1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, when king Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
2 “Please enquire of the Lord for us; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may withdraw from us.”
3 Then Jeremiah said to them, “Tell Zedekiah:
4 ‘the Lord, the God of Israel says, “Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Kasdim who besiege you outside the walls; and I will gather them into the middle of this city.
5 I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation.
6 I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal. They will die of a great pestilence.
7 Afterward,” says the Lord, “I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, even those who are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life. He will strike them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them, have pity, or have mercy.”’