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1. Some of the royal officials heard what Jeremiah was saying. They were Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah. Jeremiah was telling all the people this message:
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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. "This is what the Lord says: 'Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die by a sword, or hunger, or terrible sickness. But everyone who surrenders to the army of Babylon will live and 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. And this is what the Lord says: 'This city of Jerusalem will surely be given to the army of the king of Babylon. He will capture this city.'"
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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. Then the royal officials who heard what Jeremiah was telling the people went to King Zedekiah. They said to the king, "Jeremiah should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are still in the city and everyone else by what he is saying. He is not looking for peace; he is just trying to cause trouble."
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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. So King Zedekiah said to the officials, "Jeremiah is in your control. 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 into Malkijah's cistern. (Malkijah was the king's son.) The cistern was in the Temple yard where the king's guard stayed. They used ropes to lower Jeremiah into the cistern. The cistern didn't have any water in it, only mud. And Jeremiah sank down into 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. But a man named Ebed Melech heard that the officials had put Jeremiah into the cistern. Ebed Melech was from Ethiopia, and he was a eunuch in the king's palace. King Zedekiah was sitting at the Benjamin Gate, so Ebed Melech left the king's palace and went to talk to the king at the 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 said, "My lord and king, these officials have done evil. They have treated Jeremiah the prophet badly. They have thrown him into a cistern and left him there to die."
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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. 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 King Zedekiah gave a command to Ebed Melech, the Ethiopian. This was the command: "Ebed Melech, take three men from the palace with you, and go get 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. But first he went to a room under the storeroom in the king's palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from that room. Then he let the rags down with some 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, the Ethiopian, said to Jeremiah, "Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms. When we pull you out, these rags will pad your underarms. Then the ropes will not hurt you." So Jeremiah did as Ebed Melech said.
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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. The men pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah stayed under guard in the Temple yard.
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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. Then King Zedekiah sent someone to get Jeremiah the prophet. He had Jeremiah brought to the third entrance to the Temple of the Lord. Then the king said, "Jeremiah, I am going to ask you something. Don't hide anything from me, but tell me everything honestly."
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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 give you an answer, you will probably kill me. And even 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. But King Zedekiah secretly swore an oath to Jeremiah. Zedekiah said, "The Lord gives us breath and life. As surely as the Lord lives, I will not kill you, Jeremiah. And I promise not to give you to the officials 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 King Zedekiah, "The Lord God All-Powerful is the God of Israel. This is what he says, 'If you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, your life will be saved, and Jerusalem will not be burned down. And you and your family will live.
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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 refuse to surrender, Jerusalem will be given to the Babylonian army. They will burn Jerusalem down, and you 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. But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "But I am afraid of the men of Judah who have already gone over to the side of the Babylonian army. I am afraid that the soldiers will give me to the men of Judah, and they will treat me badly and hurt 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. But Jeremiah answered, "The soldiers will not give you to the men of Judah. King Zedekiah, obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then things will go well for you, and your life will be saved.
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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 to the army of Babylon, the Lord has shown me what will happen. This is what the Lord has told me:
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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 house of the king of Judah will be brought out. They will be brought to the important officials of the king of Babylon. Your women will make fun of you with a song. This is what they will say: 'Your friends were stronger than you, and they led you the wrong way. You trusted them, but now your feet are stuck in the mud, and your friends have left 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 children will be brought out. They will be given to the Babylonian army. You yourself will not escape from the army of Babylon. You will be captured by the king of Babylon, and Jerusalem 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 said to Jeremiah, "Don't tell anyone that I have been talking to you. If you do, you might 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. If the officials find out that I talked to you, they will come to you and say, 'Jeremiah, tell us what you said to King Zedekiah and what he said to you. Be honest with us, and tell us everything, or 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 say this to you, tell them, 'I was begging the king not to send me back to the cell in the dungeon under Jonathan's house. If I were to go back there, I would die.'"
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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. It happened that the royal officials of the king did come to Jeremiah to question him. So Jeremiah told them everything the king had ordered him to say. Then they left Jeremiah alone. No one had heard what Jeremiah and the king had talked about.
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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 stayed under guard in the Temple yard until the day 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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