Jeremiah Chapter 21
So, Jeremiah receives a word from the Lord when King Zedekiah slides into his DMs through Pashur and Zephaniah, like, "What’s poppin'?"
The word which came unto Jeremiah from the LORD, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
They’re like, "Yo, can you hit up the Lord for us? Nebuchadrezzar, the king of Babylon, is on the way. We’re hoping the Lord shows us some of his dope moves and dips out."
Enquire, I pray thee, of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may go up from us.
Jeremiah responds, "This is what you need to tell Zedekiah:"
Then said Jeremiah unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
The Lord God of Israel is saying, "I’m about to flip all your war gear that you’re using against Babylon and the Chaldeans chilling outside your walls, and I’ll gather them right here in the city."
Thus saith the LORD God of Israel; Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that {are} in your hands, wherewith ye fight against the king of Babylon, and {against} the Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
"I’m gonna throw down with you myself, flexing my hand and strong arm, bringing all the rage and fury, no cap."
And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
"I’ll hit the folks in this city, both people and animals: they’ll catch a major plague and be done for."
And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
"And after that, I’ll hand over Zedekiah, the king of Judah, his squad, and the leftover peeps in this city from the plague, the sword, and the hunger to Nebuchadrezzar and his crew, and they'll get sliced with swords—no mercy, straight up."
And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
"To these people, you gotta say, 'The Lord says: I'm setting up two roads—one for life and one for death.'"
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
"Whoever sticks around in this city is gonna kick the bucket by sword, famine, and plague, but if you bounce and give up to the Chaldeans, you’ll survive and it’ll be a win for you."
He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
"I’m against this city for bad vibes, not good ones, says the Lord: it’s getting given over to Babylon and they’re gonna light it up."
For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
"When addressing the king of Judah’s crib, say, 'Yo, this is what the Lord says:'"
And touching the house of the king of Judah, {say}, Hear ye the word of the LORD;
"O house of David, the Lord says: 'Do what’s right in the morning and save those getting wrecked by the oppressor, or my anger will blaze like fire and no one can put it out because of your wickedness.'"
O house of David, thus saith the LORD; Execute judgment in the morning, and deliver {him that is} spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go out like fire, and burn that none can quench {it}, because of the evil of your doings. {Execute: Heb. Judge}
"Listen up, I’m coming for you, O valley dweller and rock of the plain, says the Lord; you’re out here asking, 'Who’s coming for us?' or 'Who’s stepping into our spot?'"
Behold, I {am} against thee, O inhabitant of the valley, {and} rock of the plain, saith the LORD; which say, Who shall come down against us? or who shall enter into our habitations? {inhabitant: Heb. inhabitress}
"But I’ll serve up punishment based on your actions, says the Lord: I’ll ignite a fire in your forest and it’ll consume everything around it."
But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the LORD: and I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it. {punish: Heb. visit upon}