Jeremiah 20; Jeremiah 21; 2 Timothy 4

1 Now the priest, Immer's son Pashhur, the chief officer of the LORD's temple, heard Jeremiah prophesying these things.

2 Pashhur struck the prophet Jeremiah and put him in prison at Upper Benjamin Gate that was in the LORD's temple.

3 The next day when Pashhur took Jeremiah out of prison, Jeremiah said to him, "The LORD doesn't call you Pashhur, but he calls you Terror Everywhere.

4 This is what the LORD says: I'm going to make you terrify yourself and all your friends. Their enemies' swords will kill them, and you will see it with your own eyes. I will hand all of Judah over to the king of Babylon. He will take the people away as captives to Babylon or kill them with swords.

5 I will hand all the riches of this city over to their enemies. This will include all its produce, all its valuables, and all the treasures of the kings of Judah. Their enemies will loot them, take them away, and bring them to Babylon.

6 And you, Pashhur, and all those who live in your house will go into captivity. You will go to Babylon, and you will die there. You will be buried there together with all your friends to whom you prophesied these lies."

7 O LORD, you have deceived me, and I was deceived. You overpowered me and won. I've been made fun of all day long. Everyone mocks me.

8 Each time I speak, I have to cry out and shout, "Violence and destruction!" The word of the LORD has made me the object of insults and contempt all day long.

9 I think to myself, "I can forget the LORD and no longer speak his name." But [his word] is inside me like a burning fire shut up in my bones. I wear myself out holding it in, but I can't do it any longer.

10 I have heard many [people] whispering, "Terror is everywhere! Report him! Let's report him!" All my closest friends are waiting to see me stumble. They say, "Maybe he will be tricked. Then we can overpower him and take revenge on him."

11 But the LORD is on my side like a terrifying warrior. That is why those who persecute me will stumble. They can't win. They will be very ashamed that they can't succeed. Their eternal shame will not be forgotten.

12 But the LORD of Armies examines the righteous. He sees their motives and thoughts. I want to see you take revenge on them, because I've brought my case to you.

13 Sing to the LORD! Praise the LORD! He has rescued the lives of needy people from the power of wicked people.

14 Cursed is the day that I was born, the day that my mother gave birth to me. May it not be blessed.

15 Cursed is the man who made my father very happy with the news that he had just become the father of a baby boy.

16 May that man be like the cities that the LORD destroyed without pity. May he hear a cry of alarm in the morning and a battle cry at noon.

17 If only he had killed me while I was in the womb. Then my mother would have been my grave, and she would have always been pregnant.

18 Why did I come out of the womb? All I've seen is trouble and grief. I will finish my days in shame.

1 The LORD spoke his word to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur, son of Malchiah, and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, to Jeremiah. They said,

2 "Consult the LORD for us, because King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon is attacking us. Maybe the LORD will perform miracles for us so that Nebuchadnezzar will retreat."

3 Jeremiah responded to them, "This is what you should say to Zedekiah,

4 'This is what the LORD God of Israel says: I'm going to take your weapons away from you. You are using these weapons to fight the king of Babylon as well as the Babylonians who are now blockading you outside the wall. I will bring the Babylonians inside this city.

5 I will fight you in anger, fury, and rage with my powerful hand and my mighty arm.

6 I will defeat those who live in this city, both people and animals. They will die from a terrible plague.

7 Afterwards, declares the LORD, I will hand over Judah's King Zedekiah, his officials, the people, and everyone else in this city who survives the plague, war, and famine. They will be handed over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. Nebuchadnezzar will kill them with swords. He won't spare them, show them compassion, or care for them.'

8 "Say to these people, 'This is what the LORD says: I am going to give you the choice of life or death.

9 Those who live in this city will die in the war, famine, or plague. Those of you who go out and surrender to the Babylonians will live. You will escape with your lives.

10 I've decided to harm this city, not to do good to it, declares the LORD. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.'

11 "Say to the nation of the king of Judah, 'Listen to the word of the LORD,

12 descendants of David. This is what the LORD says: Judge fairly every morning. Rescue those who have been robbed from those who oppress them. Otherwise, my fury will break out and burn like fire. No one will be able to put it out because of the evil things you have done.

13 "'I'm against you, Jerusalem. You are the city that is in the valley and on the rock in the plain,'" declares the LORD. "'But you ask, "Who can attack us? Who can enter our places of refuge?"

14 "'I will punish you because of the evil things you have done,'" declares the LORD. "'I will start a fire in your forests, and it will burn up everything around you.'"

1 I solemnly call on you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who is going to judge those who are living and those who are dead. I do this because Christ Jesus will come to rule [the world].

2 Be ready to spread the word whether or not the time is right. Point out errors, warn people, and encourage them. Be very patient when you teach.

3 A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear.

4 People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths.

5 But you must keep a clear head in everything. Endure suffering. Do the work of a missionary. Devote yourself completely to your work.

6 My life is coming to an end, and it is now time for me to be poured out as a sacrifice to God.

7 I have fought the good fight. I have completed the race. I have kept the faith.

8 The prize that shows I have God's approval is now waiting for me. The Lord, who is a fair judge, will give me that prize on that day. He will give it not only to me but also to everyone who is eagerly waiting for him to come again.

9 Hurry to visit me soon.

10 Demas has abandoned me. He fell in love with this present world and went to the city of Thessalonica. Crescens went to the province of Galatia, and Titus went to the province of Dalmatia.

11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you. He is useful to me in my work.

12 I'm sending Tychicus to the city of Ephesus as my representative.

13 When you come, bring the warm coat I left with Carpus in the city of Troas. Also bring the scrolls and especially the parchments.

14 Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will pay him back for what he did.

15 Watch out for him. He violently opposed what we said.

16 At my first hearing no one stood up in my defense. Everyone abandoned me. I pray that it won't be held against them.

17 However, the Lord stood by me and gave me strength so that I could finish spreading the Good News for all the nations to hear. I was snatched out of a lion's mouth.

18 The Lord will rescue me from all harm and will take me safely to his heavenly kingdom. Glory belongs to him forever! Amen.

19 Give my greetings to Prisca and Aquila and the family of Onesiphorus.

20 Erastus stayed in the city of Corinth and I left Trophimus in the city of Miletus because he was sick.

21 Hurry to visit me before winter comes. Eubulus, Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers and sisters send you greetings.

22 The Lord be with you. His good will be with all of you.