"Thussaysthe LORD,He who staysin thiscitywill dieby the swordand by famineand by pestilence,but he who goesout to the Chaldeanswill liveand havehis [own] lifeas bootyand stayalive.'
Thussaysthe LORDGodof Israel,"Behold,I am about to turnbackthe weaponsof warwhichare in your hands,with whichyou are warringagainstthe kingof Babylonand the Chaldeanswho are besiegingyou outsidethe wall;and I will gatherthem into the centerof thiscity.
But like the badfigswhichcannotbe eatendueto rottenness--indeed,thussaysthe LORD--soI will abandonZedekiahkingof Judahand his officials,and the remnantof Jerusalemwho remainin thislandand the ones who dwellin the landof Egypt.
"But the nationwhichwill bringits neckunder the yokeof the kingof Babylonand servehim, I will let remainon its land,"declaresthe LORD,"and they will tillit and dwellin it."'"
"Whywill you die,you and your people,by the sword,famineand pestilence,as the LORDhas spokento that nationwhichwill not servethe kingof Babylon?
for thussaysthe LORDconcerningthe kingwho sitson the throneof David,and concerningallthe peoplewho dwellin thiscity,your brotherswhodid not gowith you into exile--
I will pursuethem with the sword,with famineand with pestilence;and I will makethem a terrorto allthe kingdomsof the earth,to be a curseand a horrorand a hissing,and a reproachamong allthe nationswhereI have driventhem,
"Thereforethussaysthe LORD,'You have not obeyedMe in proclaimingreleaseeachmanto his brotherand eachmanto his neighbor.Behold,I am proclaiminga releaseto you,' declaresthe LORD,to the sword,to the pestilenceand to the famine;and I will makeyou a terrorto allthe kingdomsof the earth.
"For I will certainlyrescueyou, and you will not fallby the sword;but you will haveyour [own] lifeas booty,becauseyou have trustedin Me," declaresthe LORD.'"
"So allthe menwhosettheir mindto goto Egyptto residetherewill dieby the sword,by famineand by pestilence;and they will havenosurvivorsor refugeesfrom the calamitythat I am going to bringon them."'"
Therefore you should nowclearlyunderstandthat you will dieby the sword,by famineand by pestilence,in the placewhereyou wishto goto reside.
And I will punishthose who livein the landof Egypt,as I have punishedJerusalem,with the sword,with famineand with pestilence.
But you, are you seekinggreatthingsfor yourself? Do not seek[them]; for behold,I am going to bringdisasteron allflesh,'declaresthe LORD,but I will giveyour lifeto you as bootyin allthe placeswhereyou may go.'"
For thussaysthe LordGOD,"HowmuchmorewhenI sendMy fourseverejudgmentsagainstJerusalem:sword,famine,wildbeastsand plagueto cutoffmanand beastfrom it!
"Thussaysthe LordGOD,'Clapyour hand,stampyour footand say,"Alas,becauseof allthe evilabominationsof the houseof Israel,whichwill fallby sword,famineand plague!
The swordis outsideand the plagueand the famineare within.He whois in the fieldwill dieby the sword;famineand the plaguewill also consumethose in the city.
