Jeremiah 39

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 In the tenth month of the ninth year of Zedekiah, king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and all his army marched against Jerusalem and besieged it.	1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylonadvanced on Jerusalem with his entire army, and they laid siege to it.
2 On the ninth day of the fourth month, in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, a breach was made in the city's defenses.	2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, a breach was made in the city wall.
3 All the princes of the king of Babylon came and occupied the middle gate: Nergal-sharezer, of Simmagir, the chief officer, Nebushazban, the high dignitary, and all the other princes of the king of Babylon. . . .	3 The king of Babylon's officials, al having made their entry, took their seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sar-Sechim a high dignitary of state, Nergal-Sharezer the chief astrologer, and al theking of Babylon's other officials . . .
4 When Zedekiah, king of Judah, saw them, he and all his warriors fled by night, leaving the city on the Royal Garden Road through the gate between the two walls. He went in the direction of the Arabah,	4 On seeing them, Zedekiah king of Judah and al the fighting men fled, leaving the city under cover ofdark, by way of the king's garden through the gate between the two walls, and made their way towards theArabah.
5 but the Chaldean army pursued them, and overtook and captured Zedekiah in the desert near Jericho. He was brought to Riblah, in the land of Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, pronounced sentence upon him.	5 But the Chaldaean troops pursued them and caught up with Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. Theycaptured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath, where hepassed sentence on him.
6 As Zedekiah looked on, his sons were slain at Riblah by order of the king of Babylon, who slew also all the nobles of Judah.	6 The king of Babylon had Zedekiah's sons slaughtered before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylonalso had al the leading men of Judah put to death.
7 He then blinded Zedekiah and bound him in chains to bring him to Babylon.	7 He then put out Zedekiah's eyes and, loading him with chains, carried him off to Babylon.
8 The Chaldeans set fire to the king's palace and the houses of the people, and demolished the walls of Jerusalem.	8 The Chaldaeans burnt down the royal palace and the private houses, and demolished the wal s ofJerusalem.
9 Nebuzaradan, chief of the bodyguard, deported to Babylon the rest of the people left in the city, those who had deserted to him, and the rest of the workmen.	9 Nebuzaradan commander of the guard deported the remainder of the population left behind in the city,the deserters who had gone over to him, and the rest of the artisans to Babylon.
10 But some of the poor who had no property were left in the land of Judah by Nebuzaradan, chief of the bodyguard, and were given at the same time vineyards and farms.	10 But Nebuzaradan commander of the guard left some of the poor people behind in the country ofJudah, those who had nothing, at the same time giving them vineyards and fields.
11 Concerning Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, gave the following orders through Nebuzaradan, chief of the bodyguard:	11 With regard to Jeremiah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given the fol owing orders toNebuzaradan, commander of the guard,
12 "Take him and look after him; let no harm befall him, but treat him as he himself requests."	12 'Take him, look after him; do him no harm, but treat him as he may ask you.'
13 Thereupon Nebuzaradan, chief of the bodyguard, and Nebushazban, the high dignitary, and Nergal-sharezer, the chief officer, and all the nobles of the king of Babylon,	13 He entrusted this mission to (Nebuzaradan commander of the guard,) Nebushazban the high dignitaryof state, Nergal-Sharezer the chief astrologer and al the king of Babylon's other officials.
14 had Jeremiah taken out of the quarters of the guard, and entrusted to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to be brought home. And so he remained among the people.	14 These despatched men to take Jeremiah from the Court of the Guard and turned him over toGedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan for safe conduct home. So he remained among the people.
15 While Jeremiah was still imprisoned in the quarters of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him:	15 While Jeremiah was confined in the Court of the Guard, the word of Yahweh came to him as follows,
16 Go, tell this to Ebed-melech the Cushite: Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am now fulfilling the words I spoke against this city, for evil and not for good; and this before your very eyes.	16 'Go and say to Ebed-Melech the Cushite, "Yahweh, God of Israel says this: Look, I am about toperform my words about this city for its ruin and not for its prosperity. That day they will come true before youreyes.
17 But on that day I will rescue you, says the LORD; you shall not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid.	17 But I shal rescue you that day, Yahweh declares, and you will not be handed over to the hands of themen you fear.
18 I will make certain that you escape and do not fall by the sword. Your life shall be spared as booty, because you trusted in me, says the LORD.	18 Yes, I shal certainly rescue you: you wil not fall to the sword; you wil escape with your life, becauseyou have put your trust in me, Yahweh declares."