Jeremiah 26 to 27 New Living Translation

Jeremiah’s Escape from Death

26 This message came to Jeremiah from the LORD early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah,[bj] king of

Judah. 26:1 The first year of Jehoiakim’s reign was 608 B.C.) 2 “This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard in

front of the Temple of the LORD, and make an announcement to the people who have come there to worship from

all over Judah. Give them my entire message; include every word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and turn from their evil

ways. Then I will change my mind about the disaster I am ready to pour out on them because of their sins.

4 “Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: If you will not listen to me and obey my word I have given you, 5 and if

you will not listen to my servants, the prophets—for I sent them again and again to warn you, but you would not

listen to them— 6 then I will destroy this Temple as I destroyed Shiloh, the place where the Tabernacle was located.
And I will make Jerusalem an object of cursing in every nation on earth.’”

7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people listened to Jeremiah as he spoke in front of the LORD’s Temple. 8 But

when Jeremiah had finished his message, saying everything the LORD had told him to say, the priests and prophets

and all the people at the Temple mobbed him. “Kill him!” they shouted. 9 “What right do you have to prophesy in

the LORD’s name that this Temple will be destroyed like Shiloh? What do you mean, saying that Jerusalem will be

destroyed and left with no inhabitants?” And all the people threatened him as he stood in front of the Temple.

10 When the officials of Judah heard what was happening, they rushed over from the palace and sat down at the

New Gate of the Temple to hold court. 11 The priests and prophets presented their accusations to the officials and

the people. “This man should die!” they said. “You have heard with your own ears what a traitor he is, for he has

prophesied against this city.”

12 Then Jeremiah spoke to the officials and the people in his own defense. “The LORD sent me to prophesy against

this Temple and this city,” he said. “The LORD gave me every word that I have spoken. 13 But if you stop your sinning

and begin to obey the LORD your God, he will change his mind about this disaster that he has announced against

you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands—do with me as you think best. 15 But if you kill me, rest assured that you will

be killing an innocent man! The responsibility for such a deed will lie on you, on this city, and on every person living

in it. For it is absolutely true that the LORD sent me to speak every word you have heard.”

16 Then the officials and the people said to the priests and prophets, “This man does not deserve the death

sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

17 Then some of the wise old men stood and spoke to all the people assembled there. 18 They said, “Remember

when Micah of Moresheth prophesied during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah. He told the people of Judah,
‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says:

Mount Zion will be plowed like an open field;

Jerusalem will be reduced to ruins!

A thicket will grow on the heights

Where the Temple now stands.’[bk] 26:18 Mic 3:12.

19 But did King Hezekiah and the people kill him for saying this? No, they turned from their sins and worshiped

the LORD. They begged him for mercy. Then the LORD changed his mind about the terrible disaster he had

pronounced against them. So we are about to do ourselves great harm.”

20 At this time Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim was also prophesying for the LORD. And he predicted the

same terrible disaster against the city and nation as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim and the army officers

and officials heard what he was saying, the king sent someone to kill him. But Uriah heard about the plan and

escaped in fear to Egypt. 22 Then King Jehoiakim sent Elnathan son of Acbor to Egypt along with several other men

to capture Uriah. 23 They took him prisoner and brought him back to King Jehoiakim. The king then killed Uriah with

a sword and had him buried in an unmarked grave.

24 Nevertheless, Ahikam son of Shaphan stood up for Jeremiah and persuaded the court not to turn him over to the

mob to be killed.

Jeremiah Wears an Ox Yoke

27 This message came to Jeremiah from the LORD early in the reign of Zedekiah [bl] 27:1 As in some Hebrew

manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 27:3, 12); most Hebrew manuscripts read Jehoiakim.) son of Josiah, king of Judah.

2 This is what the LORD said to me: “Make a yoke, and fasten it on your neck with leather straps. 3 Then send

messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon through their ambassadors who have come to see

King Zedekiah in Jerusalem. 4 Give them this message for their masters: ‘This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies,

the God of Israel, says: 5 With my great strength and powerful arm I made the earth and all its people and every

animal. I can give these things of mine to anyone I choose. 6 Now I will give your countries to King Nebuchadnezzar

of Babylon, who is my servant. I have put everything, even the wild animals, under his control. 7 All the nations will

serve him, his son, and his grandson until his time is up. Then many nations and great kings will conquer and rule

over Babylon. 8 So you must submit to Babylon’s king and serve him; put your neck under Babylon’s yoke! I will

punish any nation that refuses to be his slave, says the LORD. I will send war, famine, and disease upon that nation

until Babylon has conquered it.

9 “‘Do not listen to your false prophets, fortune-tellers, interpreters of dreams, mediums, and sorcerers who say,

“The king of Babylon will not conquer you.” 10 They are all liars, and their lies will lead to your being driven out of
your land. I will drive you out and send you far away to die. 11 But the people of any nation that submits to the king

of Babylon will be allowed to stay in their own country to farm the land as usual. I, the LORD, have spoken!’”

12 Then I repeated this same message to King Zedekiah of Judah. “If you want to live, submit to the yoke of the king

of Babylon and his people. 13 Why do you insist on dying—you and your people? Why should you choose war,

famine, and disease, which the LORD will bring against every nation that refuses to submit to Babylon’s king? 14 Do

not listen to the false prophets who keep telling you, ‘The king of Babylon will not conquer you.’ They are

liars. 15 This is what the LORD says: ‘I have not sent these prophets! They are telling you lies in my name, so I will

drive you from this land. You will all die—you and all these prophets, too.’”

16 Then I spoke to the priests and the people and said, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Do not listen to your prophets

who claim that soon the gold articles taken from my Temple will be returned from Babylon. It is all a lie! 17 Do not

listen to them. Surrender to the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this whole city be destroyed? 18 If they

really are prophets and speak the LORD’s messages, let them pray to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies. Let them pray that the

articles remaining in the LORD’s Temple and in the king’s palace and in the palaces of Jerusalem will not be carried away to

Babylon!’

19 “For the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has spoken about the pillars in front of the Temple, the great bronze basin called the

Sea, the water carts, and all the other ceremonial articles. 20 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon left them here when he

exiled Jehoiachin[bm] 27:20 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant spelling of Jehoiachin.) son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, to Babylon,

along with all the other nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. 21 Yes, this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,

says about the precious things still in the Temple, in the palace of Judah’s king, and in Jerusalem: 22 ‘They will all be

carried away to Babylon and will stay there until I send for them,’ says the LORD. ‘Then I will bring them back to Jerusalem

again.’”