Then Shephatiah{H8203} the son{H1121} of Mattan{H4977}, and Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Pashur{H6583}, and Jucal{H3116} the son{H1121} of Shelemiah{H8018}, and Pashur{H6583} the son{H1121} of Malchiah{H4441}, heard{H8085}{(H8799)} the words{H1697} that Jeremiah{H3414} had spoken{H1696}{(H8764)} unto all the people{H5971}, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, He that remaineth{H3427}{(H8802)} in this city{H5892} shall die{H4191}{(H8799)} by the sword{H2719}, by the famine{H7458}, and by the pestilence{H1698}: but he that goeth forth{H3318}{(H8802)} to the Chaldeans{H3778} shall live{H2421}{(H8804)}; for he shall have his life{H5315} for a prey{H7998}, and shall live{H2421}{(H8799)}{(H8675)}{H2425}{(H8804)}.

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, This city{H5892} shall surely{H5414}{(H8736)} be given{H5414}{(H8735)} into the hand{H3027} of the king{H4428} of Babylon's{H894} army{H2428}, which shall take{H3920}{(H8804)} it.

Therefore the princes{H8269} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428}, We beseech thee, let this man{H376} be put to death{H4191}{(H8714)}: for thus{H3651} he weakeneth{H7503}{(H8764)} the hands{H3027} of the men{H582} of war{H4421} that remain{H7604}{(H8737)} in this city{H5892}, and the hands{H3027} of all the people{H5971}, in speaking{H1696}{(H8763)} such words{H1697} unto them: for this man{H376} seeketh{H1875}{(H8802)} not the welfare{H7965} of this people{H5971}, but the hurt{H7451}.

Then Zedekiah{H6667} the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)}, Behold, he is in your hand{H3027}: for the king{H4428} is not he that can{H3201}{(H8799)} do any thing{H1697} against you.

Then took{H3947}{(H8799)} they Jeremiah{H3414}, and cast{H7993}{(H8686)} him into the dungeon{H953} of Malchiah{H4441} the son{H1121} of Hammelech{H4428}, that was in the court{H2691} of the prison{H4307}: and they let down{H7971}{(H8762)} Jeremiah{H3414} with cords{H2256}. And in the dungeon{H953} there was no water{H4325}, but mire{H2916}: so Jeremiah{H3414} sunk{H2883}{(H8799)} in the mire{H2916}.

Now when Ebedmelech{H5663} the Ethiopian{H3569}, one{H376} of the eunuchs{H5631} which was in the king's{H4428} house{H1004}, heard{H8085}{(H8799)} that they had put{H5414}{(H8804)} Jeremiah{H3414} in the dungeon{H953}; the king{H4428} then sitting{H3427}{(H8802)} in the gate{H8179} of Benjamin{H1144};

Ebedmelech{H5663} went forth{H3318}{(H8799)} out of the king's{H4428} house{H1004}, and spake{H1696}{(H8762)} to the king{H4428}, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

My lord{H113} the king{H4428}, these men{H582} have done evil{H7489}{(H8689)} in all that they have done{H6213}{(H8804)} to Jeremiah{H3414} the prophet{H5030}, whom they have cast{H7993}{(H8689)} into the dungeon{H953}; and he is like to die{H4191}{(H8799)} for{H6440} hunger{H7458} in the place{H8478} where he is: for there is no more bread{H3899} in the city{H5892}.

Then the king{H4428} commanded{H6680}{(H8762)} Ebedmelech{H5663} the Ethiopian{H3569}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Take{H3947}{(H8798)} from hence thirty{H7970} men{H582} with thee{H3027}, and take up{H5927}{(H8689)} Jeremiah{H3414} the prophet{H5030} out of the dungeon{H953}, before he die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

So Ebedmelech{H5663} took{H3947}{(H8799)} the men{H582} with him{H3027}, and went{H935}{(H8799)} into the house{H1004} of the king{H4428} under the treasury{H214}, and took{H3947}{(H8799)} thence old{H1094} cast clouts{H5499} and old{H1094} rotten rags{H4418}, and let them down{H7971}{(H8762)} by cords{H2256} into the dungeon{H953} to Jeremiah{H3414}.

And Ebedmelech{H5663} the Ethiopian{H3569} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Jeremiah{H3414}, Put{H7760}{(H8798)} now these old{H1094} cast clouts{H5499} and rotten rags{H4418} under thine armholes{H679}{H3027} under the cords{H2256}. And Jeremiah{H3414} did{H6213}{(H8799)} so.

So they drew up{H4900}{(H8799)} Jeremiah{H3414} with cords{H2256}, and took him up{H5927}{(H8686)} out of the dungeon{H953}: and Jeremiah{H3414} remained{H3427}{(H8799)} in the court{H2691} of the prison{H4307}.

Then Zedekiah{H6667} the king{H4428} sent{H7971}{(H8799)}, and took{H3947}{(H8799)} Jeremiah{H3414} the prophet{H5030} unto him into the third{H7992} entry{H3996} that is in the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}: and the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Jeremiah{H3414}, I will ask{H7592}{(H8802)} thee a thing{H1697}; hide{H3582}{(H8762)} nothing from me.

Then Jeremiah{H3414} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Zedekiah{H6667}, If I declare{H5046}{(H8686)} it unto thee, wilt thou not surely{H4191}{(H8687)} put me to death{H4191}{(H8686)}? and if I give thee counsel{H3289}{(H8799)}, wilt thou not hearken{H8085}{(H8799)} unto me?

So Zedekiah{H6667} the king{H4428} sware{H7650}{(H8735)} secretly{H5643} unto Jeremiah{H3414}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, As the LORD{H3068} liveth{H2416}, that made{H6213}{(H8804)} us this soul{H5315}, I will not put thee to death{H4191}{(H8686)}, neither will I give{H5414}{(H8799)} thee into the hand{H3027} of these men{H582} that seek{H1245}{(H8764)} thy life{H5315}.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Jeremiah{H3414} unto Zedekiah{H6667}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, the God{H430} of hosts{H6635}, the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}; If thou wilt assuredly{H3318}{(H8800)} go forth{H3318}{(H8799)} unto the king{H4428} of Babylon's{H894} princes{H8269}, then thy soul{H5315} shall live{H2421}{(H8804)}, and this city{H5892} shall not be burned{H8313}{(H8735)} with fire{H784}; and thou shalt live{H2421}{(H8804)}, and thine house{H1004}:

But if thou wilt not go forth{H3318}{(H8799)} to the king{H4428} of Babylon's{H894} princes{H8269}, then shall this city{H5892} be given{H5414}{(H8738)} into the hand{H3027} of the Chaldeans{H3778}, and they shall burn{H8313}{(H8804)} it with fire{H784}, and thou shalt not escape out{H4422}{(H8735)} of their hand{H3027}.

And Zedekiah{H6667} the king{H4428} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Jeremiah{H3414}, I am afraid{H1672}{(H8802)} of the Jews{H3064} that are fallen{H5307}{(H8804)} to the Chaldeans{H3778}, lest they deliver{H5414}{(H8799)} me into their hand{H3027}, and they mock{H5953}{(H8694)} me.

But Jeremiah{H3414} said{H559}{(H8799)}, They shall not deliver{H5414}{(H8799)} thee. Obey{H8085}{(H8798)}, I beseech thee, the voice{H6963} of the LORD{H3068}, which I speak{H1696}{(H8802)} unto thee: so it shall be well{H3190}{(H8799)} unto thee, and thy soul{H5315} shall live{H2421}{(H8799)}.

But if thou refuse{H3986} to go forth{H3318}{(H8800)}, this is the word{H1697} that the LORD{H3068} hath shewed{H7200}{(H8689)} me:

And, behold, all the women{H802} that are left{H7604}{(H8738)} in the king{H4428} of Judah's{H3063} house{H1004} shall be brought forth{H3318}{(H8716)} to the king{H4428} of Babylon's{H894} princes{H8269}, and those women shall say{H559}{(H8802)}, Thy friends{H582}{H7965} have set thee on{H5496}{(H8689)}, and have prevailed{H3201}{(H8804)} against thee: thy feet{H7272} are sunk{H2883}{(H8717)} in the mire{H1206}, and they are turned away{H5472}{(H8738)} back{H268}.

So they shall bring out{H3318}{(H8688)} all thy wives{H802} and thy children{H1121} to the Chaldeans{H3778}: and thou shalt not escape out{H4422}{(H8735)} of their hand{H3027}, but shalt be taken{H8610}{(H8735)} by the hand{H3027} of the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894}: and thou shalt cause this city{H5892} to be burned{H8313}{(H8799)} with fire{H784}.

Then said{H559}{(H8799)} Zedekiah{H6667} unto Jeremiah{H3414}, Let no man{H376} know{H3045}{(H8799)} of these words{H1697}, and thou shalt not die{H4191}{(H8799)}.

But if the princes{H8269} hear{H8085}{(H8799)} that I have talked{H1696}{(H8765)} with thee, and they come{H935}{(H8804)} unto thee, and say{H559}{(H8804)} unto thee, Declare{H5046}{(H8685)} unto us now what thou hast said{H1696}{(H8765)} unto the king{H4428}, hide{H3582}{(H8762)} it not from us, and we will not put thee to death{H4191}{(H8686)}; also what the king{H4428} said{H1696}{(H8765)} unto thee:

Then thou shalt say{H559}{(H8804)} unto them, I presented{H5307}{(H8688)} my supplication{H8467} before{H6440} the king{H4428}, that he would not cause me to return{H7725}{(H8687)} to Jonathan's{H3083} house{H1004}, to die{H4191}{(H8800)} there.

Then came{H935}{(H8799)} all the princes{H8269} unto Jeremiah{H3414}, and asked{H7592}{(H8799)} him: and he told{H5046}{(H8686)} them according to all these words{H1697} that the king{H4428} had commanded{H6680}{(H8765)}. So they left off speaking{H2790}{(H8686)} with him; for the matter{H1697} was not perceived{H8085}{(H8738)}.

So Jeremiah{H3414} abode{H3427}{(H8799)} in the court{H2691} of the prison{H4307} until the day{H3117} that Jerusalem{H3389} was taken{H3920}{(H8738)}: and he was there when Jerusalem{H3389} was taken{H3920}{(H8738)}.