Jeremiah 21:5-14 ▼

5 And I Myself will fight against you⁺ with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm, with anger, fury, and great wrath.

6 I will strike down the residents of this city, both man and beast. They will die in a terrible plague.’

7 ‘After that,’ declares the LORD {YHWH}, ‘I will hand over Zedekiah (YHWH is righteous) king of Judah (praised), his officers, and the people in this city who survive the plague and sword and famine, to Nebuchadnezzar (may Nebo protect the crown) king of Babylon (confusion by mixing) and to their enemies who seek their lives. He will put them to the sword; he will not spare them or show pity or compassion.’

8 Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘Behold, I set before you⁺ the way of life and the way of death.

9 Whoever stays in this city will die by sword and famine and plague, but whoever goes out and surrenders to the Chaldeans (clod-breakers) who besiege you⁺ will live; he will retain his life like a spoil of war.

10 For I have set My face against this city to bring disaster and not good, declares the LORD {YHWH}. It will be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon (confusion by mixing), who will destroy it with fire.’

11 Moreover, tell the house of the king of Judah (praised) to hear the word of the LORD {YHWH}.

12 O house of David (beloved), this is what the LORD {YHWH} says: ‘Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor, or My wrath will go forth like fire and burn with no one to extinguish it because of their evil deeds.

13 Behold, I am against you who dwell above the valley, atop the rocky plateau—declares the LORD {YHWH}—you who say, “Who can come against us? Who can enter our dwellings?”

14 I will punish you⁺ as your⁺ deeds deserve, declares the LORD {YHWH}. I will kindle a fire in your forest that will consume everything around you.’”