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“Inquire 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.’ ”
Mungu Anakataa Ombi La Sedekia
121:1 2Fal 24:18; 1Nya 9:12; 2Fal 25:18; Yer 37:3; 52:1Neno lilimjia Yeremia kutoka kwa Bwana wakati Mfalme Sedekia alipowatuma Pashuri mwana wa Malkiya, na kuhani Sefania mwana wa Maaseya kwake, kusema: 221:2 Mwa 25:22; Yer 32:5; Za 44:1-4; Yer 32:17; Kut 9:28; 2Fal 22:18; Mwa 10:10“Tuulizie sasa kwa Bwana, kwa sababu Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli anatushambulia. Labda Bwana atatenda maajabu kwa ajili yetu kama nyakati zilizopita, ili Nebukadneza atuondokee.”
3Lakini Yeremia akawajibu, “Mwambieni Sedekia, 421:4 Yer 32:5; 37:8-10; Isa 13:4‘Hili ndilo Bwana, Mungu wa Israeli, asemalo: Ninakaribia kuwageuzia silaha za vita zilizo mikononi mwenu, ambazo mnatumia kupigana na mfalme wa Babeli na Wakaldayo ambao wako nje ya ukuta wakiwazunguka kwa jeshi. Nami nitawakusanya ndani ya mji huu. 521:5 2Fal 22:13; Yer 6:12; Kut 6:6; 3:20; Yos 10:14; Eze 5:8Mimi mwenyewe nitapigana dhidi yenu kwa mkono wangu ulionyooshwa na mkono wa nguvu, kwa hasira na ghadhabu kali na ukali mwingi. 621:6 Yer 14:12; 7:20Nitawaangamiza waishio katika mji huu, watu na wanyama, nao watauawa kwa tauni ya kutisha. 721:7 Eze 12:14; 2Nya 36:10; Eze 29:19; Hab 1:6; Yer 39:5; 2Fal 25:7; Yer 52:9; 27:6Baada ya hayo, nitamtia Sedekia mfalme wa Yuda, maafisa wake na watu wa mji huu ambao walinusurika tauni, upanga na njaa, mkononi mwa Nebukadneza mfalme wa Babeli, na kwa adui zao wale wanaotafuta uhai wao. Atawaua kwa upanga; hatakuwa na rehema juu yao au huruma wala kuwasikitikia,’ asema Bwana.
8“Zaidi ya hayo, waambie watu hawa, ‘Hili ndilo asemalo Bwana: Tazama, naweka mbele yenu njia ya uzima, na njia ya mauti. 921:9 Yer 14:12; Eze 5:12; Yer 39:18; 45:5; 27:11; 40:9; 39:18Yeyote atakayekaa katika mji huu atakufa kwa upanga, njaa au tauni. Lakini yeyote atakayetoka na kujisalimisha kwa Wakaldayo ambao wameuzunguka mji huu kwa jeshi, atanusurika, naye ataishi. 1021:10 Yer 20:4; Amo 9:4; Yer 22:3; Isa 1:31; 42:25Nimekusudia kuufanyia mji huu jambo baya, wala si jema. Utatiwa mikononi mwa mfalme wa Babeli, naye atauteketeza kwa moto, asema Bwana.’
1121:11 Yer 13:18“Zaidi ya hayo, ambia nyumba ya mfalme ya Yuda, ‘Sikia neno la Bwana, 1221:12 Kut 22:22; Yer 22:3; Isa 1:31; 42:25Ewe nyumba ya Daudi, hili ndilo Bwana asemalo:
“ ‘Hukumuni kwa haki kila asubuhi,
mwokoeni mikononi mwa mdhalimu
yeye aliyetekwa nyara,
la sivyo ghadhabu yangu italipuka
na kuwaka kama moto
kwa sababu ya uovu mlioufanya:
itawaka na hakuna wa kuizima.
1321:13 Nah 2:13; Eze 5:8; 2Sam 5:6-7; Oba 1:3-4; Yer 49:4; 23:30; 50:31; 51:25Niko kinyume nawe, ee Yerusalemu,
wewe uishiye juu ya bonde hili
kwenye uwanda wa juu wa miamba,
asema Bwana,
wewe usemaye, “Ni nani awezaye kuja kinyume chetu?
Nani ataingia mahali pa kimbilio letu?”
1421:14 Mit 1:31; Isa 3:10-11; 2Nya 36:19; 2Fal 19:23; Mao 2:3; Eze 20:47; Yer 17:10Nitawaadhibu kama istahilivyo matendo yenu,
asema Bwana.
Nitawasha moto katika misitu yenu
ambao utateketeza kila kitu kinachowazunguka.’ ”
