becauseZedekiahkingof Judahhad shuthim up, saying,"Whydo you prophesy,saying,Thussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am about to givethiscityinto the handof the kingof Babylon,and he will takeit;
Now in the timeof his distressthissameKingAhazbecameyetmoreunfaithfulto the LORD.
But the kingof Egyptsaidto them, "Mosesand Aaron,whydo you drawthe peopleawayfrom their work?Get[back] to your labors!"
"In vainI have struckyour sons;They acceptednochastening.Your swordhas devouredyour prophetsLike a destroyinglion.
Then Jeremiahsaidto them, "You shall sayto Zedekiahas follows:
"It will be, [that] the nationor the kingdomwhichwill not servehim, Nebuchadnezzarkingof Babylon,and whichwill not putits neckunder the yokeof the kingof Babylon,I will punishthat nationwith the sword,with famineand with pestilence,"declaresthe LORD,"untilI have destroyedit by his hand.
Zedekiahkingof Judahand his officialsI will giveinto the handof their enemiesand into the handof those who seektheir life,and into the handof the armyof the kingof Babylonwhich has goneawayfrom you.
"And concerningJehoiakimkingof Judahyou shall say,'Thussaysthe LORD,"You have burnedthisscroll,saying,Whyhave you writtenon it that the kingof Babylonwill certainlycomeand destroythisland,and will make manand beastto ceasefrom it?'"
Now Jeremiahwas [still] comingin and goingout amongthe people,for they had not [yet] puthim in the prison.
But ifyou will not goout to the officersof the kingof Babylon,then thiscitywill be givenover to the handof the Chaldeans;and they will burnit with fire,and you yourselfwill not escapefrom their hand.'"
"Thussaysthe LORD,'Thiscitywill certainlybe giveninto the handof the armyof the kingof Babylonand he will captureit.'"
Then the officialssaidto the king,"Nowlet thismanbe putto death,inasmuchas he is discouragingthe menof warwho are leftin thiscityand allthe people,by speakingsuchwordsto them; for thismanis not seekingthe well-beingof thispeoplebut rathertheir harm."
and Ebed-melechwentout from the king'spalaceand spoketo the king,saying,
O LORD,do not Your eyes[look] for truth?You have smittenthem, [But] they did not weaken;You have consumedthem, But they refusedto takecorrection.They have madetheir facesharderthanrock;They have refusedto repent.
"The yokeof my transgressionsis bound;By His handthey are knittogether.They have comeupon my neck;He has made my strengthfail.The Lordhas givenme into the handsOf [those against whom] I am not ableto stand.
"But nolongerprophesyat Bethel,for it is a sanctuaryof the kingand a royalresidence."
and they spoke,saying to Him, "Tellus by whatauthorityYou are doingthese things,orwhois the one who gaveYou thisauthority?"
