Hebrew Names Version HNV
The Message Bible MSG
1 The word which came to Yirmeyahu from the LORD, when king Tzidkiyahu sent to him Pashchur the son of Malkiyah, and Tzefanyah the son of Ma`aseyah, the Kohen, saying,
1
God's Message to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to him with this request:
2 Please inquire of the LORD for us; for Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel makes war against us: peradventure the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
2
"Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has waged war against us. Pray to God for us. Ask him for help. Maybe God will intervene with one of his famous miracles and make him leave."
3 Then said Yirmeyahu to them, Thus shall you tell Tzidkiyahu:
3
But Jeremiah said, "Tell Zedekiah:
4 Thus says the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Bavel, and against the Kasdim who besiege you, without the walls; and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
4
'This is the God of Israel's Message to you: You can say good-bye to your army, watch morale and weapons flushed down the drain. I'm going to personally lead the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans, against whom you're fighting so hard, right into the city itself.
5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in wrath, and in great indignation.
5
I'm joining their side and fighting against you, fighting all-out, holding nothing back. And in fierce anger.
6 I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal: they shall die of a great pestilence.
6
I'm prepared to wipe out the population of this city, people and animals alike, in a raging epidemic.
7 Afterward, says the LORD, I will deliver Tzidkiyahu king of Yehudah, and his servants, and the people, even such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nevukhadretztzar king of Bavel, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life: and he shall strike them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
7
And then I will personally deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his princes, and any survivors left in the city who haven't died from disease, been killed, or starved. I'll deliver them to Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon - yes, hand them over to their enemies, who have come to kill them. He'll kill them ruthlessly, showing no mercy.'
8 To this people you shall say, Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
8
"And then tell the people at large, 'God's Message to you is this: Listen carefully. I'm giving you a choice: life or death.
9 He who remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he who goes out, and passes over to the Kasdim who besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be to him for a prey.
9
Whoever stays in this city will die - either in battle or by starvation or disease. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans who have surrounded the city will live. You'll lose everything - but not your life.
10 For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good, says the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Bavel, and he shall burn it with fire.
10
I'm determined to see this city destroyed. I'm that angry with this place! God's Decree. I'm going to give it to the king of Babylon, and he's going to burn it to the ground.'
11 Touching the house of the king of Yehudah, hear you the word of the LORD:
11
"To the royal house of Judah, listen to God's Message!
12 House of David, thus says the LORD, Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn so that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
12
House of David, listen - God's Message to you: 'Start each day by dealing with justice. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Prevent fire - the fire of my anger - for once it starts, it can't be put out. Your evil regime is fuel for my anger.
13 Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, [and] of the rock of the plain, says the LORD; you that say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations?
13
Don't you realize that I'm against you, yes, against you. You think you've got it made, all snug and secure. You say, "Who can possibly get to us? Who can crash our party?"
14 I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, says the LORD; and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is round about her.
14
Well, I can - and will! I'll punish your evil regime. I'll start a fire that will rage unchecked, burn everything in sight to cinders.'"
The Hebrew Names Version is in the public domain.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.