Jeremiah 21

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malchiah tohim, with the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, to say this,	1 The message which came to Jeremiah from the LORD when King Zedekiah sent him Pashhur, son of Malchiah, and the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, with this request:
2 'Please consult Yahweh for us, since Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is making war on us: perhapsYahweh wil work one of his many miracles for us and force him to withdraw.'	2 Inquire for us of the LORD, because Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, is attacking us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wonderful works, so that he will withdraw from us.
3 Jeremiah said to them, 'Take this answer to Zedekiah,	3 But Jeremiah answered them: This is what you shall report to Zedekiah:
4 "Yahweh, God of Israel, says this: I shal bring back the weapons of war which you are now carrying,and with which you are fighting the king of Babylon and the Chaldaeans now besieging you; from outside thewal s, I shal stack them in the centre of this city.	4 Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: I will turn back in your hands the weapons with which you intend to fight the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls. These weapons I will pile up in the midst of this city,
5 And I shal fight against you myself with outstretched hand and mighty arm, in anger, fury and greatwrath.	5 and I myself will fight against you with outstretched hand and mighty arm, in anger, and wrath, and great rage!
6 I shal strike down the inhabitants of this city, human and animal; they will die of a great plague.	6 I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die in a great pestilence.
7 Then, Yahweh declares, I shall deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, the people and those ofthis city who have escaped the plague, the sword, or the famine, into the clutches of Nebuchadnezzar king ofBabylon, into the clutches of their enemies and into the clutches of those determined to kill them; mercilessly,relentlessly, pitilessly, he wil put them to the sword."	7 After that, says the LORD, I will hand over Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his ministers and the people in this city who survive pestilence, sword, and famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, into the hands of their enemies and those who seek their lives. He shall strike them with the edge of the sword, without quarter, without pity or mercy.
8 'And you must say to this people, "Yahweh says this: Look, I offer you a choice between the way of lifeand the way of death.	8 And to this people you shall say: Thus says the LORD: See, I am giving you a choice between life and death.
9 Anyone who stays in this city wil die by sword, by famine, or by plague; but anyone who leaves it andsurrenders to the Chaldaeans now besieging you will live; he wil escape with his life.	9 Whoever remains in this city shall die by the sword or famine or pestilence. But whoever leaves and surrenders to the besieging Chaldeans shall live and have his life as booty.
10 For I am determined on disaster, and not prosperity, for this city, Yahweh declares. It wil be handedover to the king of Babylon, and he wil burn it down." '	10 For I have turned against this city, for its woe and not for its good, says the LORD. It shall be given into the power of the king of Babylon who shall burn it with fire.
11 To the royal House of Judah. Listen to the word of Yahweh,	11 To the royal house of Judah: Hear the word of the LORD,
12 House of David! Yahweh says this: Each morning give fair judgement, rescue anyone who has beenwronged from the hands of his oppressor, or else my wrath will leap out like a fire, it wil burn and no one will beable to quench it, because of the wickedness of your actions.	12 O house of David! Thus says the LORD: Each morning dispense justice, rescue the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor, Lest my fury break out like fire which burns without being quenched, because of the evil of your deeds.
13 My quarrel is with you, resident of the val ey, Rock-in-the-Plain, Yahweh declares, with you that say,'Who would dare attack us and enter our lairs?'	13 Beware! I am against you, Valley-site, Rock of the Plain, says the LORD. You who say, "Who will attack us, who can penetrate our retreats?"
14 I shal punish you as your actions deserve, Yahweh declares, I shal set fire to its forest and it willdevour all around it.	14 I will punish you, says the LORD, as your deeds deserve! I will kindle a fire in its forest that shall devour all its surroundings.