God rejects Zedekiah’s request
1The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. They said: 2‘Enquire now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar21:2 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, of which Nebuchadnezzar is a variant; here and often in Jeremiah and Ezekiel king of Babylon is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us.’
3But Jeremiah answered them, ‘Tell Zedekiah, 4“This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians21:4 Or Chaldeans; also in verse 9 who are outside the wall besieging you. And I will gather them inside this city. 5I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath. 6I will strike down those who live in this city – both man and beast – and they will die of a terrible plague. 7After that, declares the Lord, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to their enemies who want to kill them. He will put them to the sword; he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.”
8‘Furthermore, tell the people, “This is what the Lord says: see, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death. 9Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague. But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives. 10I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the Lord. It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.”
11‘Moreover, say to the royal house of Judah, “Hear the word of the Lord. 12This is what the Lord says to you, house of David:
‘ “Administer justice every morning;
rescue from the hand of the oppressor
the one who has been robbed,
or my wrath will break out and burn like fire
because of the evil you have done –
burn with no-one to quench it.
13I am against you, Jerusalem,
you who live above this valley
on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord –
you who say, ‘Who can come against us?
Who can enter our refuge?’
14I will punish you as your deeds deserve,
declares the Lord.
I will kindle a fire in your forests
that will consume everything around you.” ’
Mulungu Akana Pempho la Zedekiya
1Mfumu Zedekiya inatuma Pasuri mwana wa Malikiya ndi wansembe Zefaniya mwana wa Maseya kwa Yeremiya. 2Iwo amati akanene kwa Yeremiya mawu akuti, “Tinenere kwa Yehova chifukwa Nebukadinezara mfumu ya Babuloni akutithira nkhondo. Mwina mwake Yehova nʼkutichitira zodabwitsa kuti Nebukadinezarayo achoke kwathu kuno.”
3Koma Yehova anawuza Yeremiya kuti ayankhe Pasuri ndi Zefaniya kuti, “Kamuwuzeni Zedekiya kuti, 4‘Yehova, Mulungu wa Israeli akuti ndikulandeni zida zimene zili mʼmanja mwanu zimene mukugwiritsa ntchito polimbana ndi mfumu ya ku Babuloni ndi ankhondo ake amene akuzingani kunja kwa lingali. Ndipo ndidzasonkhanitsa zidazo mʼkati mwa mzindawu. 5Ineyo mwini wakene ndi mkono wotambasula ndi dzanja lamphamvu, ndidzachita nanu nkhondo ndili wokwiya, wokalipa ndi waukali. 6Ndidzakantha amene amakhala mu mzinda muno, anthu pamodzi ndi zirombo, ndipo zidzafa ndi mliri woopsa. 7Pambuyo pake, ndidzapereka Zedekiya mfumu ya ku Yuda, nduna zake pamodzi ndi anthu a mu mzinda muno amene adzapulumuke pa nthawi ya mliri, lupanga ndi njala kwa Nebukadinezara mfumu ya ku Babuloni ndi kwa adani awo amene ankafuna kuwapha. Iye adzawapha ndi lupanga. Sadzawachitira chifundo kapena kuwamvera chisoni kapenanso kuwakomera mtima.’
8“Yehova anati ndiwawuzenso anthu amenewa kuti asankhe pakati pa moyo ndi imfa. 9Aliyense amene akhale mu mzinda muno adzaphedwa ndi lupanga, njala kapena mliri. Koma aliyense amene apite kukadzipereka kwa Ababuloni amene akuzinganiwa adzakhala ndi moyo, adzapulumuka. 10Ine ndatsimikiza kuchitira mzinda uno choyipa osati chabwino, akutero Yehova. Udzaperekedwa mʼdzanja la mfumu ya ku Babuloni, ndipo iyeyo adzawutentha ndi moto.
11“Komanso, uwuze banja laufumu la Yuda kuti, ‘Imva mawu a Yehova; 12inu a mʼbanja la Davide, Yehova akuti,
“ ‘Weruzani mwachilungamo mmawa uliwonse;
pulumutsani mʼdzanja la wozunza
aliyense amene walandidwa katundu wake,
kuopa kuti ukali wanga ungabuke
ndi kuyaka ngati moto wosazimitsika
chifukwa cha zoyipa zimene mwachita.
13Ndidzalimbana nanu,
inu amene mukukhala pamwamba pa chigwa,
inu okhala ngati thanthwe lapachidikha,
akutero Yehova.
Inu amene mumanena kuti, ‘Ndani amene angabwere kudzalimbana nafe?
Ndani amene angathe kulowa mʼmalinga mwathu?’
14Ndidzakulangani molingana ndi ntchito zanu,
akutero Yehova.
Ndidzatentha nkhalango zanu;
moto udzapsereza zonse zimene zakuzungulirani.’ ”
