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1. Now Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah had heard the things that Jeremiah had been telling the people. They had heard him say,
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1. 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 H853 the words H1697 that H834 Jeremiah H3414 had spoken H1696 unto H413 all H3605 the people H5971 , saying H559 ,
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2. "The LORD says, 'Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians will live. They will escape with their lives.'"
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2. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , He that remaineth H3427 in this H2063 city H5892 shall die H4191 by the sword H2719 , by the famine H7458 , and by the pestilence H1698 : but he that goeth forth H3318 to H413 the Chaldeans H3778 shall live H2421 ; for he shall have H1961 his life H5315 for a prey H7998 , and shall live H2425 .
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3. They had also heard him say, "The LORD says, 'This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon. They will capture it.'"
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3. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , This H2063 city H5892 shall surely be given H5414 H5414 into the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Babylon H894 's army H2428 , which shall take H3920 it.
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4. So these officials said to the king, "This man must be put to death. For he is demoralizing the soldiers who are left in the city as well as all the other people there by these things he is saying. This man is not seeking to help these people but is trying to harm them."
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4. Therefore the princes H8269 said H559 unto H413 the king H4428 , We beseech thee H4994 , let H853 this H2088 man H376 be put to death H4191 : for H3588 thus H5921 H3651 he H1931 weakeneth H7503 H853 the hands H3027 of the men H376 of war H4421 that remain H7604 in this H2063 city H5892 , and the hands H3027 of all H3605 the people H5971 , in speaking H1696 such H428 words H1697 unto H413 them: for H3588 this H2088 man H376 seeketh H1875 not H369 the welfare H7965 of this H2088 people H5971 , but H3588 H518 the hurt H7451 .
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5. King Zedekiah said to them, "Very well, you can do what you want with him. For I cannot do anything to stop you."
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5. Then Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 said H559 , Behold H2009 , he H1931 is in your hand H3027 : for H3588 the king H4428 is not H369 he that can do H3201 any thing H1697 against you.
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6. So the officials took Jeremiah and put him in the cistern of Malkijah, one of the royal princes, that was in the courtyard of the guardhouse. There was no water in the cistern, only mud. So when they lowered Jeremiah into the cistern with ropes he sank in the mud.
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6. Then took H3947 they H853 Jeremiah H3414 , and cast H7993 him into H413 the dungeon H953 of Malchiah H4441 the son H1121 of Hammelech H4429 , that H834 was in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 : and they let down H7971 H853 Jeremiah H3414 with cords H2256 . And in the dungeon H953 there was no H369 water H4325 , but H3588 H518 mire H2916 : so Jeremiah H3414 sunk H2883 in the mire H2916 .
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7. An Ethiopian, Ebed Melech, a court official in the royal palace, heard that Jeremiah had been put in the cistern. While the king was holding court at the Benjamin Gate,
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7. Now when Ebed H5663 -melech the Ethiopian H3569 , one H376 of the eunuchs H5631 which H1931 was in the king H4428 's house H1004 , heard H8085 that H3588 they had put H5414 H853 Jeremiah H3414 in H413 the dungeon H953 ; the king H4428 then sitting H3427 in the gate H8179 of Benjamin H1144 ;
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8. Ebed Melech departed the palace and went to speak to the king. He said to him,
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8. Ebed H5663 -melech went forth H3318 out of the king H4428 's house H4480 H1004 , and spoke H1696 to H413 the king H4428 , saying H559 ,
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9. "Your royal Majesty, those men have been very wicked in all that they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have thrown him into a cistern and he is sure to die of starvation there because there is no food left in the city.
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9. My lord H113 the king H4428 , these H428 men H376 have done evil H7489 in H853 all H3605 that H834 they have done H6213 to Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 , H853 whom H834 they have cast H7993 into H413 the dungeon H953 ; and he is like to die H4191 for H4480 H6440 hunger H7458 in the place where H8478 he is: for H3588 there is no H369 more H5750 bread H3899 in the city H5892 .
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10. Then the king gave Ebed Melech the Ethiopian the following order: "Take thirty men with you from here and go pull the prophet Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies."
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10. Then the king H4428 commanded H6680 H853 Ebed H5663 -melech the Ethiopian H3569 , saying H559 , Take H3947 from hence H4480 H2088 thirty H7970 men H376 with H3027 thee , and take up H5927 H853 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 out of H4480 the dungeon H953 , before H2962 he die H4191 .
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11. So Ebed Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasure room in the palace. He got some worn-out clothes and old rags from there and let them down by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.
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11. So Ebed H5663 -melech took H3947 H853 the men H376 with H3027 him , and went into H935 the house H1004 of the king H4428 under H413 H8478 the treasury H214 , and took H3947 thence H4480 H8033 old H1094 cast clouts H5499 and old H1094 rotten rags H4418 , and let them down H7971 by cords H2256 into H413 the dungeon H953 to H413 Jeremiah H3414 .
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12. Ebed Melech called down to Jeremiah, "Put these rags and worn-out clothes under your armpits to pad the ropes. Jeremiah did as Ebed Melech instructed.
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12. And Ebed H5663 -melech the Ethiopian H3569 said H559 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , Put H7760 now H4994 these old H1094 cast clouts H5499 and rotten rags H4418 under H8478 thine armholes H679 H3027 under H4480 H8478 the cords H2256 . And Jeremiah H3414 did H6213 so H3651 .
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13. So they pulled Jeremiah up from the cistern with ropes. Jeremiah, however, still remained confined to the courtyard of the guardhouse.
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13. So they drew up H4900 H853 Jeremiah H3414 with cords H2256 , and took him up H5927 H853 out of H4480 the dungeon H953 : and Jeremiah H3414 remained H3427 in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 .
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14. Some time later Zedekiah sent and had Jeremiah brought to him at the third entrance of the LORD's temple. The king said to Jeremiah, "I would like to ask you a question. Do not hide anything from me when you answer."
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14. Then Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 sent H7971 , and took H3947 H853 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 unto H413 him into H413 the third H7992 entry H3996 that H834 is in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 : and the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , I H589 will ask H7592 thee a thing H1697 ; hide H3582 nothing H408 H1697 from H4480 me.
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15. Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I answer you, you will certainly kill me. If I give you advice, you will not listen to me."
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15. Then Jeremiah H3414 said H559 unto H413 Zedekiah H6667 , If H3588 I declare H5046 it unto thee , wilt thou not H3808 surely put me to death H4191 H4191 ? and if H3588 I give thee counsel H3289 , wilt thou not H3808 hearken H8085 unto H413 me?
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16. So King Zedekiah made a secret promise to Jeremiah and sealed it with an oath. He promised, "As surely as the LORD lives who has given us life and breath, I promise you this: I will not kill you or hand you over to those men who want to kill you."
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16. So Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 swore H7650 secretly H5643 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , saying H559 , As the LORD H3068 liveth H2416 , H853 that H834 made H6213 us H853 this H2063 soul H5315 , I will not H518 put thee to death H4191 , neither H518 will I give H5414 thee into the hand H3027 of these H428 men H376 that H834 seek H1245 H853 thy life H5315 .
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17. Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "The LORD, the God who rules over all, the God of Israel, says, 'You must surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon. If you do, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down. Indeed, you and your whole family will be spared.
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17. Then said H559 Jeremiah H3414 unto H413 Zedekiah H6667 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , the God H430 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 ; If H518 thou wilt assuredly go forth H3318 H3318 unto H413 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 's princes H8269 , then thy soul H5315 shall live H2421 , and this H2063 city H5892 shall not H3808 be burned H8313 with fire H784 ; and thou H859 shalt live H2421 , and thine house H1004 :
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18. But if you do not surrender to the officers of the king of Babylon, this city will be handed over to the Babylonians and they will burn it down. You yourself will not escape from them.'"
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18. But if H518 thou wilt not H3808 go forth H3318 to H413 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 's princes H8269 , then shall this H2063 city H5892 be given H5414 into the hand H3027 of the Chaldeans H3778 , and they shall burn H8313 it with fire H784 , and thou H859 shalt not H3808 escape H4422 out of their hand H4480 H3027 .
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19. Then King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "I am afraid of the Judeans who have deserted to the Babylonians. The Babylonians might hand me over to them and they will torture me."
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19. And Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 said H559 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , I H589 am afraid of H1672 H853 the Jews H3064 that H834 are fallen H5307 to H413 the Chaldeans H3778 , lest H6435 they deliver H5414 me into their hand H3027 , and they mock H5953 me.
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20. Then Jeremiah answered, "You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the LORD by doing what I have been telling you. Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared.
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20. But Jeremiah H3414 said H559 , They shall not H3808 deliver H5414 thee . Obey H8085 , I beseech thee H4994 , the voice H6963 of the LORD H3068 , which H834 I H589 speak H1696 unto H413 thee : so it shall be well H3190 unto thee , and thy soul H5315 shall live H2421 .
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21. But if you refuse to surrender, the LORD has shown me a vision of what will happen. Here is what I saw:
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21. But if H518 thou H859 refuse H3986 to go forth H3318 , this H2088 is the word H1697 that H834 the LORD H3068 hath showed H7200 me:
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22. All the women who are left in the royal palace of Judah will be led out to the officers of the king of Babylon. They will taunt you saying, 'Your trusted friends misled you; they have gotten the best of you. Now that your feet are stuck in the mud, they have turned their backs on you.'
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22. And, behold H2009 , all H3605 the women H802 that H834 are left H7604 in the king H4428 of Judah H3063 's house H1004 shall be brought forth H3318 to H413 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 's princes H8269 , and those H2007 women shall say H559 , Thy friends H376 H7965 have set H5496 thee on , and have prevailed H3201 against thee : thy feet H7272 are sunk H2883 in the mire H1206 , and they are turned away H5472 back H268 .
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23. "All your wives and your children will be turned over to the Babylonians. You yourself will not escape from them but will be captured by the king of Babylon. This city will be burned down."
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23. So they shall bring out H3318 all H3605 thy wives H802 and thy children H1121 to H413 the Chaldeans H3778 : and thou H859 shalt not H3808 escape H4422 out of their hand H4480 H3027 , but H3588 shalt be taken H8610 by the hand H3027 of the king H4428 of Babylon H894 : and thou shalt cause this H2063 city H5892 to be burned H8313 with fire H784 .
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24. Then Zedekiah told Jeremiah, "Do not let anyone know about the conversation we have had. If you do, you will die.
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24. Then said H559 Zedekiah H6667 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , Let no H408 man H376 know H3045 of these H428 words H1697 , and thou shalt not H3808 die H4191 .
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25. The officials may hear that I have talked with you. They may come to you and say, 'Tell us what you said to the king and what the king said to you. Do not hide anything from us. If you do, we will kill you.'
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25. But if H3588 the princes H8269 hear H8085 that H3588 I have talked H1696 with H854 thee , and they come H935 unto H413 thee , and say H559 unto H413 thee, Declare H5046 unto us now H4994 what H4100 thou hast said H1696 unto H413 the king H4428 , hide H3582 it not H408 from H4480 us , and we will not H3808 put thee to death H4191 ; also what H4100 the king H4428 said H1696 unto H413 thee:
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26. If they do this, tell them, 'I was pleading with the king not to send me back to die in the dungeon of Jonathan's house.'"
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26. Then thou shalt say H559 unto H413 them, I H589 presented H5307 my supplication H8467 before H6440 the king H4428 , that he would not H1115 cause me to return H7725 to Jonathan H3129 's house H1004 , to die H4191 there H8033 .
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27. All the officials did indeed come and question Jeremiah. He told them exactly what the king had instructed him to say. They stopped questioning him any further because no one had actually heard their conversation.
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27. Then came H935 all H3605 the princes H8269 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , and asked H7592 him : and he told H5046 them according to all H3605 these H428 words H1697 that H834 the king H4428 had commanded H6680 . So they left off speaking H2790 with H4480 him; for H3588 the matter H1697 was not H3808 perceived H8085 .
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28. So Jeremiah remained confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse until the day Jerusalem was captured. The following events occurred when Jerusalem was captured.
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28. So Jeremiah H3414 abode H3427 in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 until H5704 the day H3117 that H834 Jerusalem H3389 was taken H3920 : and he was H1961 there when H834 Jerusalem H3389 was taken H3920 .
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