outside the wall the king 
of Babylon and the 
Chaldeans who are 
besieging you; and I will 
pile up these weapons in 
the center of the city.
{I}5_{/}Then I myself 
will fight against you 
with outstretched hand 
and mighty arm, with 
anger and fury and great 
wrath, {I}6_{/}I will 
strike all in the city, 
both humans and animals, 
and they will perish in a 
terrible plague.
{I}7_{/}After this - it 
is Yahweh who speaks - I 
will hand over Zedekiah, 
king of Judah, his 
servants and the citizens 
who survive the plague, 
the sword and famine over 
to Nebuchadnezzar, king 
of Babylon. I will hand 
them over to their 
enemies, to those who 
have been hounding their 
blood. They shall be 
slain without mercy or 
compassion."
{I}8_{/}Then Yahweh 
instructed me to say this 
to the people: "Take 
heed! I, Yahweh, am 
presenting you a choice 
between the way that 
leads to life  and the 
way that leads to death. 
{I}9_{/}Those who remain 
in the confines of the 
city will meet their 
deaths by the sword, 
famine or plague; those 
who go out and surrender 
to the Chaldeans 
besieging the city will 
live and will be the only 
ones to be saved.
{I}10_{/}For I am turning 
to this city for its 
ruin, not for its good - 
word of Yahweh - it will 
be given over to the king 
of Babylon who will 
destroy it by fire."
ADDRESS TO THE ROYAL 
FAMILY{/}

{I}11_{/}You will give 
this message to the 
King's officials. To the 
royal family of  Judah 
say this: 
{I}12_{/}Officials of 
David's palace, hear the 
word of Yahweh:
Give judgment each 
morning
and deliver the oppressed 
from the hand of the 
oppressor,
lest my fury break loose 
like a fire
with no one to quench 
it."
{I}13_{/}This is Yahweh's 
word, "See, I am coming 
to you
who live in the hills 
overlooking the valley,
you who say, 'Who will 
come against us and enter 
this secure place?'
{I}14_{/}I will punish 
you according to your 
deeds,
and in your forests I 
will kindle a fire
that will devour all that 
surrounds it."
AGAINST EVIL KINGS{/}

{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
me, "Go to the palace of 
the king of Judah and 
give him this message: 
{I}2_{/}Hear the word of 
Yahweh, O king of Judah 
who sit on the throne of 
David. To you, your 
servants and all who 
enter by these gates, 
{I}3_{/}Yahweh says:
Practice justice and do 
good.
Free the oppressed from 
their oppressor.
Harm not the foreigners, 
the orphans and the 
widows; do them no 
violence, and let no 
innocent blood be spilled 
in this place.
{I}4_{/}If you do this, 
kings succeeding King 
David will enter these 
gates riding on their 
chariots and horses, 
together with their 
servants and their 
people.
{I}5_{/}But if you do not 
heed my word
- it is Yahweh who speaks 
I swear by myself that 
this place will become a 
ruin."
{I}6_{/}For this is what 
Yahweh says of the royal 
house of Judah:
For me you are like 
Gilead, like a peak of 
Lebanon! And yet I will 
transform you into a 
desert, a city where no 
one lives. {I}7_{/}I will 
prepare destroyers to 
attack you, each with an 
axe in his hand. They 
will cut down your choice 
cedars and throw them 
into the fire.
{I}8_{/}Pagans without 
number will pass by this 
city and say to one 
another, "Why has Yahweh 
dealt with this great 
city in such a way?" 
{I}9_{/}And they will 
answer, "Because they 
broke their covenant with 
Yahweh, their God, and 
worshiped and served 
other gods!"
{I}10_{/}Weep not for the 
one who is dead!
grieve not for him.
Mourn rather for him who 
is in exile for he will 
never return to see his 
homeland again!
{I}11_{/}For this is what 
Yahweh has said of King 
Josiah's son, Shallum, 
who succeeded his father 
as king of Judah:
{I}12_{/}"He will never 
return, for he will die 
in the place to which he 
has been deported and 
will never see this land 
again.
AGAINST JEHOIAKIM{/}

{I}13_{/}Damned is the 
man who builds his house 
with stolen goods, and 
extends it upwards by 
means of injustice;
he who makes his 
fellowman work for 
nothing and refuses to 
give him his wages!

{I}14_{/}So you build for 
yourself a fine palace 
with spacious upper 
rooms!
So you have large windows 
put in, you have it 
paneled with cedarwood 
and painted vermillion.
{I}15_{/}Does amassing 
cedar make you more of a 
king?
Was not your father a 
just man? He ate and 
drank to his life's 
content, but he acted 
justly and all went well 
for him. {I}16_{/}He 
defended the cause of the 
poor and needy: this is 
the meaning of knowing 
Yahweh. 
{I}17_{/}But your eyes 
and heart are set on 
selfish gain, on the 
shedding of innocent 
blood, and oppressive 
violence.
{I}18_{/}Therefore this 
is what Yahweh says 
concerning Jehoiakim, son 
of Josiah, king of Judah:
No one shall lament for 
him saying: Alas, my 
brother! Alas, O sister! 
No one shall lament for 
him saying: Alas, my 
lord! Alas, your majesty! 
{I}19_{/}He will be given 
the burial of a donkey, 
dragged away and thrown 
out beyond the gates of 
Jerusalem.
{I}20_{/}Go up to Lebanon 
and cry out;
weep from the heights of 
Bashan
cry out from Abarim,
for all your lovers have 
been crushed.
{I}21_{/}I spoke to you 
in more fortunate days,
but you said: 'I will not 
listen.'
You have been like that 
since your youth,
paying no attention to my 
word.
{I}22_{/}All your 
shepherds will be 
scattered by the wind and 
your lovers will be taken 
captive; then you will be 
covered with shame 
because of your evil 
deeds.
{I}23_{/}You who call 
your house: 'Lebanon'
and made your nest of 
cedarwood,
how you will groan when 
sorrow comes like the 
birthpangs of a woman in 
labor!
{I}24_{/}By my life - 
says Yahweh - even if 
Jeconiah, Jehoiakim's 
son, king of Judah, were 
the signet ring on my 
right hand I would pull 
him off!
{I}25_{/}I will hand you 
to those who seek your 
life, to the Chaldeans 
you fear. {I}26_{/}Then I 
will hurl you and the 
mother who bore you into 
a foreign land where you 
were not born. There you 
shall die, {I}27_{/}for 
to the land for which you 
long, you will never 
return!"
{I}28_{/}Is this Jeconiah 
a broken and useless 
crock that no one wants? 
Why has he been expelled, 
he and his family, to a 
land they do not know? 
{I}29_{/}Land, land, 
land! Hear what Yahweh 
says. {I}30_{/}These are 
his words, "List this man 
as childless!" None of 
his race will succeed; 
not one will be fortunate 
to sit on David's throne 
and rule again over 
Judah.
THE GOOD SHEPHERD{/}

{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}"Woe to the 
shepherds  who mislead 
and scatter the sheep of 
my pasture!"
{I}2_{/}This is the 
message of Yahweh, God of 
Israel, to the shepherds 
in charge of my people, 
"You have scattered my 
sheep and driven them 
away instead of caring 
for them. Now I will deal 
with you because of your 
evil deeds.
{I}3_{/}I will gather the 
remnant of my sheep from 
every land to which I 
have driven them and I 
will bring them back to 
the grasslands. They will 
be fruitful and increase 
in number. {I}4_{/}I will 
appoint shepherds who 
will take care of them. 
No longer will they fear 
or be terrified. No one 
will be lost."
{I}5_{/}Yahweh further 
says, "The day is coming 
when I will raise up a 
king who is David's 
righteous successor. He 
will rule wisely and 
govern with justice and 
righteousness. 
{I}6_{/}That will be a 
grandiose era when Judah 
will enjoy peace and 
Israel will live in 
safety. He will be called 
Yahweh-our-justice!
{I}7_{/}"The days are 
coming," says Yahweh, 
"when people shall no 
longer swear by Yahweh as 
the living God who freed 
the people of Israel from 
the land of Egypt. 
{I}8_{/}Rather, they will 
swear by Yahweh as the 
living God who restored 
the descendants of Israel 
from the northern empire 
and from all the lands 
where he had driven them, 
to live again in their 
own land!"
LYING PROPHETS{/}

{I}9_{/}About the 
prophets:
My heart breaks within 
me,
and all my bones tremble,
I am like a drunken man,
like a man overcome by 
wine
because of Yahweh and his 
holy words.
{I}10_{/}The land is full 
of adulterers. Because of 
this I put a curse on the 
country; it is in 
mourning and the desert 
grasslands have withered. 
They follow an evil path 
and readily act unjustly. 
{I}11_{/}Even the prophet 
and the priest are 
corrupt; I have found out 
about their wickedness in 
my House - word of 
Yahweh.
{I}12_{/}That is why 
their path will become 
slippery in the dark, 
making them stumble and 
fall when I bring evil 
upon them in the year of 
their punishment.
{I}13_{/}I well know how 
stupid the prophets of 
Samaria were; they 
prophesied in the name of 
Baal and led my people 
Israel astray. 
{I}14_{/}But among the 
prophets of Jerusalem I 
have likewise seen 
horrors: for they are 
adulterers and liars!
They encourage the 
evildoers so that none of 
them turns away from 
wickedness. For me all of 
them are like Sodom; and 
the common people like 
Gomorrah.
{I}15_{/}That is why 
Yahweh the God of hosts 
speaks against the 
prophets: I will give 
them bitter food to eat 
and poisoned water to 
drink, for from the 
prophets of Jerusalem 
evil has spread all over 
the land.
{I}16_{/}Thus Yahweh 
warns, "Do not listen to 
what the prophets say. 
They give you false hope 
and tell you their own 
illusions, and not what 
comes from the mouth of 
Yahweh. {I}17_{/}They 
dare say to those who 
despise me: 'Yahweh has 
spoken, be at peace'; and 
to those who follow their 
own stubborn hearts they 
say: 'No misfortune will 
come upon you!'
{I}18_{/}Who then has 
been present in the 
council of Yahweh? Who 
has heard and understood 
his word? Who has paid 
attention to his word and 
is able to pass it on?
{I}19_{/}The storm of 
Yahweh's wrath breaks 
forth and a whirling 
hurricane bursts upon the 
head of the wicked! 
{I}20_{/}Yahweh's wraths 
will not relent before 
the full accomplishment 
of his plans. The time 
will come when you will 
understand what it is.
{I}21_{/}I did not send 
these prophets, yet they 
went running. I did not 
speak, yet they 
prophesied! {I}22_{/}Were 
they present in my 
council? Then let them 
proclaim my word to my 
people and have them turn 
away from their evil ways 
and their wicked deeds.  
{I}23_{/}Am I a God only 
when I am near - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - and 
not when I am far off? 
{I}24_{/}If someone hides 
in secret places do I not 
see him? - Do I not fill 
the heavens and the 
earth?
{I}25_{/}I have listened 
and heard the lies that 
the prophets have 
proclaimed in my name. 
All said: 'I had a dream! 
I had a dream!' 
{I}26_{/}How long will 
there be prophets of lies 
who proclaim their own 
illusions? {I}27_{/}They 
would like to make the 
people forget my Name by 
the dreams they relate to 
one another, just as 
their fathers forgot my 
Name when they followed 
Baal. {I}28_{/}The 
prophet who has a dream 
prophesies a dream, 
whereas the one who 
receives my word 
proclaims the word of 
truth.
What have straw and wheat 
in common?  
{I}29_{/}Isn't my word 
like fire, like the 
hammer that shatters a 
rock?
{I}30_{/}That is why I 
oppose the prophets who 
steal from one another 
words that are supposedly 
mine. {I}31{/}I am 
against the prophets who 
have only to move their 
tongues to utter oracles. 
{I}32_{/}I am against 
those whose prophecies 
are based on lying 
dreams, who lead my 
people astray with their 
trickery and pretensions. 
I did not commission or 
charge them to transmit 
my orders, so they are of 
no benefit to my people - 
word of Yahweh.
{I}33_{/}And when these 
people, or a prophet or a 
priest jestingly asks 
you: What is the 'Burden' 
of Yahweh? you will 
answer: 'You are the 
burden - and I am going 
to get rid of you.' This 
is Yahweh's word. 
{I}34_{/}And the 
prophets, priests or 
common people who say: 
'Burden' of Yahweh, will 
be punished, and their 
household as well.
{I}35_{/}This is what you 
should say, each one to 
his friend or brother, 
"What is Yahweh's 
answer?" or "What has 
Yahweh said?" 
{I}36_{/}But there must 
be no mention of 'Burden' 
of Yahweh for it shall be 
burdensome for the one 
who says it. {I}37_{/}And 
if you want to know, 
{I}38_{/}this is what 
Yahweh says:
{I}39_{/}Since you use 
this expression in spite 
of my prohibition, I will 
cast you off and thrust 
you out of my sight, - 
you and the city I gave 
to you and your fathers. 
{I}40_{/}I will bring 
upon you everlasting 
shame and dishonor that 
will be yours forever.
THE TWO BASKETS OF 
FIGS{/}

{1}24{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh showed me 
two baskets of figs 
placed in front of the 
Temple. It was after 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon had deported 
Jekoniah, son of 
Jehoiakim, king of Judah 
together with the princes 
of Judah, the blacksmiths 
and metalworkers and had 
taken them to Babylon.
{I}2_{/}One of the 
baskets had choice figs 
that ripen early, the 
other had bad ones, so 
bad that they couldn't be 
eaten. {I}3_{/}Yahweh 
said to me, "What do you 
see Jeremiah?" I replied, 
"Figs. The good figs are 
excellent but the bad 
figs are so rotten they 
cannot be eaten!"
{I}4_{/}So the word of 
Yahweh came to me: "Just 
as these figs are good, 
so do I consider good 
those who have been 
deported from Judah to 
the land of the 
Chaldeans. {I}6_{/}I will 
look kindly on them and 
bring them back to this 
land. I will restore and 
not destroy them, I will 
plant and not uproot 
them. {I}7_{/}I will 
dispose their heart to 
know me as Yahweh. They 
will be my people and I 
will be their God for 
they will come back to me 
with all their heart .
{I}8_{/}"But as far as 
King Zedekiah of Judah is 
concerned, I will deal 
with him as one deals 
with rotten figs - so 
rotten they cannot be 
eaten. I will likewise 
deal with his princes and 
the remnants of Jerusalem 
- those who have stayed 
in the country and those 
who have migrated to 
Egypt.
{I}9_{/}I will make them 
a horror to all the 
kingdoms of the earth, a 
reproach and a byword, an 
object of ridicule, a 
curse in all the 
countries to which I will 
drive them. {I}10_{/}I 
will also bring sword, 
famine and plague upon 
them until they are 
utterly erased from the 
land I gave to them and 
to their fathers.

SEVENTY YEARS OF 
CAPTIVITY{/}

{1}25{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the word 
that came to Jeremiah 
concerning all the people 
of Judah in the fourth 
year of Jehoiakim, son of 
Josiah, which was the 
first year of 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon. {I}2_{/}And this 
word was transmitted by 
the prophet Jeremiah to 
all the people of Judah 
and to all the citizens 
of Jerusalem: 
{I}3_{/}For twenty-three 
years, that is, from the 
thirteenth year of Josiah 
son of Amon until today, 
the word of Yahweh has 
come to me and I have 
continuously spoken to 
you, {I}4_{/}but you 
would not listen. Besides 
Yahweh has sent his 
servants the prophets to 
you again and again, but 
you neither listened nor 
paid attention. 
{I}5_{/}They said, 'Turn 
from your evil ways and 
repent of your wicked 
deeds that you may live 
in the land that Yahweh 
gave to you and your 
fathers forever and ever. 
{I}6_{/}Do not turn after 
other gods to serve and 
worship them. Do not 
provoke my anger with 
these things your own 
hands have made, and I 
will do you no harm.' 
{I}7_{/}But you refused 
to listen - it is Yahweh 
who speaks - and provoked 
my anger with these gods 
you yourselves have made 
to your own detriment.
{I}8_{/}That is why 
Yahweh God of hosts says 
to you: Since you have 
not listened to what I 
said, {I}9_{/}I will 
summon all the clans of 
the north - it is Yahweh 
who speaks - and my 
steward Nebuchadnezzar 
will bring them against 
this land and its 
inhabitants and against 
all the surrounding 
nations. I will 
completely destroy these 
people, making them 
desolate, an object of 
ridicule, an everlasting 
ruins. {I}10_{/}I will 
banish from them every 
sound of joy and 
happiness, the song of 
the bride and bridegroom, 
the noise of the mill and 
the light of the lamp.
{I}11_{/}All the land 
will be a ruin and a 
desolation and for 
seventy years these 
nations will serve the 
king of Babylon.
{I}12_{/}(But after 
seventy years I will 
punish the king of 
Babylon and his nation 
for their guilt - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - and I 
will make it forever 
desolate!)
{I}13_{/}On this land I 
will now bring all that I 
foretold, all that is 
written in this book. 
{I}14_{/}They will be 
subject to great nations 
and kings! I will repay 
them according to their 
deeds and the work of 
their hands."
THE CUP OF GOD'S WRATH{/}

{I}15_{/}Yahweh, the God 
of Israel, instructed me, 
"Take from my hand this 
cup of wine and let all 
the nations to whom I 
send you drink from it. 
{I}16_{/}They will drink 
and stagger and lose 
control of their minds 
before the sword I am 
sending among them."
{I}17_{/}So I took the 
cup from Yahweh's hand 
and made all the nations 
to whom he sent me drink 
from it: {I}18_{/}( ) to 
bring them in ruins, a 
desolation which is an 
object of ridicule and 
curses, as they are 
today. {I}19_{/}Then I 
gave it to Pharaoh king 
of Egypt, to his 
ministers, his princes 
and all his people, to 
all the countries of the 
west, {I}20_{/}to all the 
kings of Uz, to all the 
kings of the Philistines 
in Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron 
and those left at Ashdod; 
{I}21_{/}to all the 
people of Edom, Moab and 
Ammon; {I}22_{/}all the 
kings of Tyre and Sidon: 
the kings of the 
coastlands across the 
sea; {I}23_{/}Deda, Tama, 
Buz and  {I}24_{/}all the 
kings of Arabia and the 
kings of the west and the 
kings of those who live 
in the desert; 
{I}25_{/}all the kings of 
Zimri, Elim and Media and 
{I}26_{/}all the kings of 
the north, far and near, 
one after the other; all 
the kings that are found 
on the face of the earth! 
And after them the king 
of Babylon shall drink 
it!
{I}27_{/}You will say to 
them, "This is the 
message of Yahweh the God 
of hosts and the God of 
Israel: 'Drink, get 
drunk, vomit, fall 
without raising again in 
front of the sword I am 
sending against you.'
{I}28_{/}But if they 
refuse to take the cup 
from your hand to drink, 
tell them, 'Yahweh the 
God of hosts has spoken: 
You also must drink. 
{I}29_{/}When you see 
that I am punishing first 
the city where my Name 
rests, do you think you 
will be spared? No, you 
will not, for I am 
personally bringing down 
a sword on all the 
inhabitants of the earth 
- it is Yahweh God of 
hosts who speaks.'
{I}30_{/}You will 
communicate all these 
words to them and say, 
"Yahweh roars on high and 
from his holy dwelling 
threatens all the 
inhabitants of the world. 
His mighty roar echoes to 
the farthest ends of the 
earth. {I}31_{/}For 
Yahweh judges all the 
nations and passes 
sentence against all 
humankind, and he 
abandons the wicked to 
the sword - word of 
Yahweh."
{I}32_{/}Yahweh, God of 
hosts, says, "See, 
disaster spreads from 
nation to nation. A storm 
arises from the ends of 
the earth. {I}33_{/}On 
that day Yahweh's victims 
will be spread from one 
end of the earth to the 
other. No one will mourn 
for them; no one will 
gather them up or bury 
them - they will be like 
dung on the soil!
{I}34_{/}Howl, shepherds, 
and lament!
Roll in the dust you 
leaders of flocks for the 
day of slaughter and 
dispersal has come for 
you and you will fall 
like fattened rams.
{I}35_{/}The shepherds 
will find no refuge and 
the leaders of the the 
flocks will not be able 
to escape.
{I}36_{/}The shepherds 
cry out and the leaders 
of flocks wail, 
{I}37_{/}for Yahweh lays 
waste the grasslands, and 
the pastures are silent 
because of the fury of 
Yahweh's anger.
{I}38_{/}Like a lion he 
leaves his lair; because 
of his fierce wrath the 
land has been stricken by 
the sword and has become 
a wasteland."
JEREMIAH IS ARRESTED AND 
JUDGED{/}

{1}26{/}

{I}1_{/}At the beginning 
of the reign of Judah's 
king Jehoiakim son of 
Josiah, the word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah: 
{I}2_{/}Yahweh says this, 
"Stand in the courtyard 
of Yahweh's House and say 
to all who come from the 
towns of Judah to worship 
in Yahweh's house - all 
that I command you to 
say; do not omit 
anything! {I}3_{/}Perhaps 
they will listen to you. 
Perhaps each one will 
turn from his wicked 
ways. Then I will change 
my mind and forget the 
destruction that I have 
planned to inflict on 
them because of their 
wicked deeds.
{I}4_{/}Tell them: This 
is what Yahweh says:
"You have not obeyed me 
and you have failed to 
walk according to my Law 
which I have set before 
you.{I}5_{/}You have not 
heeded my servants, the 
prophets, whom I have 
persistently sent to you. 
If you stubbornly close 
your ears to them, 
{I}6_{/}I will treat this 
House of mine as I 
treated the sanctuary of 
Shiloh and let all the 
nations see that 
Jerusalem is a cursed 
city."
{I}7_{/}The priests, the 
prophets and all the 
people heard what 
Jeremiah said in Yahweh's 
House. {I}8_{/}When 
Jeremiah finished saying 
all that Yahweh had 
commanded, he was 
besieged by the priests 
and prophets saying, "You 
are bound to die! 
{I}9_{/}How dare you 
speak in Yahweh's Name 
telling us that this 
House will be treated 
like Shiloh and this city 
is to become a deserted 
ruins." And all the 
people gathered around 
Jeremiah in the House of 
Yahweh.
{I}10_{/}Upon hearing 
this, the leaders of 
Judah came up from the 
king's palace to the 
House of Yahweh and took 
their place at the 
entrance of the New Gate. 
{I}11_{/}Then the priests 
and the prophets said to 
the leaders of the 
people: "This man must 
die for he has spoken 
against the city as you 
have heard with your own 
ears!"
{I}12_{/}Jeremiah 
replied, "I have been 
sent by Yahweh to 
prophesy against this 
House and this city all 
that you have heard. 
{I}13_{/}Hence, reform 
your ways and your deeds 
and obey Yahweh your God 
that he may change  his 
mind and not bring upon 
you the destruction he 
had intended.
{I}14_{/}As for me I am 
in your hands; do with me 
whatever you consider 
just and right. 
{I}15_{/}But know that I 
am innocent and if you 
take my life you commit a 
crime that is a curse on 
yourselves, on the city 
and the people. In truth 
it was Yahweh who sent me 
to say all that I said in 
your hearing."
{I}16_{/}Then the 
leaders, backed by the 
people, said to the 
priests and the prophets, 
"This man does not 
deserve death; he spoke 
to us in the Name of 
Yahweh."
{I}17_{/}Some of the 
elders of the land 
addressed the people's 
assembly saying, 
{I}18_{/}"Micah of 
Moresheth prophesied 
publicly in the time of 
Hezekiah, king of Judah:
'Zion will become like a 
field, Jerusalem a heap 
of rubble and the Temple 
Mount a hill of overgrown 
thickets.' 
{I}19_{/}Did King 
Hezekiah of Judah and the 
people of Judah kill him? 
They instead feared 
Yahweh and implored his 
pardon until they 
succeeded in their plea 
to make him change his 
mind; and Yahweh did not 
inflict the harm with 
which he had threatened 
them. How can we commit 
such a crime?"
{I}20_{/}There was 
another man, by the name 
of Uriah son of Shemaiah 
from Kiriath Jearim who 
also prophesied in the 
name of Yahweh. He spoke 
against this city and 
this country in words 
similar to those of 
Jeremiah. {I}21_{/}When 
King Jehoiakim together 
with his officials heard 
his words, he decided to 
do away with him. When 
Uriah came to know about 
it, he was scared and 
fled to Egypt. 
{I}22_{/}But King 
Jehoiakim sent Elnathan 
son of Achbor with some 
people into Egypt. 
{I}23_{/}They brought 
Uriah out of Egypt and 
took him to King 
Jehoiakim who had him 
slain and his body thrown 
into the common people's 
burial place.
{I}24_{/}As for Jeremiah 
he was befriended by 
Ahikam, son of Shaphan, 
and was not handed over 
to those who wanted him 
put to death.
THE YOKE OF 
NEBUCHADNEZZAR{/}

{1}27{/}

{I}1_{/}In the beginning 
of the reign of Zedekiah, 
son of Josiah, the word 
of Yahweh came to 
Jeremiah in this way, 
{I}2_{/}"Make for 
yourself ropes and a yoke 
and put them on your 
neck. {I}3_{/}Then send 
word to the kings of 
Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre 
and Sidon through their 
ambassadors, who have 
come to Jerusalem, to see 
Zedekiah king of Judah. 
{I}4_{/}Give them these 
instructions for their 
masters:
Yahweh God of hosts tells 
you what you ought to say 
to your masters: 
{I}5_{/}By means of my 
great power and mighty 
deeds I made the earth, 
as well as the people and 
animals that inhabit it, 
and I give them to whom 
ever I wish. {I}6_{/}Now 
I have given all these 
lands into the hands of 
my steward Nebuchadnezzar 
king of Babylon and I 
will even make the beasts 
of the field subject to 
him. {I}7_{/}All nations 
will serve him, his son 
and his grandson until 
the time for his land 
comes and then he will be 
overpowered by powerful 
nations and great kings.
{I}8_{/}As for the nation 
or kingdom that refuses 
to serve Nebuchadnezzar, 
king of Babylon, I will 
punish it with the sword, 
famine and plague - word 
of Yahweh - until I 
completely wipe it out.
{I}9_{/}Hence you must no 
longer pay attention to 
your prophets, diviners, 
interpreters of dreams, 
astrologists or sorcerers 
who say that you must not 
submit yourselves to the 
king of Babylon. 
{I}10_{/}For they are 
prophets of lies which 
will cause you to be 
finally driven from your 
land. I myself will drive 
you out and you will 
perish. {I}11_{/}But the 
nation that submits to 
the yoke of the king of 
Babylon and serves him, 
that nation I will leave 
in its own land - word of 
Yahweh - to till it and 
live there."
{I}12_{/}Then I gave the 
same message to King 
Zedekiah of Judah, "Place 
your neck under the yoke 
of the king of Babylon. 
Serve him and his people 
and you will live. 
{I}13_{/}Why should you 
and your people die by 
the sword, famine and 
plague as Yahweh has 
threatened any nation 
that will not serve the 
king of Babylon? 
{I}14_{/}Do not listen to 
the prophets when they 
say, 'You will not have 
to serve the king of 
Babylon.' For they are 
deceiving you with their 
prophesies. {I}15_{/}I 
did not send them, says 
Yahweh, and they falsely 
use my name in their 
prophesying. Let it not 
be that I drive you out 
of your land and you 
perish, you and the 
prophets who have spoken 
to you."
{I}16_{/}Then I spoke to 
the priests and the 
people, "Yahweh tells you 
not to listen to your 
prophets who say: 'Very 
soon now the articles 
from Yahweh's House will 
be brought back from 
Babylon.' They prophesy 
lies. {I}17_{/}Do not 
listen to them; instead 
serve the king of Babylon 
and survive. Why should 
this city become a ruins? 
{I}18_{/}If they were 
prophets and if they had 
Yahweh's word in their 
hearts, they would now be 
praying to Yahweh God of 
hosts not to allow the 
objects still remaining 
in the House of Yahweh 
and in the royal palace 
and in Jerusalem to be 
carried off to Babylon.
{I}19_{/}For, Yahweh says 
something about the 
pillars, the Sea, the 
movable stands and the 
other objects still in 
this city {I}20_{/}which 
Nebuchadnezzar did not 
carry off when he 
deported Jekoniah son of 
Jehoiakim, king of Judah 
from Jerusalem to Babylon 
together with all the 
nobles of Judah and 
Jerusalem. {I}21_{/}Yes, 
this is what Yahweh the 
God of hosts says about 
the objects remaining in 
the House of Yahweh and 
in the royal palace in 
Jerusalem: {I}22_{/}"They 
will be taken to Babylon 
and there they will 
remain until the day I 
deal with them. Then I 
will bring them back and 
restore them to this 
place."
JEREMIAH AND HANANIAH{/}

{1}28{/}

{I}1_{/}Early in the 
reign of Zedekiah, king 
of Judah, in the fifth 
month of the fourth year, 
the prophet Hananiah 
spoke to me. Hananiah son 
of Azzur from Gibeon 
proclaimed in Yahweh's 
House in the presence of 
the priests and the 
people, {I}2_{/}"This is 
what Yahweh the God of 
hosts and the God of 
Israel says: I will break 
the yoke of the king of 
Babylon. {I}3_{/}Within 
two years I will bring 
back to this place all 
the objects that King 
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon 
took away from Yahweh's 
House and carried to 
Babylon. {I}4_{/}I will 
likewise bring back 
Jekoniah son of 
Jehoiakim, king of Judah, 
and all who were taken 
from Judah and deported 
to Babylon. For I will 
break the yoke of the 
king of Babylon - word of 
Yahweh."
{I}5_{/}Then Jeremiah 
replied to Hananiah in 
the presence of the 
priests and all the 
people, {I}6_{/}"So be 
it! May Yahweh fulfill 
the words you have spoken 
and bring back from 
Babylon to this place the 
objects taken from the 
House of Yahweh and all 
the exiles. {I}7_{/}Yet 
hear now what I say in 
your hearing and the 
hearing of all the 
people.
{I}8_{/}The prophets who 
came before you and me 
continually prophesied 
war, disaster and plague 
to many nations and great 
kingdoms. {I}9_{/}So the 
prophet who prophesies 
peace will not be 
recognized as truly sent 
by Yahweh, until his 
predictions are 
fulfilled."
{I}10_{/}Then Hananiah 
took the yoke from the 
neck of Jeremiah and 
broke it. 
{I}11_{/}Hananiah 
proclaimed in the 
presence of all the 
people, "Yahweh says 
this: In the same manner 
within two years will I 
break the yoke of 
Nebuchadnezzar from the 
neck of all the nations." 
Then Jeremiah the prophet 
went on his way.
{I}12_{/}Some time later, 
a word of Yahweh came to 
Jeremiah, {I}13_{/}"Go 
and tell this to 
Hananiah: This is what 
Yahweh says: You have 
broken a wooden yoke but 
in its place you will get 
a yoke of iron.
{I}14_{/}For this is what 
Yahweh the God of hosts 
and the God of Israel 
says: I am placing a yoke 
of iron on the neck of 
all the nations to make 
them serve Nebuchadnezzar 
king of Babylon and they 
will serve him. I will 
even give him control 
over the wild animals."

{I}15_{/}Then Jeremiah 
said to Hananiah, 
"Listen! Hananiah, you 
have not been sent by 
Yahweh and yet you have 
deceived these people, 
giving them false hope 
with your lies. 
{I}16_{/}That is why 
Yahweh says with regard 
to you: I am removing you 
from the face of the 
earth. You will die this 
very year because you 
have counseled rebellion 
against Yahweh."
{I}17_{/}And in the 
seventh month of that 
year Hananiah died.
PROPHECIES OF BLESSING{/}

THE LETTER TO THE 
EXILES{/}

{1}29{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the text 
of the letter the prophet 
Jeremiah sent to the rest 
of the elders, to the 
priests, the prophets and 
to all the people that 
Nebuchadnezzar had 
deported from Jerusalem 
to Babylon. {I}2_{/}This 
was after King Jekoniah, 
the queen mother, the 
officials, the princes of 
Judah and Jerusalem, the 
smiths and metalworkers 
had left Jerusalem.
{I}3_{/}The letter was 
hand-carried by Elasah 
son of Shaphan and 
Gemariah son of Hilkiah, 
whom Zedekiah king of 
Judah sent to King 
Nebuchadnezzar in 
Babylon. It said:  
This is what Yahweh God 
of hosts and God of 
Israel says to all those 
deported from Jerusalem 
to Babylon:
{I}5_{/}"Build houses and 
live in them, plant 
gardens and eat what they 
produce, {I}6_{/}marry 
and have children, seek 
wives for your sons and 
give your daughters in 
marriage, so that they 
too will have children. 
While there, increase in 
number; do not decrease. 
{I}7_{/}Pull yourselves 
together for the welfare 
of the land to which I 
have sent you and 
intercede on its behalf 
as you pray to Yahweh; 
for its welfare will be 
your welfare."
{I}10_{/}This is what 
Yahweh says, "When the 
seventy years allowed to 
Babylon have been 
completed I will come to 
you and fulfill my 
promise of restoring you 
back to this place. 
{I}11_{/}For I know what 
my plans for you are, 
plans to save you and not 
to harm you, plans to 
give you a future and to 
give you hope."
{I}12_{/}And Yahweh says, 
"When you call on me I 
will listen. {I}13_{/}You 
will seek me and find me 
when you search for me 
with all your heart." 
{I}14_{/}For Yahweh says, 
"I will let myself be 
found by you and I will 
gather you from among all 
the nations and from all 
the places where I have 
driven you and bring you 
back to the place from 
which I sent you into 
exile.
{I}15_{/}Indeed you are 
trusting in prophets 
allegedly raised for you 
by Yahweh in Babylon. 
{I}16_{/}But this is the 
word of Yahweh: 
{I}8_{/}Do not be 
deceived by the prophets 
and seers who are among 
you. Do not believe in 
their dreams or be 
confident in their 
illusions. {I}9_{/}For I 
did not send them and 
they take advantage of my 
name to foretell lies. As 
for the king who sits on 
the throne of David and 
all the people who live 
in this city (your 
kinsmen who did not go 
into exile with you); 
{I}17_{/}thus says Yahweh 
God of hosts, "I am 
sending sword, famine and 
plague against them. I 
will make them like 
rotten figs, so rotten 
they cannot be eaten. 
{I}18_{/}I will pursue 
them with sword, famine 
and plague. They will be 
a horror for all the 
kingdoms of the earth, a 
curse, an abomination, a 
sign of desolation, 
mockery and ridicule 
among all the nations 
where I scatter them. 
{I}19_{/}For they did not 
heed my words when I sent 
them again and again my 
servants, the prophets. 
They refused to pay 
attention.
{I}20_{/}As for you, 
exiles, whom I sent away 
from Jerusalem to 
Babylon, hear the word of 
Yahweh. {I}21_{/}This is 
what Yahweh the God of 
hosts and the God of 
Israel says concerning 
Ahab son of Kolaiah and 
Zedekiah son of Maaseiah 
who prophesy lies in my 
name, "I will hand them 
over to Nebuchadnezzar, 
king of Babylon and he 
will slay them before 
your eyes. {I}22_{/}This 
will give rise to a curse 
widely used by the 
captives from Judah in 
Babylon: 'May the Lord 
treat you like Zedekiah 
and Ahab, who were 
roasted in the fire by 
the king of Babylon!' 
{I}23_{/}for they have 
acted outrageously: they 
have committed adultery 
with their neighbors' 
wives and have used my 
name to proclaim lies 
which I did not command 
them. I know it and have 
witnessed it," declares 
Yahweh.
{I}24_{/}After that 
Shemaiah of Nehelam 
{I}25_{/}sent letters in 
his own name to all the 
people in Jerusalem and 
to Zephaniah, son of 
Maaseiah the priest and 
to all the priests 
saying, {I}26_{/}"Yahweh 
has made you priest in 
place of Jehoiada to be 
in charge in the House of 
Yahweh to arrest every 
mad prophet and put him 
in the stocks and neck-
irons. {I}27_{/}So why 
have you not rebuked 
Jeremiah of Anathoth, a 
would-be prophet in your 
midst? {I}28_{/}In this 
role he sent a message to 
us in Babylon: You will 
be there for a long time! 
Build houses and live in 
them; plant gardens and 
eat their produce." 
{I}29_{/}When Zephaniah 
the priest read this 
letter in the hearing of 
the prophet Jeremiah, 
{I}30_{/}the word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah, 
{I}31_{/}"Send this 
message to all the 
exiles: This is what 
Yahweh says concerning 
Shemaiah of Nehelam: 
Shemaiah prophesied 
although I did not send 
him and he made you trust 
in lies. {I}32_{/}Because 
of that I will punish 
Shemaiah and his 
descendants; none of them 
will live to witness the 
blessings I will bestow 
on my people, for he 
incited my people to 
rebel against Yahweh."
THE RESTORATION OF THE 
NORTHERN KINGDOM{/}

{1}30{/}

{I}1_{/}This is another 
word that came to 
Jeremiah from Yahweh:
{I}2_{/}Yahweh, God of 
Israel says, "Write in a 
book all that I have 
communicated to you, 
{I}3_{/}for the days are 
coming when I shall bring 
my captive people Israel 
and Judah back to the 
land I gave to their 
fathers as their 
inheritance.
{I}4_{/}These are words 
spoken by Yahweh to 
Israel:
{I}5_{/}We have heard 
cries of fear,
terror and not peace!
{I}6_{/}Ask and see:
Does a man bear children?
Then why do I see every 
strong man
with his hands on his 
hips like a woman in 
labor,
every face turned a 
ghastly color?
{I}7_{/}How terrible that 
day!
there is none to equal 
it!
It is a time of distress 
for Jacob,
but he will be saved.
{I}8_{/}On that day, - 
declares Yahweh of hosts 
- I will break the yoke 
around his neck and burst 
his bonds, that strangers 
may no longer enslave 
them. {I}9_{/}They will 
instead serve Yahweh 
their God and David their 
king whom I will raise up 
for them.
{I}10_{/}Yahweh says, 
"Fear not, Jacob my 
servant. Be not dismayed, 
Israel, for I will rescue 
you and your descendants 
from that far-off land 
where you are captive. 
Jacob shall return and 
know peace, molested by 
no one.
{I}11_{/}I am with you to 
save you. I will utterly 
destroy the nations where 
you are scattered. You 
alone shall not be 
destroyed, but I will 
discipline you justly and 
not let you go 
unpunished."
{I}12_{/}Yahweh says,
"Your wound is incurable,
your injury is grievous.
{I}13_{/}There is no one 
to plead your cause.
There is a remedy for an 
ulcer
but no healing for you!
{I}14_{/}All your lovers 
have forgotten you;
they care nothing for 
you.
For I struck you as an 
enemy does,
with a cruel punishment,
because of your great 
guilt
and the wickedness of 
your sin.
{I}15_{/}Why cry out now 
that you are hurt?
Is there no cure for your 
pain?
Because of your great 
crime and grievous sin I 
have done this to you.
{I}16_{/}Yet all who 
devour you will be 
devoured. Your oppressors 
will be taken captive; 
your plunderers will be 
plundered and those who 
despise you will be 
despised. 
{I}17_{/}Because you were 
called 'outcast - Zion 
for whom no one cares,' I 
will restore you to 
health and heal your 
wounds," says Yahweh.
{I}18_{/}Yahweh says, "I 
will restore my people 
into Jacob's tents and 
have pity on his 
dwellings. The city will 
be rebuilt over its ruins 
and the palace restored 
on its proper place. 
{I}19_{/}From them will 
come songs of praise and 
the sound of merrymaking.
I will multiply them and 
they shall not be few. I 
will bestow honor on them 
and they shall not be 
despised. {I}20_{/}Their 
children will be as 
before and their 
community will be 
established before me. I 
will ask their oppressors 
to account.
{I}21_{/}Their leader 
will be one of 
themselves, their ruler 
shall emerge from their 
midst. I will bring him 
close to me for who would 
dare to approach me? 
{I}22_{/}You shall be my 
people and I shall be 
your God."
{I}23_{/}See the storm of 
Yahweh bursting forth in 
fury; like the turmoil of 
a hurricane it sweeps 
down on the head of the 
wicked. {I}24_{/}The 
fierce wrath of Yahweh 
will not turn away until 
he has done and 
accomplished the purpose 
of his heart.  
In the latter days you 
will understand this.
{1}31{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh declares 
that when that time comes 
he will be the God of all 
the families of Israel, 
and they will be his 
people.
{I}2_{/}Thus says Yahweh: 
The people who survived 
the sword have found 
grace in the desert. As 
Israel was seeking for 
his rest {I}3_{/}Yahweh 
appeared from afar 
saying, I have loved you 
with a love everlasting, 
so I have kept for you my 
mercy. {I}4_{/}I will 
restore you again, and 
you shall be rebuilt, O 
virgin Israel! 
You will take up your 
tambourines and go out 
dancing 
joyfully.{I}5_{/}You will 
plant vineyards again on 
the hills of Samaria, and 
the farmers who plant 
them will enjoy their 
fruit.
{I}6_{/}There shall be a 
day when watchmen will 
call out on the hills of 
Ephraim, "Come, let us go 
to Zion, to Yahweh our 
God!"
{I}7_{/}For Yahweh says 
this: Shout with joy for 
Jacob;
rejoice for the greatest 
of nations.
Proclaim your praise and 
say:
"Yahweh has saved his 
people,
the remnant of Israel!"
{I}8_{/}Look, I will 
bring them back from the 
land of the north, gather 
them from the ends of the 
earth, the lame and the 
blind, mothers and women 
in labor - a great throng 
will return.
{I}9_{/}They went away 
weeping,
they will return in joy.
I will lead them by the 
streams of water, on a 
level path so that no one 
will stumble,
for I am Israel's father
and Ephraim is my 
firstborn.
He who scattered Israel 
now gathers them!
{I}10_{/}Hear the word of 
Yahweh, O nations,
proclaim it on distant 
coastlands:
He who scattered Israel 
will gather them
and guard them as a 
shepherd guard his flock.
{I}11_{/}For Yahweh has 
ransomed Jacob
and redeemed him from the 
hand of his conqueror.
{I}12_{/}They shall come 
shouting for joy, while 
ascending Zion;
they will come streaming 
to Yahweh's blessings -
the grain, the new wine 
and the oil,
the young of the flocks 
and herds.
They will be like a well-
watered garden;
no more will they be 
afflicted.
{I}13_{/}Maidens will 
make merry and dance,
young men and old as 
well.
I will turn their 
mourning into gladness,
I will give them comfort 
and joy for sorrow.
{I}14_{/}I will fill the 
priests with abundance,
and satisfy my people 
with my bounty
- this is Yahweh's word.
{I}15_{/}Thus speaks 
Yahweh:
"In Ramah, a voice
of mourning and great 
weeping is heard,
Rachel wailing for her 
children
and refusing to be 
consoled,
for her children are no 
more."
{I}16_{/}Yahweh says this 
to her:
"Weep no more and wipe 
the tears of your eyes;
your sorrow will have 
redress.
They will come back from 
the enemy's land.
{I}17_{/}There is hope 
for your descendants;
your sons will return to 
their own borders.
{I}18_{/}I heard Ephraim 
saying in grief:
'You disciplined me like 
an untamed calf,
and I have been 
disciplined.
Bring me back, and I will 
return,
for you are my God, my 
Lord.
{I}19_{/}Yes, I strayed, 
but I have repented.
Now I understand and I 
beat my breast;
I bear the disgrace of my 
youth,
and I blush with shame 
and humiliation.'
{I}20_{/}Is not Ephraim 
my favored son,
the child in whom I 
delight?
Often have I threatened 
him,
but I still remember him,
and my heart yearns for 
him.
I must show him mercy," 
declares Yahweh.
{I}21_{/}Set up road 
signs,
put up guideposts;
focus your attention to 
the highway,
the road by which you 
went.
Return, O virgin Israel,
return to these cities of 
yours.
{I}22_{/}How long will 
you remain wandering,
O unfaithful daughter?
Yahweh is creating 
something new on earth -
the woman finds her 
husband again."
RESTORATION OF JUDAH{/}

{I}23_{/}These are words 
of Yahweh, God of hosts 
and God of Israel, "When 
I bring back the captives 
to the land of Judah and 
its towns, the people 
will once more use the 
expression: 'Yahweh bless 
you, O dwelling of 
righteousness, holy 
mountain!'
{I}24_{/}All Judah and 
its towns, the farmer and 
those who move about with 
their herds will live 
there in peace. 
{I}25_{/}I will refresh 
the weary and lift up the 
downhearted."
{I}26_{/}Then I awoke and 
looked around; my sleep 
had been peaceful.
{I}27_{/}"The days are 
coming - this is the word 
of Yahweh - when I shall 
sow the people of Israel 
and the people of Judah 
with the seed of man and 
of beasts. {I}28_{/}It 
will happen that just as 
I watched over them to 
uproot and overthrow, to 
destroy and bring 
disaster, so shall I 
likewise build and plant 
- word of Yahweh.
{I}29_{/}No longer will 
it be said: 'The fathers 
have eaten sour grapes 
and the children's teeth 
are set on edge.'
{I}30_{/}Instead everyone 
will die because of their 
own sin; whoever eats 
sour grapes will have his 
teeth set on edge!
THE NEW COVENANT{/}

{I}31_{/}The time is 
coming - it is Yahweh who 
speaks - when I will 
forge a new covenant with 
the people of Israel and 
the people of Judah. 
{I}32_{/}It will not be 
like the one I made with 
their fathers when I took 
them by the hand and led 
them out of Egypt. For 
they broke my covenant 
although I was their 
Lord.
{I}33_{/}This is the 
covenant I shall make 
with Israel after that 
time: I will put my Law 
within them and write it 
on their hearts; I will 
be their God and they 
will be my people.
{I}34_{/}And they will 
not have to teach each 
other, neighbor or 
brother, saying: 'Know 
the Lord,' because they 
will all know me, from 
the greatest to the 
lowliest, for I will 
forgive their wrongdoing 
and no longer remember 
their sin."
{I}35_{/}This is the word 
of Yahweh, 
he who gives the sun for 
light during the day and 
orders the moon and the 
stars to give light at 
night, 
he who stirs the sea and 
makes the waves roar, and 
who is called Yahweh, God 
of hosts:
{I}36_{/}"Only if these 
laws vanish from my 
sight, - says Yahweh - 
will the descendants of 
Israel cease to be a 
nation before me.
{I}37_{/}Only when the 
skies above are measured 
and the foundations of 
the earth are found 
below, only then will I 
reject the descendants of 
Israel because of what 
they have done - word of 
Yahweh.
{I}38_{/}Behold, the days 
are coming when the city 
will be rebuilt for 
Yahweh from the Tower of 
Hananel to the Corner 
Gate {I}39_{/}and the 
measuring tape will 
stretch from there to the 
hill of Gareb and then 
turn to Goah. 
{I}40_{/}The whole valley 
where dead bodies and 
ashes are thrown and all 
the fields as far as the 
brook of Kidron and the 
corner of the Horse Gate 
on the east will be holy 
to Yahweh. Never again 
will the city be 
uprooted, never again 
destroyed."
JEREMIAH BUYS A FIELD{/}

{1}32{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the word 
that came to Jeremiah 
from Yahweh in the tenth 
year of Zedekiah's reign 
as king of Judah, the 
eighteenth year of 
Nebuchadnezzar. 
{I}2_{/}At that time the 
army of the king of 
Babylon was besieging 
Jerusalem and the prophet 
Jeremiah was imprisoned 
in the Guards' Courtyard 
of the royal palace of 
Judah.
{I}3_{/}Zedekiah king of 
Judah had him shut up 
after saying to him, "Why 
do you prophesy in the 
name of Yahweh as you do? 
Yes, you said: 'I am 
going to hand this city 
to the king of Babylon 
who will take it. 
{I}4_{/}And King Zedekiah 
will not escape from the 
Chaldeans; he will be 
delivered into the power 
of the king of Babylon, 
speak face to face to him 
and see him with his own 
eyes. {I}5_{/}Zedekiah 
will be brought to 
Babylon where he will 
remain until I deal with 
him. In any case your 
fight against the 
Chaldeans is hopeless'."
{I}6_{/}So at that time 
the word of Yahweh came 
to Jeremiah: 
{I}7_{/}'Hanamel, son of 
your uncle Shallum, is 
going to visit you and 
ask you to buy his field 
at Anathoth as it is your 
right to do so.' 
{I}8_{/}Then my cousin 
Hanamel came to me in the 
courtyard of the Guards 
and said, 'Purchase my 
field at Anathoth since 
you have the right of 
possession and the 
redemption is yours; buy 
it for yourself.'
{I}9_{/}I then understood 
this was the word of 
Yahweh and I bought the 
field from Hanamel and I 
weighed out the silver 
for it, seventeen shekels 
of silver. {I}10_{/}Then 
I signed and sealed the 
deed, had it witnessed 
and the silver weighed on 
the scales. {I}11_{/}Then 
I took the deed of 
purchase (the sealed copy 
containing the terms and 
conditions and the open 
copy). {I}12_{/}I gave 
the deed of purchase to 
Baruch, son of Neriah, 
son of Mahseiah, in the 
presence of Hanamel my 
uncle and the witnesses 
who signed the deed and 
before all the Jews who 
were sitting in the court 
of the Guards. 
{I}13_{/}Then in their 
presence I commanded 
Baruch:
{I}14_{/}This is what 
Yahweh the God of hosts 
and the God of Israel 
says: Take these 
documents, both the 
sealed and the unsealed 
copies of the deed of 
purchase. Place them in 
an earthenware jar so 
that they may last a long 
time {I}15_{/}for Yahweh 
God of hosts and God of 
Israel says this: Houses, 
fields and vineyards will 
again be bought in this 
land."
PRAYER OF JEREMIAH{/}

{I}16_{/}When I had given 
the deed of purchase to 
Baruch son of Neriah, I 
prayed to Yahweh: 
{I}17_{/}"Ah, Lord 
Yahweh, you have made the 
heavens and the earth 
with your great power and 
mighty deeds. Nothing is 
impossible to you! 
{I}18_{/}You show mercy 
to thousands but bring 
the punishment for the 
fathers' sins on their 
children. Great and 
Mighty, Yahweh God of 
hosts is your name! 
{I}19_{/}You are great in 
planning and mighty in 
deeds, your eyes follow 
the ways of all the 
humans, and you give to 
each one according to his 
conduct and the fruit of 
his actions.
{I}20_{/}You have 
continually worked signs 
and wonders, in the land 
of Egypt, in Israel and 
among all humankind. 
Hence you have become 
famous, as we see today. 
{I}21_{/}You brought your 
people from the land of 
Egypt with signs and 
wonders, with your great 
power and your mighty 
deeds. 
{I}22_{/}You gave your 
people this land which 
you had promised with an 
oath to their fathers, a 
land flowing with milk 
and honey. {I}23_{/}But 
as soon as they entered 
and conquered it, they 
did not listen to you and 
did not walk according to 
your Law. They refused to 
do what you commanded and 
you brought great 
misfortune on them. 
{I}24_{/}You see, O 
Yahweh, the mounds built 
up to take the city are 
reaching it. And the city 
exhausted by the sword, 
famine and plague will be 
given over to the 
Chaldeans. What you 
foretold has happened as 
you can now see! 
{I}25_{/}And yet you told 
me, O Lord Yahweh, to buy 
a field with silver and 
have the purchase 
witnessed in the very 
days the city is falling 
to the Chaldeans!"
GOD'S ANSWER{/}

{I}26_{/}The word of 
Yahweh then came to 
Jeremiah: {I}27_{/}"I am 
Yahweh, the God of all 
humankind. Is there 
anything impossible for 
me? {I}28_{/}Therefore 
this is what Yahweh says: 
I am about to hand the 
city over to the 
Chaldeans and 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon who will take it. 
{I}29_{/}The Chaldeans 
who are attacking the 
city will come in and set 
it on fire. They will 
burn the houses where the 
people aroused my anger 
by burning incense to 
Baal and pouring drink 
offerings to foreign 
gods. {I}30_{/}For the 
people of Israel and 
Judah have done nothing 
but evil in my sight from 
their youth. {I}31_{/}All 
they did was to arouse my 
anger with the work of 
their hands - it is 
Yahweh who speaks - for 
this city has so aroused 
my anger and fury from 
the time it was built to 
this day, {I}32_{/}that I 
must remove it from my 
sight. It is on account 
of all the evil the 
people of Israel and 
Judah have done to anger 
me - they, their kings 
and princes, their 
priests and prophets, the 
people of Judah and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem.
{I}33_{/}They turned 
their backs to me and not 
their faces. Although I 
taught them time and time 
again they did not listen 
nor have they learned the 
lesson. {I}34_{/}They 
even put their idols in 
the sanctuary that houses 
my Name to defile it. 
{I}35_{/}They built high 
places to Baal in the 
valley of Ben-Hinnom 
where they worshipped 
Baal and sacrificed their 
sons and daughters to 
Moloch. This I never 
commanded nor did I ever 
think they could do such 
a detestable thing and so 
make Judah so sinful.
I WILL BRING THEM BACK{/}

{I}36_{/}As you say, this 
city exhausted by the 
sword, famine and plague 
will be handed over to 
the king of Babylon. But 
now listen to what Yahweh 
the God of Israel says: 
{I}37_{/}"See, I am going 
to gather them from all 
the countries where I 
scattered them in my 
anger, fury and great 
wrath.
I will bring them back to 
this place and have them 
live in safety. 
{I}38_{/}They will be my 
people and I shall be 
their God.
{I}39_{/}I will have them 
think and act in another 
way, so that they may 
always fear me for their 
own good and the good of 
their children.
{I}40_{/}I will forge an 
eternal covenant with 
them by which I shall 
never cease to do them 
good and I shall place my 
fear in their heart so 
that they may never turn 
away from me.
{I}41_{/}I shall rejoice 
in doing them good and I 
shall plant them securely 
in this land with all my 
heart and soul."
{I}42_{/}And Yahweh says, 
"Just as I brought great 
disaster on this people, 
so shall I bring them all 
the happiness I promised 
them. {I}43_{/}Then 
fields will be bought in 
this land about which you 
say that it is a 
wasteland without man or 
beast and given over to 
the Chaldeans.
{I}44_{/}Fields will be 
bought for silver, and 
deeds written and sealed 
and witnessed in the 
territory of Benjamin and 
the region around 
Jerusalem, in the towns 
of Judah, in the towns of 
the hill country, in the 
towns of Shephelah and 
those of the south.
Yes, I will bring back 
their captives" - word of 
Yahweh.
ANOTHER PROMISE OF 
RESTORATION{/}

{1}33{/}

{I}1_{/}When Jeremiah was 
still detained in the 
Guards' Court the word of 
Yahweh came to him a 
second time:
{I}2_{/}He who made the 
earth, who fashioned and 
established it, he whose 
Name is Yahweh is 
speaking to you, 
{I}3_{/}"Call me and I 
shall answer. I will 
reveal to you great and 
mysterious things you 
have not known." 
{I}4_{/}For this is what 
Yahweh God of Israel 
says, "You have seen how 
the houses of Jerusalem 
and the royal palace of 
Judah were demolished and 
used as a defense against 
the siege mounds in the 
{I}5_{/}fighting against 
the Chaldeans. But they 
have been filled with 
dead bodies, for I slew 
these people in the fury 
of my anger when I no 
longer looked to this 
city because of their 
wickedness.
{I}6_{/}However I will 
apply a remedy for its 
healing. I will cure them 
and make them enjoy peace 
and truth. {I}7_{/}I will 
bring back the captives 
of Judah and Israel and 
rebuild them as before. 
{I}8_{/}I will cleanse 
them from the guilt of 
their sin against me and 
their infidelity. 
{I}9_{/}This city will be 
for me a cause of joy, 
praise and glory in the 
sight of all the nations 
of the earth, when they 
hear of all the good I do 
for them. They will fear 
and tremble when they see 
all the good and all the 
peace I provide for 
them."
{I}10_{/}Thus says 
Yahweh, "You say of this 
city that it is a 
wasteland without men or 
animals. But in the towns 
of Judah and in the 
streets of Jerusalem 
which are a ruins without 
men or animals 
{I}11_{/}there will be 
heard again the sound of 
merriment and happiness, 
the song of the newlywed 
and the voice of those 
who pray: 'Praise to 
Yahweh God of hosts, for 
Yahweh is good and his 
love endures forever!' 
When I restore the 
fortune of the land as it 
was before," says Yahweh, 
"the voice of those who 
sing praise in the House 
of Yahweh will be heard."
{I}12_{/}Thus says Yahweh 
God of hosts: In this 
place, which is a 
wasteland without men or 
animals and in all its 
towns, there will once 
again be pastures where 
the shepherds will tend 
their flocks. {I}13_{/}In 
the towns of the hill 
country, Shephelah and 
the south, in the 
territory of Benjamin and 
the villages around 
Jerusalem and in the 
towns of Judah, flocks 
will pass under the hand 
of the one who counts 
them - word of Yahweh.
PROMISES TO DAVID'S 
DESCENDANTS{/}

{I}14_{/}The days are 
coming when I shall 
fulfill the promise that 
I made in favor of Israel 
and Judah.
{I}15_{/}In those days 
and at that time I will 
cause to sprout the shoot 
of righteousness from 
David's line; he will 
practice justice and 
righteousness in the 
land. {I}16_{/}In those 
days Judah will 
experience salvation and 
Jerusalem will live in 
safety. He will be called 
Yahweh-Our-
Righteousness."
{I}17_{/}For Yahweh says, 
"David will never be 
without a descendant 
seated on the throne of 
Israel, {I}18_{/}nor will 
the priests and Levites 
be left without 
descendants to stand 
before me and to present 
burnt offerings, grain 
offerings and 
sacrifices."
{I}19_{/}The word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah 
as follows, {I}20_{/}"If 
you are able to break my 
covenant with the day or 
my covenant with the 
night so that night and 
day would not follow at 
their appointed times, 
{I}21_{/}then might my 
covenant with David my 
servant be broken. Only 
then would there be no 
descendant to reign on 
his throne and no priests 
or Levites to minister 
before me. {I}22_{/}Just 
as the stars in the sky 
or the sand on the 
seashore cannot be 
counted, to the same 
extent shall I multiply 
the descendants of David 
and the Levites who 
minister before me."
{I}23_{/}Again the word 
of Yahweh came to 
Jeremiah, {I}24_{/}"Have 
you not noticed what 
these people say: 'Yahweh 
has rejected the two 
kingdoms he chose.' So 
they despise my people, 
and no longer consider 
them a nation. 
{I}25_{/}But Yahweh says: 
If I have not established 
my covenant with day and 
night, if I have not 
fixed the laws of the 
heavens and the earth, 
{I}26_{/}then I can 
reject the descendants of 
Jacob and David my 
servant and not take from 
among them rulers for the 
descendants of Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob. For I am 
going to restore their 
fortune and show 
compassion on them."
A PROMISE TO ZEDEKIAH{/}

{1}34{/}

{I}1_{/}This was the word 
of Yahweh addressed to 
Jeremiah when 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, and his army as 
well as all the kingdoms 
of the earth that were 
under his dominion, and 
all the peoples were 
fighting against 
Jerusalem and all the 
cities of Judah:
{I}2_{/}This is the word 
of Yahweh, God of Israel, 
"Go and say this to 
Zedekiah king of Judah: 
'See, I am giving this 
city to the king of 
Babylon and he will set 
it on fire. {I}3_{/}You 
will not escape from his 
hands but will surely be 
captured and given over 
to him. You will see him 
face to face and speak 
directly to him and you 
will go to Babylon.' 
{I}4_{/}Just listen, 
Zedekiah, king of Judah, 
to the word of Yahweh! 
This is what Yahweh says 
about you, 'You will not 
be slain by the sword; 
{I}5_{/}no, you will die 
in peace. As they made 
funeral pyres in honor of 
your fathers, former 
kings, so will they make 
a fire in your honor and 
lament 'Alas, my master! 
- word of Yahweh."
{I}6_{/}Then Jeremiah the 
prophet gave this message 
to Zedekiah, king of 
Judah in Jerusalem. 
{I}7_{/}At that time the 
army of the king of 
Babylon was besieging 
Jerusalem and the cities 
of Judah which were still 
resisting - Lachish and 
Azekah. These were the 
only fortified cities 
remaining in Judah. 
ABOUT THE LIBERATED 
SLAVES{/}

{I}8_{/}The word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah 
after King Zedekiah had 
made a treaty with all 
the people of Jerusalem 
to proclaim freedom for 
the slaves. 
{I}9_{/}Everyone was to 
free his Hebrew slaves, 
male and female, so that 
no fellow Jew would be 
kept in bondage.
{I}10_{/}The princes and 
all the citizens agreed 
to this. They made a 
treaty and so set them 
free. {I}11_{/}Yet they 
changed their mind 
afterwards and brought 
back the slaves they had 
freed and used them as 
slaves again.
{I}12_{/}Then the word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah, 
{I}13_{/}"Yahweh the God 
of Israel says this: I 
made a covenant with your 
fathers the day I brought 
them out of Egypt from 
the house of slavery and 
I said: {I}14_{/}At the 
end of every seven years 
you will free your 
brother Hebrew who sold 
himself to you. When he 
has served you for six 
years, you are to send 
him away a free man. But 
your fathers did not 
listen and paid no 
attention. 
{I}15_{/}Recently you 
repented and did what was 
right in my sight when 
each one proclaimed the 
freedom of his slave and 
you made a covenant with 
me in the House where my 
Name rests. {I}16_{/}But 
now you have gone back on 
your word and profaned my 
Name. You have brought 
back your slaves, male 
and female, to whom you 
had given complete 
freedom and you have 
again reduced them to 
slavery.
{I}17_{/}That is why 
Yahweh says: Since you 
have not obeyed me in 
proclaiming freedom for 
your brothers and 
neighbors I now proclaim 
'freedom' for you, 
freedom to fall by the 
sword, plague and famine. 
I will make you 
detestable to every 
kingdom on earth. 
{I}18_{/}The men who have 
sinned against my 
covenant, who have not 
observed the terms of the 
alliance they made before 
me, I will liken them to 
the calf they cut in two 
and then walked between 
its halves. {I}19_{/}The 
princes of Judah and 
Jerusalem, the court 
officials, the priests 
and all the free men who 
walked between the pieces 
of the calf, {I}20_{/}I 
will hand them over to 
their enemies. Their 
corpses will serve as 
food for the birds of the 
air and the beasts of the 
earth.
{I}21_{/}Zedekiah and his 
officials I will give 
over to the hands of 
their enemies. You saw 
the army of the king of 
Babylon withdrawing from 
you. {I}22_{/}But now I 
am issuing an order to 
bring them back to this 
city. They will attack 
and capture the city and 
set it on fire. As for 
the towns of Judah I will 
reduce them to a 
wasteland without 
inhabitants." 
THE EXAMPLE GIVEN BY THE 
RECHABITES{/}

{1}35{/}

{I}1_{/}A message from 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah 
in the days of Joasiah's 
son Jehoiakim, king of 
Judah: {I}2_{/}"Go to the 
Rechabite family; speak 
to them and bring them to 
a room in the House of 
Yahweh; then give them 
wine to drink."
{I}3_{/}So I went to get 
Jaazaniah, son of 
Jeremiah, son of 
Habazziniah, his brothers 
and sons and all the 
household of the 
Rechabites. {I}4_{/}I 
brought them to the House 
of Yahweh, into the room 
of the sons of Hanan, son 
of Igdaliah, the man of 
God. It was close to the 
room of the leaders which 
is above the room of the 
doorkeeper Maasekah, son 
of Shallum. {I}5_{/}I 
then placed pitchers of 
wine and cups before the 
Rechabites and told them, 
"Drink wine!"
{I}6_{/}But they 
answered, "We don't drink 
wine because our father 
Jonadab son of Rechab 
commanded us: 'Never 
drink wine, you as well 
as your children; 
{I}7_{/}don't build a 
house and don't sow 
seeds. You shall not 
plant or own a vineyard; 
do nothing like that but 
live in tents all your 
days so that you may live 
for a long time in the 
land where you dwell!'
{I}8_{/}We have observed 
all the commands of our 
father Jonadab, son of 
Rechab, always abstaining 
from wine, we, our wives, 
our sons and daughters. 
{I}9_{/}We haven't built 
houses to live in and we 
have no vineyards, fields 
or seeds. {I}10_{/}We 
live in tents and we obey 
and practice all that our 
father Jonadab ordered 
us. {I}11_{/}But when 
king Nebuchadnezzar of 
Babylon attacked the 
land, we said: "Come, we 
shall go to Jerusalem to 
escape from the army of 
the Chaldeans and the 
army of the Arameans. 
This is why now we stay 
in Jerusalem."
{I}12_{/}Yahweh spoke 
again to Jeremiah, 
{I}13_{/}"Yahweh the God 
of hosts and the God of 
Israel bids you to go and 
tell the people of Judah 
and the citizens of 
Jerusalem: Will you 
reject a correction and 
refuse what I say? - word 
of Yahweh. 
{I}14_{/}Jonadab son of 
Rechab commanded his 
children not to drink 
wine, and his words have 
been observed; to this 
day they have obeyed 
their father by not 
taking wine. As for you, 
I have spoken to you time 
and time again and you 
have not listened to me! 
{I}15_{/}I have sent you 
my servants the prophets 
again and again saying: 
'Turn away from your 
wickedness, reform your 
way of life and do not 
follow other gods to 
serve them. Then you will 
live in the land that I 
gave you and your 
forefathers.' But you 
neither heeded nor 
listened to me. 
{I}16_{/}The descendants 
of Jonadab son of Rechab 
have carried out their 
father's order but this 
nation has not obeyed 
me."
{I}17_{/}Therefore this 
is what Yahweh the God of 
hosts and the God of 
Israel says, 
"I am going to bring on 
Judah and on everyone 
living in Jerusalem all 
the disaster I foretold, 
because I spoke and they 
would not listen, I 
called and they would not 
respond."
{I}18_{/}Then Jeremiah 
said to the Rechabites, 
"This is what Yahweh God 
of hosts and God of 
Israel says: 'Because you 
have been obedient to 
your father Jonadab and 
observed all his 
instructions, because you 
have acted according to 
his commands, 
{I}19_{/}because of that 
- word of Yahweh - 
Jonadab shall always have 
a descendant to stand 
before me."
THE SUFFERINGS OF 
JEREMIAH{/}

THE SCROLL IS BURNED{/}

{1}36{/}

{I}1_{/}This word from 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah 
in the fourth year of 
Jehoiakim son of Josiah.
{I}2_{/}"Get a scroll and 
write on it all that I 
have spoken to you 
concerning Jerusalem, 
Judah and all the 
nations, from the first 
day I spoke to you in the 
time of Josiah until this 
day. {I}3_{/}Perhaps when 
the people of Judah hear 
of all the afflictions I 
intend to send them, to 
make each of them turn 
away they would decide to 
turn from their wicked 
ways. Hence I may forgive 
their wickedness and 
sin."
{I}4_{/}Jeremiah then 
called Baruch son of 
Neriah and while Jeremiah 
dictated, Baruch wrote on 
the scroll all that 
Yahweh had said.
{I}5_{/}Then Jeremiah 
commanded Baruch, "I am 
in jail and cannot go to 
Yahweh's House. 
{I}6_{/}So you go to 
Yahweh's House on a day 
of fasting and read 
publicly all that you 
wrote as I dictated. Read 
it to all the people of 
Judah who come in from 
their towns. 
{I}7_{/}Perhaps they will 
entreat Yahweh and each 
one will turn from his 
wickedness, for great is 
the wrath of Yahweh and 
the punishment with which 
he has threatened this 
people."
{I}8_{/}So Baruch 
Neriah's son did all that 
the prophet Jeremiah had 
commanded about this 
reading in the House of 
Yahweh.
{I}9_{/}In the ninth 
month of the fifth year 
of Josiah's son 
Jehoiakim, king of Judah, 
a fast before Yahweh was 
proclaimed to all the 
people in Jerusalem and 
all the people who came 
from the towns of Judah.
Then in the House of 
Yahweh Baruch read 
publicly the words of 
Jeremiah written in the 
scroll. {I}10_{/}This he 
did in the room of the 
secretary Gemariah 
Shapan's son, in the 
upper court at the entry 
of the New Gate of the 
House of Yahweh.
{I}11_{/}When Micaiah son 
of Gemariah, son of 
Shaphan heard all of 
Yahweh's words written on 
the scroll {I}12_{/}he 
went to the secretary's 
room in the king's house 
where all the officials 
were sitting - Elishama, 
the secretary, Delaiah, 
son of Shemaiah; 
Elnathan, son of Acbor; 
Gemariah, son of Shaphan; 
Zedekiah, son of 
Hananiah, and the rest of 
the officials.
{I}13_{/}Micaiah told 
them all that he had 
heard when Baruch read 
the the content of the 
scroll to the people. 
{I}14_{/}Then all the 
officials sent Jehudi, 
son of Netaniah, the son 
of Shelemiah, the son of 
Cushi, to say to Baruch, 
"Bring the scroll from 
which you read to all the 
people and come!" So 
Baruch went with the 
scroll in his hand. 
{I}15_{/}They told him to 
sit down and read it to 
them, and Baruch read it 
to them.
{I}16_{/}When they heard 
all that, they gazed at 
one another in fear and 
said, "We ought to tell 
this to the king."
{I}17_{/}They then asked 
Baruch, "May we know how 
you wrote that." He said, 
{I}18_{/}"As he dictated 
these words, I wrote them 
in ink on the scroll." 
{I}19_{/}Then the 
officials instructed 
Baruch, "Jeremiah and you 
have to hide and let no 
one know where you are."
{I}20_{/}They kept the 
scroll in the room of 
Elishama the secretary 
and went to the king in 
the courtyard and 
reported all to him.
{I}21_{/}The king then 
sent Jehudi to bring him 
the scroll. Jehudi 
brought it from 
Elishamah's room and read 
it to the king and to all 
the officials standing 
around him. {I}22_{/}Now 
it was the ninth month 
and the king was sitting 
in the winter palace 
while a fire was burning 
in the fire pot in front 
of him. {I}23_{/}Whenever 
Jehudi finished reading 
three or four columns, 
the king would cut them 
off into pieces with the 
secretary's knife and 
cast them in the fire 
until the whole scroll 
was burned.
{I}24_{/}Neither the king 
nor his officials were 
afraid when they heard 
all these words and they 
did not tear their 
garments. {I}25_{/}And 
yet Elnathan, Deliah and 
Gemariah had urged the 
king not to burn the 
scroll, but he did not 
listen.
{I}26_{/}Instead the king 
ordered Jerahmeel, a son 
of the king, Seraiah son 
of Azriel and Shelemiah 
son of Abdeel to arrest 
Baruch the secretary and 
Jeremiah the prophet; but 
Yahweh concealed them.
{I}27_{/}A word of Yahweh 
came to Jeremiah after 
the king burned the 
scroll with the words 
Baruch had written as 
Jeremiah dictated, 
{I}28_{/}"Take another 
scroll and write on it 
all the words that were 
on the first one which 
Jehoiakim burned. 
{I}29_{/}And tell 
Jehoiakim this message of 
Yahweh: You have burned 
the scroll and you said: 
This man dared to write 
that the king of Babylon 
will certainly destroy 
this land and wipe away 
from it men and animals! 
{I}30_{/}That is why 
Yahweh has spoken against 
Jehoiakim, king of Judah: 
Not one of his 
descendants will sit on 
the throne of David. His 
dead body will be exposed 
to the heat of day and 
the chill of night. 
{I}31_{/}I will ask him 
to account as well as his 
children and his 
attendants for their 
wickedness. I will pour 
out on them all the 
disasters and it will be 
the same for the people 
of Judah and the 
inhabitants of Jerusalem 
I have foretold against 
them, because they have 
paid no attention."
{I}32_{/}Then Jeremiah 
took another scroll and 
gave it to Baruch son of 
Neriah, the secretary. He 
wrote on it all the words 
of the scroll that 
Jehoiakim king of Judah 
burned in the fire, and 
he added many more 
similar words.
ZEDEKIAH CONSULTS 
JEREMIAH{/}

{1}37{/}

{I}1_{/}Josiah's Zedekiah 
was appointed by 
Nebuchadnezzar king of 
Babylon to be king of 
Judah in the place of 
Jehoiakin son of 
Jehoiakim. {I}2_{/}But 
neither he nor his 
attendants nor the people 
of the land paid 
attention to the words of 
Yahweh spoken through 
Jeremiah the prophet.
{I}3_{/}King Zedekiah 
sent Jehucal son of 
Shelemiah with the priest 
Zehaniah son of Maaseiah 
to Jeremiah to say, 
"Intercede for us with 
Yahweh our God!" 
{I}4_{/}At that time 
Jeremiah had not yet been 
imprisoned and he was 
still going about among 
the people. 
{I}5_{/}Pharaoh's army 
had come out of Egypt and 
when the Chaldeans heard 
of this, they withdrew 
from Jerusalem.
{I}6_{/}Then the word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah 
the prophet: 
{I}7_{/}"Yahweh the God 
of Israel has spoken. Say 
this to the king of Judah 
who sent you to consult 
me: Pharaoh's army which 
was on its way to help 
you is about to return to 
its own land, {I}8_{/}and 
the Chaldeans will come 
back and attack this 
city. They will capture 
it and set it on fire.
{I}9_{/}Do not deceive 
yourselves by saying that 
the Chaldeans are not to 
come back, because they 
surely will. 
{I}10_{/}Even if you had 
defeated the whole 
Chaldean army and they 
were left with only 
wounded men, they would 
all come out of their 
tents and set fire to 
this city."
JEREMIAH IN THE WELL{/}

{I}11_{/}While the 
Chaldean army was 
withdrawing from 
Jerusalem because of the 
advance of Pharaoh's 
troops, {I}12_{/}Jeremiah 
left Jerusalem to go to 
the territory of Benjamin 
to receive an inheritance 
there. {I}13_{/}But upon 
reaching the Benjamin 
Gate he was stopped by a 
sentry named Irijah, son 
of Shelemiah, son of 
Hananiah who said, "You 
are deserting to the 
Babylonians!"
{I}14_{/}Jeremiah 
answered, "There's no 
truth to that!" But 
Irijah did not listen. He 
nabbed Jeremiah and 
brought him to the 
officials. {I}15_{/}They 
were so angry with 
Jeremiah, they beat him 
and locked him in the 
house of Jonathan the 
secretary which had been 
transformed into a 
prison.
{I}16_{/}Jeremiah was put 
in the dungeon cells and 
was kept there for a 
number of days. 
{I}17_{/}Then King 
Zedekiah sent for him and 
secretly questioned him 
in his house:"Is there 
any word from Yahweh?" 
Jeremiah replied, "Yes, 
there is!" and added, 
"You will be handed over 
to the king of Babylon!"
{I}18_{/}Then Jeremiah 
said to King Zedekiah, 
"What wrong have I done 
to you, to your servants 
or to the people that you 
should have me 
imprisoned? 
{I}19_{/}Where are your 
prophets {I}20_{/}who 
said to you: 'The King of 
Babylon will never come 
to attack you and destroy 
this land?' Now listen to 
me, my lord king! Take 
heed of my plea and do 
not send me back to the 
house of Jonathan the 
secretary, for there I am 
doomed to die!"
{I}21_{/}So King Zedekiah 
ordered that Jeremiah be 
transferred to the 
Guards' Court and that 
every day he be supplied 
with loaf of bread from 
the bakers' street until 
there was no more bread. 
So Jeremiah remained in 
the Guards' Court.
{1}38{/}

{I}1_{/}Shephatiah son of 
Mattan, Gedaliah son of 
Pashhur son of Malchiah 
heard what Jeremiah said 
publicly {I}2_{/}in the 
name of Yahweh, "Anyone 
who stays in the city 
will perish by the sword, 
famine and plague, but 
whoever surrenders to the 
Chaldeans will survive 
although he may lose 
everything. {I}3_{/}For 
Yahweh has spoken: I have 
handed over this city to 
the king of Babylon and 
he will take it."
{I}4_{/}Then the 
officials told the king, 
"This man should be put 
to death, because he is 
weakening the will of the 
fighting men and the 
people left the city. In 
fact he is not out to 
save the people but to do 
harm." {I}5_{/}King 
Zedekiah said, "His life 
is in your hands for the 
king has no power against 
you." 
{I}6_{/}So they took 
Jeremiah and threw him 
into the cistern of 
Malchiah the king's son, 
in the Guards' Court. 
They lowered him by means 
of ropes. There was no 
water in the cistern but 
only mud and Jeremiah 
sank into the mud.
{I}7_{/}Ebedmelech, an 
Ethiopian official of the 
king's house, heard that 
they had lowered Jeremiah 
in the cistern. While the 
king was sitting at the 
Benjamin Gate, 
{I}8_{/}Ebedmelech went 
and spoke to him, 
{I}9_{/}"My lord king! 
These men have acted 
wickedly in all they did 
to Jeremiah the prophet. 
They threw him into the 
cistern where he will 
die."
{I}10_{/}So the king 
ordered Ebedmelech the 
Ethiopian: "Take three 
men with you from here 
and draw Jeremiah the 
prophet out from the 
cistern before he dies."
{I}11_{/}Ebedmelech took 
the men with him and went 
into the king's house 
beneath the treasury. 
There he got pieces of 
rags and old clothes 
which he lowered by means 
of ropes to Jeremiah in 
the cistern. 
{I}12_{/}Ebedmelech said 
to Jeremiah, "Put the 
pieces of rags and old 
clothes under your 
armpits, over the ropes." 
This Jeremiah did. 
{I}13_{/}Then Jeremiah 
was pulled up from the 
cistern by means of the 
ropes and was brought to 
the Guards' Court to stay 
there. 
{I}14_{/}King Zedekiah 
sent for Jeremiah the 
prophet and received him 
at the third entrance of 
Yahweh's House and there 
said to him, "I am going 
to ask you a question; 
hide nothing from me!" 
Jeremiah said to 
Zedekiah, {I}15_{/}"If I 
tell you something, won't 
you put me to death? And 
if I advice you, will you 
listen to me?" 
{I}16_{/}King Zedekiah 
swore secretly to 
Jeremiah: "As Yahweh 
lives who gave us a soul, 
I will not have you die 
and I will not hand you 
over to those who want to 
kill you."
{I}17_{/}Jeremiah told to 
Zedekiah, "This is what 
Yahweh God of hosts and 
God of Israel says: If 
you surrender to the 
officers of the king of 
Babylon you will survive 
and the city will not be 
burned. You and your 
household will live. 
{I}18_{/}But if you 
surrender not to the king 
of Babylon, this very 
city will be handed over 
to the Chaldeans and they 
will set it on fire. For 
your part, you will not 
escape."
{I}19_{/}King Zedekiah 
said to Jeremiah, "I am 
afraid of the people of 
Judah who have 
surrendered to the 
Chaldeans. I fear the 
Chaldeans will give me 
over to them and they 
will ill-treat me." 
{I}20_{/}Jeremiah said, 
"They will not hand you 
over. Listen to what 
Yahweh says to you 
through me; it will be 
well with you and you 
will live. {I}21_{/}But 
if you refuse to 
surrender, this is what 
Yahweh has let me see:
{I}22_{/}All the women 
left in your palace will 
be handed over to the 
officers of the king of 
Babylon and will sing 
this song: 'Your friends 
have deceived and 
overcome you. When your 
feet have sunk into the 
mud, they turn away from 
you!' {I}23_{/}All your 
wives and children shall 
be led out to the 
Chaldeans and you will 
not escape from them. You 
will be nabbed by the 
king of Babylon and this 
city will be burned 
down!"
{I}24_{/}Then Zedekiah 
said to Jeremiah, "Let no 
one know about this 
conversation lest you 
will die. {I}25_{/}If the 
officials hear that I 
have spoken with you and 
if they come to you and 
ask you what I spoke of 
to you, even though they 
threaten you, 
{I}26_{/}you will say to 
them: I only made a 
petition to the king not 
to send me back to the 
house of Jonathan to 
die."
{I}27_{/}All the 
officials came to 
Jeremiah and questioned 
him. He replied just as 
the king had instructed 
him, and they said no 
more since no one had 
overheard the 
conversation.
{I}28_{/}But Jeremiah 
remained in the Guards' 
Court until the day 
Jerusalem was taken. 
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM AND 
THE FATE OF JEREMIAH{/}

{1}39{/}

{I}1_{/}In the tenth 
month of the ninth year 
of Zedekiah king of 
Judah, Nebuchadnezzar 
king of Babylon came with 
his entire army and they 
besieged Jerusalem. 
{I}2_{/}On the ninth day 
of the fourth month in 
Zedekiah's eleventh year 
a breach was made in the 
city wall. {I}3_{/}All 
the officials of the king 
of Babylon entered and 
took their seats at the 
Middle Gate: Nergal-
Sherazer of Samgar, 
Sarsekim chief officer, 
Nergal-Sherazer a high 
official and all the 
officials of the king of 
Babylon.
{I}4_{/}Upon seeing this, 
King Zedekiah of Judah 
and all the military fled 
from the city by night, 
going out by way of the 
king's garden through the 
gate between the two 
walls in the direction of 
Arabah. {I}5_{/}But the 
Chaldean army chased them 
and caught up with 
Zedekiah in the plains of 
Jericho. They took him 
and brought him up to the 
king of Babylon at Riblah 
in the land of Hamath. 
There Nebuchadnezzar 
passed sentence on him. 
{I}6_{/}The king of 
Babylon slaughtered the 
sons of Zedekiah in his 
presence and all the 
nobles of Judah. 
{I}7_{/}He gouged 
Zedekiah's eyes and bound 
him with a double bronze 
chain to take him to 
Babylon.
{I}8_{/}The Chaldeans 
burned the King's palace 
along with the people's 
abodes and then broke 
down the walls of 
Jerusalem. 
{I}9_{/}Nebuzaradan, 
commander of the guards, 
deported to Babylon the 
remainder of the people 
who stayed in the city as 
well as those who had 
deserted to his side and 
those craftsmen who were 
still there. {I}10_{/}As 
for the poorest people 
who owned nothing, 
Nebuzaradan left them at 
that time in the land of 
Judah, giving them 
vineyards and fields.
{I}11_{/}Nebuchadnezzar 
king of Babylon had given 
orders about Jeremiah to 
Nebuzaradan chief of the 
guards: {I}12_{/}"Take 
him and look after him; 
do him no harm but deal 
with him just as he tells 
you." 
{I}13_{/}Nebuzaradan 
commander of the guards, 
Nebushazban a chief 
officer, Nergal-Sharezer, 
a high official and all 
the other officers of the 
king of Babylon 
{I}14_{/}sent and had 
Jeremiah taken from the 
Guards' Court and given 
over to Gedaliah son of 
Ahikam son of Shaphan. So 
he remained among the 
people.
REWARD FOR EBEDMELEK{/}

{I}15_{/}Now the word of 
Yahweh had come to 
Jeremiah while he was 
imprisoned in the Guards' 
Court: {I}16_{/}"Go and 
talk to Ebedmelek the 
Ethiopian: Tell him this 
word of Yahweh the God of 
hosts and the God of 
Israel: You see on that 
day that I am about to 
carry out what I have 
foretold in the past, 
disaster and not 
prosperity for this city.
{I}17_{/}But I will save 
you on that day - word of 
Yahweh - and you will not 
be handed over to the men 
whom you fear. For I will 
certainly save you and 
you will not perish by 
the sword. {I}_18_{/}You 
will be able to escape 
and live because you have 
trusted me - it is Yahweh 
who speaks."
JEREMIAH IS FREED{/}

{1}40{/}

{I}1_{/}The word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah 
after Nebuzaradan, 
commander of the guards, 
had released him at Ramah 
when he had taken him, 
bound in chains, with 
those to be deported from 
Jerusalem and Judah to 
Babylon. {I}2_{/}The 
commander of the guards 
took Jeremiah and said to 
him, "Yahweh your God 
foretold this calamity 
for this place. 
{I}3_{/}Now he has 
implemented what he then 
said he would do because 
you have sinned against 
him and have not listened 
to him. {I}4_{/}But I 
have been removing today 
the fetters off your 
hands and releasing you 
to be free... You may 
wish to go with me to 
Babylon and I will take 
care of you. However I am 
not obliging you if you 
decide not to go. You 
have the choice to go 
wherever you like in this 
land." 
{I}5_{/}Nebuzaradan 
added, "Why don't you go 
back to Gedaliah son of 
Ahikam son of Shaphan? He 
has been appointed 
governor over the towns 
of Judah by the King of 
Babylon. You could stay 
with him among your 
people. Yet go wherever 
it seems right for you to 
go." The commander of the 
guards gave him 
provisions and a gift and 
set him on his way. 
{I}6_{/}And so Jeremiah 
went to Gedaliah son of 
Ahikam who was residing 
at Mizpah. He stayed with 
him among the people who 
were left in the land.
GEDALIAH, THE GOVERNOR{/}

{I}7_{/}Now all the army 
chiefs in the open 
country with their men 
heard that the king of 
Babylon had appointed 
Gedaliah son of Ahikam to 
be governor over the land 
and put him in charge of 
the men, women and 
children and the lowliest 
of the people who had not 
been deported to Babylon. 
{I}8_{/}They came to 
Gedaliah at Mizpah: 
Ishmael son of Nethaniah, 
Johanan and Jonathan the 
sons of Kareah, Seraiah 
son of Tanhumeth, the 
sons of Ephai the 
Netophathite and 
Jaazaniah son of 
Maacathite and their men.
{I}9_{/}Gedaliah son of 
Ahikam son of Shaphan 
swore to them and their 
men: "Don't be afraid to 
serve the Chaldeans; 
remain in the country, 
serve the king of Babylon 
and all will be well with 
you. {I}10_{/}As for me, 
I am based here in Mizpah 
and I am your 
representative with the 
Chaldeans who settle at 
this place. For your part 
gather wine, fruit and 
oil; store it in your 
vessels and stay in the 
towns you have occupied."
{I}11_{/}The Jews who 
were in Moab, Ammon, Edom 
and in the other lands 
also learned that the 
king of Babylon had left 
a remnant of the 
population and that he 
had placed over them 
Gedaliah son of Ahikam, 
son of Shaphan. 
{I}12_{/}All of these 
Jews returned from the 
places where they had 
been dispersed and came 
to Gedaliah at Mizpah in 
the land of Judah. There 
they gathered in wine and 
fruit in great 
quantities.
GEDALIAH MURDERED{/}

{I}13_{/}Johanan son of 
Kareah and all the chiefs 
of guerrilla warfare came 
to Gedaliah at Mizpah 
{I}14_{/}and said, "Don't 
you know that Baalis, 
king of the Ammonites has 
commissioned Ishmael son 
of Nethaniah to 
assassinate you?" 
{I}15_{/}But Gedaliah, 
son of Ahikam, did not 
believe him.
Then Johanan spoke 
secretly to Gedaliah at 
Mizpah, "Let me go and 
kill Ishmael son of 
Nethaniah without anyone 
knowing. Don't allow him 
to kill you lest all the 
Jews assembled with you 
be dispersed and the rest 
of Judah perish." 
{I}16_{/}But Gedaliah son 
of Ahikam said to Johanan 
son of Kareah, "Don't do 
that because what you 
have said about Ishmael 
is a lie."
{1}41{/}

{I}1_{/}It was the 
seventh month when 
Ishmael son of Nethaniah 
son of Elishama, a member 
of the royal family who 
had been chief officer of 
the king, came with ten 
men to Gedaliah, son of 
Ahikam, son of Shaphan at 
Mizpah. While they were 
eating together 
{I}2_{/}Ishmael and the 
men with him stood up and 
slew Gedaliah with the 
sword, thus killing the 
man whom the king of 
Babylon had appointed 
governor of the land.
{I}3_{/}Ishmael also 
killed the Jews who were 
with Gedaliah at Mizpah 
as well as the Chaldean 
soldiers who were there.
{I}4_{/}Two days after 
the assassination of 
Gedaliah and before 
anyone had heard of it, 
{I}5_{/}eighty men from 
Shechem, Shiloh and 
Samaria arrived with 
beards shaved, torn 
clothes and their bodies 
slashed, carrying 
offerings and incense to 
the House of Yahweh.
{I}6_{/}Ishmael son of 
Nethaniah left Mizpah to 
meet them weeping as they 
went. He said to them, 
{I}7_{/}"Come along to 
Gedaliah, son of Ahikam." 
But as soon as he came to 
the center of the town, 
Ishmael son of Nethaniah 
and the men with him 
killed them and threw 
their bodies into a 
cistern. {I}8_{/}Ten of 
these men, however, said 
to Ishmael, "Don't kill 
us for we have provisions 
hidden in the country, 
corn, oil barley and 
honey." These Ishmael did 
not kill with the others.
{I}9_{/}The cistern where 
Ishmael had thrown the 
corpses of these people 
he had killed was the 
large cistern built by 
King Asa when he had to 
defend himself against 
Basha king of Israel. 
Ishmael son of Nethaniah 
filled it with their 
corpses.
{I}10_{/}Ishmael took 
captive the small 
population of Mizpah, the 
royal princesses whom 
Nebuzaradan, commander of 
the bodyguard had left in 
the care of Gedaliah. 
Ishmael obliged them to 
follow him and set out 
for the land of the 
Ammonites.
{I}11_{/}When Johanan son 
of Kareah and the army 
officers with him heard 
of the crimes of Ishmael 
they assembled their men 
and set off to fight 
Ishmael. {I}12_{/}They 
caught up with him at the 
great pool of Gibeon.
{I}13_{/}As soon as the 
people Ishmael had taken 
by force from Mizpah saw 
Johanan, son of Kareah 
and the army officers 
with him, they rejoiced 
{I}14_{/}and turned back 
to join Johanan. 
{I}15_{/}In the meantime 
Ishmael was able to flee 
from Johanan with eight 
men and went to the 
Ammonites.
{I}16_{/}Then Johanan and 
the army officers with 
him took the people he 
had rescued from Ishmael, 
son of Nethaniah. They 
were those men, women, 
children and court 
officials that Ishmael 
carried off by force from 
Mizpah after slaying 
Gedaliah. Johanan brought 
them from Gibeon, 
{I}17_{/}and they stayed 
at Geruth Chimham near 
Bethlehem. They planned 
to go on later towards 
Egypt {I}18_{/}for fear 
of the Chaldeans because 
Ishmael had slain 
Gedaliah who was 
appointed governor of the 
land by the king of 
Babylon.
THE FLIGHT TO EGYPT{/}

{1}42{/}

{I}1_{/}Then the army 
officers, especially 
Johanan, son of Kareah 
and Jezaniah son of 
Hoshaiah, and all the 
people from the smallest 
to the greatest came to 
speak to Jeremiah: 
{I}2_{/}"Listen to our 
plea and pray to Yahweh 
our God for us, this 
remnant of people, 
because really we are few 
from many, as you can 
see. {I}3_{/}May Yahweh 
your God show us the way 
we should go and what we 
should do."
{I}4_{/}Jeremiah the 
prophet answered them, "I 
have heard you. Yes, I am 
going to speak to Yahweh 
as you have requested. 
And whatever be the word 
of Yahweh, I shall let 
you know it without 
hiding anything."
{I}5_{/}They said to 
Jeremiah, "May Yahweh be 
a true and worthy witness 
against us if we do not 
act according to every 
word that Yahweh your God 
will say to us through 
you! {I}6_{/}Whether it 
be good or bad for us we 
will obey Yahweh our God 
to whom we are sending 
you, so it will be well 
with us for having obeyed 
the voice of Yahweh our 
God."
{I}7_{/}Ten days later 
the word of Yahweh came 
to Jeremiah. {I}8_{/}He 
then called Johanan, son 
of Kareah and the army 
officers with him and all 
the people from the least 
to the greatest 
{I}9_{/}and said to them, 
"This is the word of 
Yahweh, God of Israel to 
whom you sent me with 
your petition: 
{I}10_{/}If you wish to 
live peacefully in this 
land I will build you up 
and not pull you down, I 
will plant you and not 
uproot you for I will 
relent of the harm I did 
you. {I}11_{/}You are 
afraid of the king of 
Babylon, but do not fear 
him - word of Yahweh - 
for I am with you to save 
you and rescue you from 
his hand. {I}12_{/}I will 
put mercy in his heart so 
that he may have mercy on 
you and let you live in 
your own land. 
{I}13_{/}But if you say: 
'No, we will no longer 
live in this land,' 
disobeying the voice of 
Yahweh your God, 
{I}14_{/}and if you say: 
'No, we shall go to Egypt 
where we shall no more 
have wars or hear the 
trumpet call, where we 
shall not be hungry for 
bread!' {I}15_{/}Then 
hear the word of Yahweh, 
remnant of Judah! Yahweh 
God of hosts and God of 
Israel speaks: "If you 
turn towards Egypt to go 
there and stay there, 
{I}16_{/}the sword you 
fear will strike you 
there in the land of 
Egypt and famine which 
you dread will be yours 
there in Egypt and you 
will die. {I}17_{/}All 
those who turn towards 
Egypt to enter and live 
there will die by sword, 
famine and pestilence. No 
one will escape or flee 
from the misfortune that 
I will bring upon them."
{I}18_{/}This is what 
Yahweh God of hosts and 
God of Israel says, "Just 
as my burning anger was 
poured out on the people 
of Jerusalem, so will my 
fury be poured out on you 
when you go to Egypt. You 
will become a curse and a 
reproach and you will 
never again see this 
place." {I}19_{/}That is 
what Yahweh has foretold, 
O remnant of Judah. Do 
not go to Egypt; be quite 
sure that I have warned 
you today. {I}20_{/}You 
risked your lives when 
you sent me to Yahweh 
your God saying: 'Pray 
for us to Yahweh our God 
and tell us all that 
Yahweh says and we shall 
do it.' {I}21_{/}I have 
told you today though you 
still do not obey Yahweh 
your God in all that he 
told you through me. 
{I}22_{/}Be sure of this, 
it will be by the sword, 
famine and pestilence 
that you will die in the 
place where you want to 
go and live."
{1}43{/}

{I}1_{/}Jeremiah had 
hardly finished giving 
the message of Yahweh to 
the people - all that 
Yahweh had sent him to 
say - {I}2_{/}when 
Azariah son of Hoshiah 
and Johanan son of Kareah 
and all the arrogant men 
said to Jeremiah, "You 
are lying! Yahweh our God 
did not send you to tell 
us not to go and settle 
in Egypt. {I}3_{/}No, 
Baruch son of Neriah is 
prompting you to hand us 
over to the Chaldeans 
either to be killed or 
deported to Babylon!"
{I}4_{/}So neither 
Johanan son of Kareah nor 
the army officers nor the 
people heeded Yahweh's 
command to stay in the 
land of Judah. 
{I}5_{/}Instead Johanan 
and the army officers led 
away the remnant of the 
Jews who had returned to 
the land of Judah from 
the nations where they 
had been driven. 
{I}6_{/}They also led 
away the men, women, 
children and the royal 
princesses - all those 
that Nebuzaradan, 
commander of the 
bodyguard, had left in 
the care of Gedaliah, son 
of Ahikam, son of 
Shaphan, with Jeremiah, 
the prophet and Baruch, 
son of Neriah. {I}7_{/}So 
in defiance of Yahweh's 
order they entered Egypt 
and arrived at Tahpanhes.
JEREMIAH FORETELLS THE 
INVASION OF EGYPT{/}

{I}8_{/}There at 
Tahpanhes the word of 
Yahweh came to Jeremiah: 
"While the Jews are 
watching you, 
{I}9_{/}take some large 
stones and bury them in 
clay in the brick terrace 
at the entrance to 
Pharaoh's house at 
Tahpanhes {I}10_{/}and 
then say to them: This is 
what Yahweh God of hosts 
and God of Israel says: I 
am sending for my servant 
Nebuchadnezzar king of 
Babylon and he will set 
his throne over these 
stones that I have hidden 
here and spread a royal 
canopy. {I}11_{/}He shall 
come and strike the land 
of Egypt bringing death 
to those destined to die, 
captivity for those 
destined to be taken 
captive, sword for those 
destined for the sword. 
{I}12_{/}He will set fire 
to the temples of the 
Egyptian gods; these gods 
will be burned or carried 
away. As a shepherd wraps 
himself in a cloak, so 
will the king of Babylon 
wrap the land of Egypt 
about himself and depart 
in safety. {I}13_{/}He 
will break the sacred 
pillars at Heliopolis and 
burn the temples of the 
gods in Egypt." 
JEREMIAH'S LAST 
WARNINGS{/}

{1}44{/}

{I}1_{/}A word of Yahweh 
came to Jeremiah 
concerning all the Jews 
living in Egypt 
especially in the cities 
of Migdal, Tahpanhes and 
Memphis, as well as in 
the territory of Patros: 
{I}2_{/}"You have seen 
all the disaster that I 
brought on Jerusalem and 
the towns of Judah. 
{I}3_{/}These are no more 
than ruins without 
inhabitants because of 
the evil they have done. 
They have provoked my 
anger by offering incense 
to foreign gods that 
neither they nor their 
fathers knew.
{I}4_{/}I sent them my 
servants the prophets 
time and time again to 
tell them: 'Do not do 
this abominable thing 
that I detest!' 
{I}5_{/}But they did not 
listen or pay attention; 
they did not turn away 
from their evil ways or 
give up worshiping 
strange gods. 
{I}6_{/}Then the fury of 
my anger was loosed and 
blazed in the towns of 
Judah and the streets of 
Jerusalem making them the 
desolate ruins they are 
today.
{I}7_{/}And now Yahweh 
the God of hosts and the 
God of Israel asks you: 
Why do you bring such 
great harm on yourselves? 
Because of your deeds 
every man, woman, child 
and infant will be taken 
from Judah and you will 
be left without a 
remnant. {I}8_{/}Why do 
you provoke my anger with 
the work of your hands? 
Why do you worship 
foreign gods in Egypt 
where you came to live? 
Surely you will decrease 
in number and be a curse 
and an object of reproach 
among all the nations? 
{I}9_{/}Have you 
forgotten the wickedness 
of your fathers and the 
misdeeds of the kings of 
Judah and its princes, 
and the evil behavior of 
your wives in the land of 
Judah and the streets of 
Jerusalem?
{I}10_{/}So far they have 
had no contrition and 
have not followed my law 
and my decrees that I set 
before you and your 
fathers."
{I}11_{/}Because of this 
Yahweh God of hosts and 
God of Israel warns you, 
"I am turning my face 
away from you to bring 
disaster on you and to 
completely destroy Judah. 
{I}12_{/}The remnant of 
Judah that chose to enter 
Egypt and live there will 
all perish. They will be 
destroyed by the sword 
and famine and become an 
object of horror and 
cursing, of condemnation 
and reproach. {I}13_{/}I 
will punish those in 
Egypt as I punished 
Jerusalem with the sword, 
famine and pestilence. 
{I}14_{/}None of the 
remnant of Judah that 
came to Egypt will escape 
or flee, and return to 
Judah where you long to 
go and live."
{I}15_{/}Then all the men 
who knew their wives were 
offering incense to 
foreign gods and all the 
women, a great assembly, 
replied to Jeremiah in a 
louder voice. 
{I}16_{/}"As for what you 
say in the name of Yahweh 
we will not listen; 
{I}17_{/}we want to do 
all that we said we 
wanted to do: burn 
incense to the queen of 
heaven and pour out wine 
to her as we did, we and 
our fathers, our kings 
and princes in the towns 
of Judah and the streets 
of Jerusalem. Then we had 
our fill of bread and 
were prosperous and free 
from misfortune. 
{I}18_{/}But since we 
stopped burning incense 
to the queen of heaven we 
have been in need of 
everything and have 
perished by the sword and 
famine." {I}19_{/}And the 
women added, "When we 
offered incense and 
poured libations to the 
queen of heaven, didn't 
our husbands know that we 
made sacrificial cakes 
decorated with her 
image?"
{I}20_{/}Jeremiah then 
answered all the people, 
men and women, who had 
told him this: 
{I}21_{/}"Is it not 
better that Yahweh 
remembered the incense 
you burned in the towns 
of Judah and in the 
streets of Jerusalem, 
you, your fathers, your 
kings, princes, and all 
the people?
Do you think it slipped 
his memory? 
{I}22_{/}Yahweh could no 
longer bear the sight of 
your evil and abominable 
deeds. That is why your 
land has become the 
desolate waste that it is 
today!
{I}23_{/}All the 
misfortune that you are 
suffering today has 
happened because you 
burned incense and sinned 
against Yahweh, by not 
obeying him or following 
his law, his instructions 
and his commands."
{I}24_{/}Jeremiah then 
addressed all the people 
especially the women, 
"Listen to Yahweh's 
message: {I}25_{/}This is 
what Yahweh the God of 
hosts and the God of 
Israel says: You and your 
wives think that what you 
say with your lips 
becomes an obligation you 
must fulfill. You say: 
'We are bound to keep the 
vows we have made to burn 
incense and pour out wine 
to the queen of heaven.' 
Go ahead! Fulfill your 
vows and do what you 
promised! 
{I}26_{/}Nevertheless 
listen, all you Jews 
living in Egypt, listen 
to what Yahweh says to 
you: By my own great Name 
I swear - word of Yahweh 
- that throughout Egypt 
no one from Judah will 
invoke my Name; no one 
will be left to say: 'As 
the Lord Yahweh lives.' 
{I}27_{/}I am watching 
over them but not for 
their good. All the 
people of Judah in Egypt 
will perish by the sword 
and famine until they are 
wiped out. {I}28_{/}Only 
a few will escape the 
sword and return from 
Egypt to Judah; and the 
remnant who came to 
settle in Egypt will 
understand whose word 
comes true, theirs or 
mine! {I}29_{/}And this 
is the sign that I will 
punish you in this place, 
says Yahweh, that you may 
know that my threatening 
words to you will be 
fulfilled: {I}30_{/}I 
will hand over the 
Pharaoh Hophra, king of 
Egypt to his enemies who 
want to slay him, just as 
I let Zedekiah, king of 
Judah, be taken by his 
adversary, Nebuchadnezzar 
king of Babylon, who was 
determined to kill him.
{1}45{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
words of Jeremiah the 
prophet to Baruch, son of 
Neriah who wrote on a 
scroll what Jeremiah 
dictated. It was in the 
fourth year of the reign 
of Jehoiakim son of 
Josias king of Judah when 
he said {I}2_{/}"There is 
a word of Yahweh for you, 
Baruch. Why do you 
complain: {I}3_{/}'Alas 
for me! I am weary of 
sighing and I find no 
rest!' {I}4_{/}Yahweh 
says: 'When I am knocking 
down what I have built 
and pulling up what I 
planted, {I}5_{/}why do 
you want great things for 
yourself? Don't look for 
them! Yet, though I am 
about to send disaster on 
everyone - word of Yahweh 
- you will be safe 
wherever you go."
PROPHECIES AGAINST 
FOREIGN NATIONS{/}

AGAINST EGYPT{/}

{1}46{/}

{I}1_{/}These are 
Yahweh's words addressed 
to the prophet Jeremiah 
concerning the nations.
{I}2_{/}Concerning Egypt, 
this is the message 
against the army of 
Pharaoh Neco, king of 
Egypt, which was defeated 
at Carchemish on the 
Euphrates by 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, in the fourth 
year of Jehoiakim, son of 
Josiah, king of Judah:
{I}3_{/}"Prepare shield 
and buckler,
and march to battle!
{I}4_{/}Harness the 
horses.
Into your saddles, 
horsemen!
To your ranks, with your 
helmets on!
Polish your spears!
Put on your breastplates!
{I}5_{/}But what do I 
see?
With broken ranks they 
fall back; their warriors 
are routed.
They flee headlong 
without looking back,
as terrors explode on 
every side.
{I}6_{/}The swift cannot 
flee,
nor the hero escape.
In the north by the 
Euphrates,
they stumble and fall.
{I}7_{/}Who is this 
surging forward like the 
Nile,
like rivers of billowing 
waters?
{I}8_{/}Egypt surges like 
the Nile,
like rivers of billowing 
waters.
She says, 'I will rise 
and flood the earth;
I will sweep cities and 
their people away.'
{I}9_{/}Charge, horses!
Drive madly, charioteers!
March on, warriors -
men of Cush and Put, with 
your shields,
men of Lydia, with your 
bows.
{I}10_{/}This is the day 
of Yahweh God of hosts, a 
day of vengeance on his 
foes.
The sword devours, drunk 
with blood;
for Yahweh Sabaoth holds 
a sacrifice
in the north country by 
the Euphrates.
{I}11_{/}Go up to Gilead 
in search of balm,
virgin daughter of Egypt.
You have taken medicines 
in vain,
but for you there is no 
healing.
{I}12_{/}The nations have 
heard of your shame,
the earth is filled with 
your cries;
warrior has stumbled 
against warrior,
and both have fallen 
together."
INVASION OF EGYPT{/}

{I}13_{/}This is the 
message Yahweh gave to 
the prophet Jeremiah 
about the coming of 
Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, who was to 
attack Egypt:
{I}14_{/}"Announce this 
in Egypt, and proclaim it 
in Migdol, Memphis and 
Tahpanhes. Say to them: 
Take your posts; prepare 
for the worst!
The sword has devoured 
your neighbors.
{I}15_{/}Why has Apis 
fled?
Your black bull god did 
not make a stand!
Why? Because Yahweh 
thrust him down 
{I}16_{/}and caused him 
to stumble and fall.
Then they said to each 
other:
'Get up, let us go back 
to our people,
to the land of our birth,
away from the devouring 
sword.'
{I}17_{/}Pharaoh, king of 
Egypt, will be called 
'The noisy one who lets 
his chance slip by.'
{I}18_{/}As surely as I 
live - says the King
whose name is Yahweh 
Sabaoth -
one will come who is like 
Tabor,
like Carmel above the 
sea.
{I}19_{/}Pack your 
belongings ready for 
exile,
you who live in Egypt,
for Memphis will be laid 
waste,
without inhabitants and 
desolate.
{I}20_{/}Egypt is a 
beautiful heifer,
but a gadfly from the 
north has come upon her.
{I}21_{/}The mercenaries 
in her ranks
are like fattened calves;
but they too have fled
failing to stand their 
ground,
for the day of their 
calamity has come,
the time of their 
punishment.

{I}22_{/}She makes a 
sound like a fleeing 
serpent
as her enemies advance in 
force,
coming against her with 
axes,
like loggers cutting down 
trees.
{I}23_{/}Dense though her 
forest be,
they will raze it - says 
Yahweh.
They are beyond number,
more numerous than 
locusts.
{I}24_{/}The daughter of 
Egypt will be abased,
handed over to the people 
of the north."
{I}25_{/}Yahweh Sabaoth, 
the God of Israel, has 
said: "I will punish Amon 
of Thebes, and Egypt with 
her gods and kings, 
Pharaoh and those who 
trust in him. {I}26_{/}I 
will hand them over to 
those who seek their 
lives, to Nebuchadnezzar, 
king of Babylon, and his 
ministers. Later, 
however, Egypt will be 
inhabited again as in 
times past - it is Yahweh 
who says so.
{I}27_{/}But fear not, my 
servant Jacob; be not 
dismayed, O Israel. I 
will deliver you from a 
distant land, your 
descendants from their 
place of exile. Jacob 
will again find rest, and 
no one will make him 
afraid.
{I}28_{/}Fear not, Jacob 
my servant, for I am with 
you - Yahweh speaks - I 
will make an end of the 
nations among which I 
scattered you, but I will 
spare you. I will 
discipline you, though, 
with justice; I will not 
let you go unpunished.
AGAINST THE 
PHILISTINES{/}

{1}47{/}

{I}1_{/}This is Yahweh's 
word that came to the 
prophet Jeremiah 
concerning the 
Philistines before 
Pharaoh attacked Gaza. 
{I}2_{/}Thus says Yahweh:
"Look, waters rise from 
the north;
soon they will become a 
raging flood
overflowing the land and 
all it contains,
the towns and their 
inhabitants.
All dwellers in the land 
will wail
{I}3_{/}at the sound of 
the hooves of stamping 
steeds,
the rattle of chariots, 
the rumbling of wheels.
Fathers forget their 
children,
as their hands fall limp.
{I}4_{/}The day of ruin 
has come upon the 
Philistines;
Tyre and Sidon, the last 
of their allies, are cut 
off from them.
Yahweh is set to destroy 
the Philistines,
the remnant from the 
coasts of Caphtor.
{I}5_{/}Gaza is shaved 
bald,
Ashkelon has perished.
O remnant in the valley,
how long will you gash 
yourselves?
{I}6_{/}O sword of 
Yahweh,
how long before you rest?
Return to your scabbard;
stop and keep still!
{I}7_{/}But how can it 
rest,
when it is Yahweh who 
commanded it
to attack Ashkelon and 
the seacoast?"
AGAINST MOAB{/}

{1}48{/}

{I}1_{/}Concerning Moab. 
Yahweh the God of Israel, 
says this:
"Woe to Nebo, for it is 
laid waste.
Kiriathaim is captured 
and disgraced;
the fortress is shattered 
and abased.
{I}2_{/}No more will Moab 
be praised;

men in Heshbon are 
plotting her downfall:
'Let us put an end to 
that nation!'
You, too, Madmen, will be 
subdued;
behind you stalks the 
sword.
{I}3_{/}Listen, a cry 
from Horonaim -
a cry of ruin and 
destruction!
{I}4_{/}Moab is 
destroyed;
her cry is heard as far 
as Zoar.
{I}5_{/}Her little ones 
go up the way to Lulith, 
weeping bitterly as they 
make the ascent. On the 
descent to Horonaim
the cry of destruction is 
still heard.
{I}6_{/}Flee, run for 
your lives,
like the wild asses in 
the desert.
{I}7_{/}Since you trusted 
in your deeds and riches,
you also will be 
captured.
Chemosh will go into 
exile,
together with her priests 
and officials.
{I}8_{/}Upon every city 
the destroyer comes,
and not a single city 
escapes.
The valley is despoiled,
the plain plundered,
as Yahweh has declared.
{I}9_{/}Bury Moab for she 
has perished!
Her cities will become 
desolate,
with no inhabitant left.
{I}10_{/}A curse be on 
him who is lax in 
performing the work of 
Yahweh! A curse be on him 
who holds back his sword 
from shedding blood!
{I}11_{/}From his youth 
Moab has lived at ease 
resting complacently upon 
lees,
never having gone into 
exile,
never having been 
decanted;
so she kept her own 
flavor as wine,
her aroma remained the 
same.
{I}12_{/}And so the day 
will come - Yahweh says - 
when I will send 
decanters to her. They 
will empty her flasks and 
break her jars. 
{I}13_{/}Then Moab will 
be ashamed of Chemosh, as 
Israel has been ashamed 
of Bethel, in which they 
put their trust.
{I}14_{/}How can you say, 
'We are heroes and 
valiant men of war?' 
{I}15_{/}Moab will be 
destroyed, her towns 
shattered; her finest 
young men will be 
slaughtered - it is the 
King who speaks, whose 
name is Yahweh Sabaoth.
{I}16_{/}Moab's ruin is 
near at hand;
her downfall comes at top 
speed.
{I}17_{/}All you her 
neighbors, mourn for her,
all you who knew her 
well;
say, "How the mighty 
scepter is broken, the 
glorious rod!"
{I}18_{/}Come down from 
glory,
sit on the parched 
ground,
all you who dwell in 
Dibon;
Moab's destroyer has come 
against you,
he has destroyed your 
stronghold.
{I}19_{/}Stand by the way 
and watch closely,
you who dwell in Aroer;
ask the men who flee, the 
women who escape,
ask them what has 
happened.
{I}20_{/}Moab is shamed, 
oh, yes, destroyed;
howl and cry out for her.
Announce it by the Arnon
that Moab is ruined.
{I}21_{/}Judgment has 
come on the tableland: on 
Holon, Jahzah and 
Mephaath, {I}22_{/}on 
Dibon, Nebo and 
Bethdiblathaim, 
{I}23_{/}on Kiriathaim, 
Bethgamul and Bethmeon, 
{I}24_{/}on Kerioth and 
Bozrah, on all the cities 
of Moab, far and near. 
{I}25_{/}The horn of Moab 
is cut off and her arm 
broken - it is Yahweh who 
speaks.
{I}26_{/}Make her drunk! 
Because she magnified 
herself against Yahweh, 
Moab will wallow in her 
vomit and become a 
laughingstock in turn. 
{I}27_{/}Was not Israel a 
laughingstock to you? Was 
she found among thieves, 
that whenever you speak 
of her you wag your head?
{I}28_{/}Leave the cities 
and dwell in the rocky 
cliffs,
O inhabitants of Moab.
Learn from the dove that 
makes its nest out of 
reach on the edge of a 
cliff.
{I}29_{/}We have heard of 
the pride of Moab,
of her loftiness and 
arrogance,
of the haughtiness of her 
heart.
{I}30_{/}Yahweh says: I 
know her insolence;
her words are false,
her deeds are vain.
{I}31_{/}And so I wail 
for Moab;
for the whole of Moab I 
moan;
for the men of Kir-heres 
I mourn.
{I}32_{/}O vineyard of 
Sibmah,
I weep for you more than 
for Jazer.
Your branches spread as 
far as the sea,
all the way to the sea of 
Jazer.
The destroyer has fallen
on your harvest and your 
vintage.
{I}33_{/}Jubilation is at 
an end
in the fruit gardens of 
Moab;
the vintage shout of joy 
is not heard,
for I have drained the 
wine from the wine vats.
{I}34_{/}The cry of 
Heshbon and Elealeh is 
heard as far as Jahaz. 
From Zoar to Horonaim and 
Eglathshelishiyah, their 
lament is heard, for even 
the waters of Nimrim have 
become desolate.
{I}35_{/}Yahweh says: I 
will bring to an end any 
man in Moab who offers 
sacrifice on the high 
place and burns incense 
to his gods.
{I}36_{/}And that is why 
my heart, like a flute, 
sobs for Moab, moans for 
the men of Kir-heres 
whose accumulated riches 
have all perished. 
{I}37_{/}Every head is 
shorn, every beard cut 
off; gashes are on their 
hands, sackcloth covers 
their loins. 
{I}38_{/}There is nothing 
but lamentation on all 
the housetops and in the 
public squares of Moab, 
for I have shattered her 
like a vessel that no one 
wants - says Yahweh.
{I}39_{/}What terror has 
seized Moab, what 
wailing! Oh, how she has 
turned back in shame! 
Moab has become a 
laughingstock and a 
horror to her neighbors.
{I}40_{/}For thus says 
Yahweh: Look, an eagle is 
swooping down, spreading 
its wings over Moab. 
{I}41_{/}The towns will 
be captured, the 
strongholds seized.
The heart of Moab's 
warriors on that day will 
be like the heart of a 
woman in travail.
{I}42_{/}Moab will be 
destroyed as a nation 
because she defied the 
Lord.
{I}43_{/}Terror, pit, and 
snare be upon you, O 
people of Moab - says 
Yahweh.
{I}44_{/}He who flees 
from terror will fall 
into the pit; he who 
climbs out of the pit 
will be caught in the 
snare; for I will let 
this happen to Moab in 
the year of her 
punishment - says Yahweh.
{I}45_{/}Fugitives stop 
in the shadow of Heshbon, 
for a fire has gone from 
the house of Sihon, 
burning Moab's skull and 
her boasters' crown.
{I}46_{/}Woe to you, 
Moab,
people of Chemosh who 
suffer calamity!
Your sons are taken into 
exile,
your daughers into 
captivity.
{I}47_{/}But in the days 
to come I will restore 
the fortunes of Moab - 
Yahweh declares."
The judgment on Moab ends 
here.
AGAINST AMMON{/}

{1}49{/}

{I}1_{/}Concerning the 
Ammonites. Yahweh says 
this:
"Has Israel no sons?
Has she no heir?
Why then has Milcom 
disinherited Gad,
why have his people 
settled in its cities?
{I}2_{/}But the days are 
coming
- says Yahweh -
when I will sound the 
battle alarm
against Rabbah of the 
Ammonites.
It will become a heap of 
ruins,
its villages destroyed by 
fire.
Then Israel will 
dispossess
those who had 
dispossessed her
- Yahweh says.
{I}3_{/}Wail, Heshbon, 
for the destroyer 
marches!
Howl, inhabitants of 
Rabbah!
Put on sackcloth, lament,
run to and fro, gashing 
yourselves;
for Milcom goes into 
exile,
along with his priests 
and officials.
{I}4_{/}Why boast of your 
valleys,
your valleys flowing with 
fruit,
O faithless daughter,
trusting in your riches 
and saying,
'Who will dare attack 
me?'
{I}5_{/}Look, I will 
bring terror upon you;
you will be driven away,
everyone making his own 
way,
with no one to gather the 
fugitives.
{I}6_{/}Yet I will 
restore the fortunes
of the Ammonites later 
on.
It is Yahweh Sabaoth who 
speaks."
AGAINST EDOM{/}

{I}7_{/}Concerning Edom, 
this is what Yahweh says:
"Is there no more wisdom 
left in Teman?
Has counsel perished from 
the prudent?
Has their understanding 
decayed?
{I}8_{/}Flee or hide in 
dark caves,
you inhabitants of Dedan,
for I will bring 
destruction upon Esau
when I come to punish 
him.
{I}9_{/}If grape pickers 
worked in your vineyard,
would they not leave 
gleanings behind?
If thieves came to you at 
night,
would they not steal only 
as much as they want?
{I}10_{/}But I will strip 
Esau bare;
his hiding places I will 
uncover.
His relatives, children 
and neighbors
will perish, and he will 
be no more.
{I}11_{/}Leave your 
widows and orphans 
behind,
and rest assured I will 
keep them alive."
{I}12_{/}For thus says 
Yahweh: "Even those not 
sentenced to drink the 
cup must drink it. Why 
then should you go 
unpunished? You, too, 
shall drink! {I}13_{/}By 
my own self have I sworn, 
says Yahweh: Bozrah shall 
become an object of 
horror and disgrace, a 
desolation and a curse. 
All her towns and cities 
shall be ruins forever."
{I}14_{/}I have received 
a message from Yahweh, a 
herald has been sent 
among the nations:
"Assemble! Prepare for 
battle!
March against these 
people!
{I}15_{/}Look, I will 
reduce you among the 
nations, make you 
despised among humankind.
{I}16_{/}The terror that 
you inspire
and your pride have 
deceived you,
you who live in the 
crags,
on the rocky heights of 
the hill.
Though you build your 
nest as high as the 
eagle's,
I will bring you down 
from there - it is Yahweh 
who speaks.
{I}17_{/}Edom will become 
a horror, shocking every 
passerby who will catch 
his breath at the sight 
of her wounds. 
{I}18_{/}As when Sodom, 
Gomorrah, and their 
neighboring towns were 
overthrown, no man shall 
dwell or visit there - 
thus Yahweh proclaims.
{I}19_{/}As when a lion 
comes from the thicket of 
Jordan to a rich feeding 
ground, so I, in an 
instant, will drive Edom 
from its land. Whom will 
I choose for this task? 
Who is like me and can 
call me to account? What 
shepherd can stand 
against me?
{I}20_{/}Therefore hear 
Yahweh's plan against 
Edom, against those who 
live in Teman. They will 
be dragged away, even the 
smallest sheep; their 
pasture will be destroyed 
on account of them.
{I}21_{/}The earth will 
tremble at the sound of 
their fall; to the Sea of 
Reeds their cry will 
resound.
{I}22_{/}Look! An eagle 
will soar and spread its 
wings over Bozrah. On 
that day the heart of 
Edom's warriors will 
pound like the heart of a 
woman in labor."
ABOUT THE SYRIAN 
CITIES{/}

{I}23_{/}Message 
concerning Damascus:
"Hamath and Arpad are 
confused,
having heard bad news.
Their hearts are faint 
with fear
like the waters of a 
troubled sea.
{I}24_{/}Damascus has 
become feeble
and turns to flee in 
panic,
gripped by anguish and 
pain,
like a woman in travail.
{I}25_{/}How the renowned 
city is forsaken,
the city of delight!
{I}26_{/}Her young men 
will fall in the streets,
her soldiers will be 
silenced on that day.
Yahweh declares:
{I}27_{/}I will set fire 
to the walls of Damascus; 
it will consume Ben-
Hadad's fortresses."
AGAINST THE ARABIC 
TRIBES{/}

{I}28_{/}A message 
concerning Kedar and the 
kingdoms of Hazor, which 
Nebuchadnezzar king of 
Babylon attacked. This is 
what Yahweh says:
"Arise and attack Kedar,
destroy the people of the 
east!
{I}29_{/}Their tents and 
flocks will be taken 
away,
their goods and camels 
carried off
as men shout, 'Terror on 
every side!'
{I}30_{/}Flee, dwell in 
deep caves,
you who live in Hazor - 
says Yahweh.
For Nebuchadnezzar king 
of Babylon has devised a 
plot against you.
{I}31_{/}Arise and attack 
a nation at ease,
which lives in 
confidence,
a nation that has neither 
bars nor gates,
a people that dwells 
alone complacently.
{I}32_{/}Their camels 
will become plunder, 
their large herds will be 
spoils;
I will scatter to the 
winds
those who are in far-off 
places;
I will bring disaster
on them from every side.
{I}33_{/}Hazor will be a 
jackal's haunt,
forever a wasteland
uninhabited by man,
unvisited by anyone."
AGAINST ELAM{/}

{I}34_{/}This is the Word 
of Yahweh against Elam, 
which came to the prophet 
Jeremiah at the beginning 
of the reign of Zedekiah, 
king of Judah. 
{I}35_{/}Yahweh Sabaoth 
says this:
"See, I will break the 
bow of Elam, the mainstay 
of their might. 
{I}36_{/}I will bring the 
four winds against her 
from the four quarters of 
the heavens, and there 
will be no nation on 
earth to which Elam's 
exiles will not be 
dispersed.
{I}37_{/}I will shatter 
Elam before their foes, 
before those who seek 
their lives. I will bring 
disaster upon them, even 
my fierce anger. I will 
pursue them with the 
sword until I have made 
an end of them.
{I}38_{/}I will set my 
throne in Elam and 
destroy her king and 
officials. {I}39_{/}Yet I 
will restore the fortunes 
of Elam in the days to 
come - says Yahweh."
AGAINST BABYLON{/}

{1}50{/}

{I}1_{/}This is the word 
Yahweh spoke against 
Babylon and the land of 
the Chaldeans, through 
the prophet Jeremiah: 
{I}2_{/}"Do not hide 
this, but announce among 
the nations that Babylon 
is taken, Bel confounded, 
Merodach dismayed; her 
images are put to shame, 
her idols destroyed.
{I}3_{/}A people from the 
north marches against 
her, set to turn her into 
a wasteland abandoned by 
both man and beast.
{I}4_{/}In those days - 
declares Yahweh - the 
people of Israel and 
Judah will come in tears 
to seek their God Yahweh.
{I}5_{/}Their faces 
turned toward Zion, they 
will ask the way to it. 
They will come and say, 
'Let us join ourselves to 
the Lord in an 
everlasting covenant 
never to be forgotten.'
{I}6_{/}My people were 
lost sheep misled by 
their shepherds and left 
to roam on the mountains. 
They wandered from hill 
to hill and lost the way 
to their fold.
{I}7_{/}They were 
devoured by enemies who 
chanced upon them and 
said, 'We have no guilt. 
This is their due for 
they sinned against 
Yahweh, their true 
shepherd and hope of 
their fathers.'
{I}8_{/}Flee from 
Babylon, leave the land 
of the Chaldeans, be like 
the rams that lead the 
flock!
{I}9_{/}For I will stir 
up nations from the north 
to march against Babylon. 
Their arrows are like 
those of skilled 
warriors, that never 
return empty-handed; and 
Babylon will be captured.
{I}10_{/}Chaldea will be 
plundered, and the 
plunderers will be 
filled.
{I}11_{/}Rejoice as long 
as you can,
you plunderers of my 
inheritance!

Frolic like heifers 
threshing grain,
and neigh like stallions!
{I}12_{/}But your mother 
will be disgraced;
she will be the least of 
the nations,
laid waste and a desert.
{I}13_{/}Yahweh's fury 
will leave her desolate,
an empty solitude, 
uninhabited.
Every passerby will be 
horrified
at the sight of the 
wounds of Babylon.
{I}14_{/}Take your posts 
around the city,
all you who bend the bow.
Shoot at her, spare no 
arrows,
for great is her 
iniquity.
{I}15_{/}Raise the war 
cry!
Now she surrenders!
Her walls are torn down, 
her towers fallen.
Since this is Yahweh's 
vengeance,
take revenge on her;
do to her as she has done 
to others.
{I}16_{/}Cut off the 
sower from Babylon,
and the reaper with his 
sickle at harvest time.
Escape from the 
oppressor's sword;
let everyone return to 
his own people,
let everyone flee to his 
own land.
{I}17_{/}Israel was a 
straying sheep which 
lions pursued. First to 
devour her was the 
Assyrian; and the last to 
crush her bones was 
Nebuchadnezzar of 
Babylon.
{I}18_{/}Therefore 
Yahweh, God of Israel, 
says: I will punish the 
king of Babylon and his 
land, as once I punished 
the king of Assyria.
{I}19_{/}But I will 
return Israel to her 
fold, to feed on Bashan 
and Carmel and on Mount 
Ephraim and Gilead, till 
she has her fill.
{I}20_{/}In those days, 
Yahweh says, a search 
will be made for Israel's 
guilt, but none will be 
found, and for the sins 
of Judah, and none will 
be found; for I will 
forgive the remnant whose 
lives I have spared.
{I}21_{/}Attack the land 
of Merathaim, and those 
who live in Pekod; pursue 
and kill them, says 
Yahweh; do all as I have 
commanded. 
{I}22_{/}Battle alarm is 
in the land, the alarm of 
great destruction. 
{I}23_{/}How broken and 
shattered is the hammer 
of the whole earth! How 
horrifying has Babylon 
become among the nations!
{I}24_{/}You ensnared 
yourself, O Babylon, and 
were caught before you 
knew it; you were found 
out and seized because 
you challenged Yahweh. 
{I}25_{/}Yahweh has 
opened his armory, 
brought out the arms of 
his fury, for Yahweh 
Sabaoth has work to do in 
the land of Chaldea.
{I}26_{/}Come against her 
from every side; break 
open her granaries; pile 
her up like heaps of 
grain, destroy her, 
leaving no remnant. 
{I}27_{/}Slay all her 
oxen, down to the 
slaughterhouse with them! 
Woe to them! Their day 
has come, the time for 
their chastisement.
{I}28_{/}Listen! 
Fugitives and refugees 
from the land of Babylon 
have come to announce in 
Zion Yahweh's vengeance 
for his temple. 
{I}29_{/}Surround Babylon 
with archers, and leave 
her no way of escape. 
Repay her as her deeds 
deserve; do to her as she 
has done to others. Give 
her the due for her 
defiance of Yahweh, the 
Holy One of Israel.
{I}30_{/}That day her 
warriors and young men as 
well will fall and lie in 
silence. {I}31_{/}I am 
against you, arrogant 
one! It is Yahweh Sabaoth 
who speaks - the time to 
punish you has come.
{I}32_{/}The arrogant one 
will stumble; no one will 
help her up. In her towns 
I will kindle a fire that 
will consume everything 
around.
{I}33_{/}Thus says Yahweh 
Sabaoth: The people of 
Israel are oppressed, and 
the people of Judah as 
well, for their captors 
hold them fast and refuse 
to let them go. 
{I}34_{/}But strong is 
their avenger, Yahweh 
Sabaoth is his name. He 
will fight for their 
cause and succeed; he 
will give them rest in 
their land, but unrest to 
those who live in 
Babylon.
{I}35_{/}A sword upon the 
Chaldeans, upon the 
people of Babylon, her 
princes and sages! 
{I}36_{/}A sword upon her 
false prophets: may they 
lose their wits! A sword 
upon her warriors: may 
they tremble in terror! 
{I}37_{/}A sword upon her 
mercenaries: may they 
become women!
A sword upon her 
treasures: may they be 
plundered! {I}38_{/}A 
sword upon her waters: 
may they dry up! For hers 
is a land of idols that 
go mad with terrors.
{I}39_{/}So, desert 
beasts will live there; 
there will the owl and 
ostrich dwell. From 
generation to generation, 
the land will never be 
inhabited again. 
{I}40_{/}As when God 
overturned Sodom and 
Gomorrah with their 
neighbors, no man will 
live there any more, no 
one will make his home 
there again.
{I}41_{/}A strong people 
is coming from the north, 
a mighty nation. Stirred 
up from the far ends of 
the earth {I}42_{/}are 
men armed with bows and 
spears who are cruel and 
without mercy. They sound 
like the roaring sea as 
they ride on galloping 
steeds. They come in 
battle formation against 
you, daughter of Babylon.
{I}43_{/}Your king has 
heard news of them, and 
his hands hang limp. 
Anguish has gripped him, 
and pain as that of a 
woman in travail.
{I}44_{/}As a lion comes 
from the thicket of 
Jordan to a rich feeding 
ground, so I, in an 
instant, will drive them 
off, and whom I choose I 
will establish there. For 
who is like me? And who 
can call me to account? 
What shepherd can stand 
against me?
{I}45_{/}Therefore hear 
Yahweh's plans against 
Babylon, against the land 
of the Chaldeans: they 
will be dragged away, 
even the smallest sheep, 
their pasture will be 
destroyed on account of 
them.
{I}46_{/}The earth quakes 
at the cry 'Babylon is 
captured!' Among the 
nations the outcry is 
heard."
THE LORD AGAINST 
BABYLON{/}

{1}51{/}

{I}1_{/}This is what 
Yahweh says:
I will stir up a 
devastating wind against 
Babylon and the 
Chaldeans.
{I}2_{/}I will send 
foreigners to Babylon
to winnow her and lay 
waste her land.
On the day of her 
affliction
they will besiege her 
from all sides.
{I}3_{/}Let not her 
archers bend their bows,
let them not stand up in 
their armor.
Spare not her young men;
destroy the host of her 
warriors.
{I}4_{/}They will fall 
fatally wounded
in the streets of 
Babylon.
{I}5_{/}For Israel and 
Judah have not been 
forgotten by their God, 
Yahweh Sabaoth,
though their land is 
guilt-ridden
before the Holy One of 
Israel.
{I}6_{/}Save your lives, 
flee from Babylon!
Partake not of her 
punishment;
this is a time of 
Yahweh's vengeance,
a time of his recompense 
to her.
{I}7_{/}Babylon was a 
golden cup in Yahweh's 
hand,
a cup which made the 
whole earth drunk.
The nations drank her 
wine,
and they have become mad.
{I}8_{/}Babylon's fall is 
sudden.
Wail for her, wail!
Bring balm for her 
wounds,
if she could yet be 
healed.
{I}9_{/}'We have tried to 
heal Babylon,
but she is beyond 
healing.
Let us go back, each to 
his own land,
and leave her to her 
judgment
which rises up to 
heaven.'
{I}10_{/}Yahweh has 
defended our rights,
come, let us declare in 
Zion
what our God Yahweh has 
done.
{I}11_{/}Sharpen the 
arrows,
take up the shields!
Yahweh has aroused 
Media's kings
in his resolve to destroy 
Babylon.
This is Yahweh's 
vengeance,
vengeance for his temple.
{I}12_{/}Raise a flag on 
the walls of Babylon,
and make the watch 
strong.
Post guards, prepare an 
ambush!
Yahweh will carry out his 
purpose, his words 
against the people of 
Babylon.
{I}13_{/}You who dwell by 
mighty waters,
you who are rich in 
treasures,
this is your end; the 
time
for you to be cut off has 
come.
{I}14_{/}Yahweh Sabaoth 
has sworn:
Surely I will fill you 
with men,
thick as a swarm of 
locusts;
they will exult over you 
and raise the vintage 
shout.
HYMN{/}

{I}15_{/}He made the 
earth by his power,
founded the world by his 
wisdom,
spread out the sky by his 
discernment.
{I}16_{/}When he 
thunders, the heaven 
roars;
from the earth he makes 
clouds rise;
he sends lightning with 
the rain,
and from his vaults 
brings out the wind.
{I}17_{/}Men stand 
stupefied at this;
artisans blush, for the 
idols they made
have no life and are a 
fraud.
{I}18_{/}They are 
worthless, ridiculous;
when judgment comes they 
will perish.
{I}19_{/}The Portion of 
Jacob is not like them,
for he is the creator of 
all;
Yahweh Sabaoth is his 
name,
and his heritage is 
Israel.
THE HAMMER OF YAHWEH{/}

{I}20_{/}You were my 
hammer, my weapon of war. 
With you I wrecked 
nations, with you I 
demolished kingdoms.
{I}21_{/}With you I 
wrecked horse and rider, 
chariot and charioteer. 
{I}22_{/}With you I 
wrecked man and woman, 
youth and aged, young man 
and maiden.
{I}23_{/}With you I 
wrecked shepherd and 
flock, farmer and draft 
animal, rulers and 
officials.
{I}24_{/}But now I will 
repay Babylon and those 
who dwell in Chaldea for 
the wrong they did to 
Zion. {I}25_{/}I am 
against you, ravaging 
mountain, ravager of the 
whole earth! It is Yahweh 
who speaks.
I will lay my hands on 
you, roll you down over 
the crags, and make you a 
parched, eroded mountain. 
{I}26_{/}No cornerstone 
will be taken from you, 
or foundation stone; 
forever shall you be a 
ruins, Yahweh says.
{I}27_{/}Raise a signal 
on the earth, among the 
nations blow the trumpet. 
Prepare the nations for 
war, summon the kingdoms 
to battle Ararat, Minni 
and Ashkenaz. Marshal a 
great force against her; 
bring up the cavalry, 
swarming and bristling.
{I}28_{/}Prepare the 
nations to battle her, 
the Medes with their 
kings, their governors 
and officials, all the 
countries they rule.
{I}29_{/}The earth 
trembles and writhes as 
Yahweh carries out his 
process of turning the 
land of Babylon into a 
desert where no one 
lives. {I}30_{/}Her 
warriors have ceased to 
fight; they cower in 
their strongholds. Their 
strength is dried up, 
their homes are burned 
and their gates broken.
{I}31_{/}One after 
another couriers run to 
the king, bringing news 
that his entire city is 
fallen: {I}32_{/}The 
fords have been seized, 
the fortresses set afire, 
and all the warriors 
terrified. 
{I}33_{/}Yahweh Sabaoth, 
God of Israel, says: 
Babylon is like a 
threshing floor at the 
time it is trodden. A 
little while, and the 
time of the harvest grain 
will come for her."
{I}34_{/}The people of 
Zion said: 
'Nebuchadnezzar, king of 
Babylon, has consumed and 
routed me. He has left me 
as an empty vessel. Like 
a dragon he has swallowed 
me, and filled his belly; 
he cast me out of my 
Eden.
{I}35_{/}May the violence 
done to my flesh be upon 
Babylon,' says the city 
of Zion. 'May my blood be 
upon the Chaldeans,' says 
Jerusalem.
{I}36_{/}Yahweh says to 
his people: "See now, I 
defend your cause and 
avenge you. I will dry up 
her sea and drain her 
springs. {I}37_{/}Babylon 
shall become a heap of 
ruins, a haunt of 
jackals, an object of 
horror and derision, a 
place where no one lives.
{I}38_{/}Her people will 
roar like lions; they 
will growl like lion 
cubs. {I}39_{/}But while 
they are feverish, I will 
prepare a drink for them 
and make them drunk till 
they grow drowsy and fall 
into eternal sleep, never 
to wake up again.
{I}40_{/}I will bring 
them down like lambs to 
the slaughter, like goats 
and rams.
{I}41_{/}How has Babylon 
been seized, the glory of 
the world taken captive! 
How has Babylon become a 
horror among nations!
{I}42_{/}The sea has 
risen over Babylon and 
covered her with its 
roaring waves. 
{I}43_{/}Her cities have 
become desolate, a land 
of drought and a desert, 
a land where no one 
dwells, a land through 
which no man travels.
{I}44_{/}I will punish 
Bel in Babylon and make 
him belch out what he 
devoured. No longer will 
nations stream to him. 
The wall of Babylon has 
fallen.
{I}45_{/}My people, come 
out of her! Run for your 
lives! Run from Yahweh's 
fierce anger. {I}46_{/}Do 
not lose heart or be 
afraid when rumors are 
heard, when rumors come 
year after year, rumors 
of violence and disaster, 
intrigues of ruler 
against ruler.
{I}47_{/}The time will 
surely come when I will 
punish the idols of 
Babylon; her land will be 
put to shame when all 
around her lie slain. 
{I}48_{/}Then heaven and 
earth and all therein 
will rejoice over 
Babylon, for out of the 
north the destroyers will 
come to attack her - it 
is Yahweh who speaks.
{I}49_{/}Babylon must 
fall for the slain of 
Israel, just as the slain 
of all the earth have 
fallen because of 
Babylon.
{I}50_{/}You who have 
escaped the sword, leave 
and do not linger. 
Remember Yahweh from this 
far country and think of 
Jerusalem:
{I}51_{/}'We have been 
put to shame, dishonor 
has covered our faces; 
because aliens have 
entered the holy places 
of Yahweh's house.'
{I}52_{/}But days will 
come - Yahweh declares - 
when I will punish her 
idols, the wounded will 
groan all over her land. 
{I}53_{/}Though Babylon 
mount skyward, though she 
fortify her heights, the 
mere threat of the 
destroyers I send is 
enough to make her 
terrified.
{I}54_{/}Listen! Loud 
cries from Babylon, the 
sound of terrible 
destruction from the land 
of the Chaldeans! 
{I}55_{/}That is Yahweh 
laying waste the city, 
silencing her monstrous 
din. Well may her waves 
roar and their clamor be 
heard afar! {I}56_{/}Upon 
Babylon the destroyer has 
come; her warriors are 
captured, their bows are 
broken. 
For Yahweh is a God who 
rewards, who repays her 
enemies in full. 
{I}57_{/}I will make her 
rulers and sages drunk, 
her governors, her 
officers and warriors; 
they will sleep the sleep 
of death and never awake, 
says the King whose name 
is Yahweh Sabaoth.
{I}58_{/}Yahweh Sabaoth 
says this: The wide 
ramparts of Babylon will 
be razed to the ground, 
her high gates burned 
down. The people's labor 
will go to naught; the 
nation's toil will end in 
fire."
THE WRITTEN ORACLE THROWN 
INTO THE RIVER{/}

{I}59_{/}This is the 
message Jeremiah gave to 
Seraiah, son of Neriah 
who is Mahseiah's son, 
when he went to Babylon 
at the command of 
Zedekiah, who was then in 
the fourth year of his 
reign as king of Judah.
{I}60_{/}Jeremiah had 
written on a scroll the 
entire disaster that was 
to befall Babylon - all 
these words recorded 
here.
{I}61_{/}Jeremiah then 
said to Seraiah, "When 
you get to Babylon, see 
that you read all these 
words aloud. 
{I}62_{/}Then say: 
'Yahweh, you yourself 
have proclaimed that this 
place will be destroyed, 
that neither man nor 
beast will ever live here 
again, for it will remain 
desolate forever.'
{I}63_{/}When you finish 
reading this scroll, tie 
a stone to it and throw 
it into the Euphrates. 
{I}64_{/}Then say: "So 
will Babylon sink and 
rise no more because of 
the disaster I will bring 
upon her."
Here end the words of 
Jeremiah.
THE FALL OF JERUSALEM{/}

{1}52{/}

{I}1_{/}Zedekiah was 
twenty-one years old when 
he became king and he 
reigned eleven years in 
Jerusalem. His mother, 
Hamutal by name, was the 
daughter of Jeremiah from 
Libnah.
{I}2_{/}He did evil in 
the sight of Yahweh just 
as Jehoiakim had done. 
{I}3_{/}All that happened 
in Jerusalem and Judah 
came about because of 
Yahweh's anger until the 
day when he drove them 
out of his sight.
Zedekiah rebelled against 
the king of Babylon; 
{I}4_{/}so in the ninth 
year of Zedekiah's reign, 
on the tenth day of the 
tenth month, 
Nebuchadnezzar king of 
Babylon marched with his 
entire army and laid 
siege to Jerusalem. They 
camped outside the city 
and built siege works all 
around it. {I}5_{/}The 
city was under siege up 
to the eleventh year of 
Zedekiah.
{I}6_{/}On the ninth day 
of the fourth month 
famine became a serious 
problem in the city, and 
throughout the land there 
was no bread for the 
people. {I}7_{/}When the 
city was opened by a 
breach in the wall the 
Judean army fled. They 
left the city by night 
through the gate between 
the two walls near the 
king's garden. While the 
Chaldeans were still 
surrounding the city they 
fled towards the Arabah. 
{I}8_{/}The Chaldeans 
followed in hot pursuit 
of King Zedekiah. They 
caught up with him in the 
plains of Jericho. All 
his army deserted and 
scattered.
{I}9_{/}The Chaldeans 
seized the king and led 
him away to Riblah in the 
territory of Hamath and 
there the king of Babylon 
passed sentence on him. 
There at Riblah, the king 
of Babylon slaughtered 
the sons of Zedekiah in 
his presence and also 
killed all the officials 
of Judah. {I}10_{/}He 
then put out the eyes of 
Zedekiah, bound him with 
a double bronze chain and 
took him to Babylon. 
{I}11_{/}He was 
imprisoned there in the 
house of the guards until 
the day of his death.
{I}12_{/}On the tenth day 
of the fifth month in the 
nineteenth year of 
Nebuchadnezzar king of 
Babylon, Nebuzaradan 
commander of the 
bodyguard and servant of 
the king of Babylon, 
entered Jerusalem and set 
fire to the House of 
Yahweh and the royal 
palace as well as to all 
the houses in Jerusalem. 
{I}13_{/}He also burned 
every important building. 
{I}14_{/}The Chaldean 
army under the commander 
of the bodyguard 
completely demolished all 
the walls around 
Jerusalem. 
{I}15_{/}Nebuzaradan 
commander of the 
bodyguard carried off 
into exile some of the 
poorest among the people, 
the remnant of Jews left 
in the city, and those 
who had deserted to the 
king of Babylon and the 
remainder of the 
artisans. {I}16_{/}But 
Nebuzaradan left behind 
those among the very poor 
who were capable of 
working in vineyards and 
cultivating the soil.
{I}17_{/}The Chaldeans 
broke into pieces the 
bronze pillars, the 
stands and the bronze Sea 
in the House of Yahweh 
and carried off all this 
bronze to Babylon.
{I}18_{/}They also took 
the pots, shovels, wick 
trimmers, the spoons and 
all the bronze articles 
used in the temple 
service. {I}19_{/}The 
commander of the 
bodyguard took the 
basins, censers, 
sprinkling bowls, pots, 
lampstands, ladles and 
bowls - all that was made 
of gold or silver.
{I}20_{/}The two pillars, 
the Sea and the twelve 
bronze bulls underneath 
it, the movable stands 
which King Solomon had 
made for the House of 
Yahweh - all this bronze 
was of an immeasurable 
weight.
{I}21_{/}The pillars were 
each eighteen cubits high 
with a circumference of 
twelve cubits. Each had a 
thickness of four fingers 
and was hollow. 
{I}22_{/}On the top of 
each pillar was a bronze 
capital five cubits high 
and above this and around 
the capital was filigree 
work with pomegranates in 
bronze. {I}23_{/}Ninety-
six pomegranates hung 
down and in all the 
filigree decoration there 
was a total of a hundred 
pomegranates.
{I}24_{/}The commander of 
the bodyguard took 
captive Seraiah the chief 
priest and Zephaniah the 
next priest in rank, as 
well as three 
doorkeepers.
{I}25_{/}He also took 
from those in the city a 
eunuch in command of the 
fighting men, seven 
personal advisers to the 
king who were discovered 
in the city, {I}26_{/}the 
commander's secretary 
responsible for military 
conscription and sixty of 
his men who were found in 
the city. Nebuzaradan 
took all these away to 
the king of Babylon at 
Riblah. {I}27_{/}There at 
Riblah in the territory 
of Hamath the king of 
Babylon had them put to 
death. So Judah was taken 
captive and taken away 
from its own land. 
{I}28_{/}This is the 
number of the population 
deported by 
Nebuchadnezzar: in the 
seventh year 3,023 Jews; 
{I}29_{/}in the 
{I}18{/}th year of 
Nebuchadnezzar 832 people 
from Jerusalem; 
{I}30_{/}in his 
{I}23{/}rd year 745 Jews 
deported by Nebuzaradan 
commander of the 
bodyguard - in all 4,600 
people.
{I}31_{/}On the 25th day 
of the 12th month in the 
37th year of the exile of 
Jehoiakin king of Judah, 
Evil-merodach king of 
Babylon, in the year he 
came to the throne 
pardoned Jehoiakin king 
of Judah and released him 
from prison. {I}32_{/}He 
spoke kindly to him and 
gave him more honorable 
treatment than the other 
kings who were with him 
in Babylon. 
{I}33_{/}Jehoiakin put 
aside his prisoner's 
garment and for the rest 
of his life ate at the 
king's table.
{I}34_{/}Day by day for 
as long as he lived he 
was maintained by the 
king of Babylon.

