Jeremiah 21 – NIV & CCB

New International Version

Jeremiah 21:1-14

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.’ ”

Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

耶利米书 21:1-14

预言耶路撒冷的沦陷

1西底迦王派玛基雅的儿子巴施户珥玛西雅的儿子西番雅祭司来见耶利米的时候,耶利米听到了耶和华的话。当时,他们对耶利米说: 2“请你为我们求问耶和华,因为巴比伦尼布甲尼撒来攻打我们,或许耶和华会像以往一样行神迹,使敌人撤军。”

3耶利米对他们说:“你们要告诉西底迦4以色列的上帝耶和华说,‘看啊,你们与围城的巴比伦王及其率领的迦勒底人作战,我要把你们的兵器掉转过来,我要把它们收集在城中心。 5我要在烈怒中伸出大能的臂膀下手击打你们, 6我要击打这城里的居民和牲畜,使他们死于瘟疫。 7然后,我要把犹大西底迦及其臣仆以及城中逃过瘟疫、战争和饥荒的人都交给巴比伦尼布甲尼撒等仇敌,使他们落在想杀灭他们的人手中。巴比伦王必残酷无情地杀戮他们。这是耶和华说的。’

8耶利米啊,你要告诉百姓,‘耶和华说,看啊,我把生命之路和死亡之路摆在你们面前, 9留在这城里的必死于战争、饥荒和瘟疫,出城向迦勒底人投降的必保全性命、逃过一死。 10我必严惩这城,向它降祸不降福。它必落在巴比伦王手中,被付之一炬。这是耶和华说的。’

11“你要对犹大的王室说,‘你们要听耶和华的话。 12大卫家啊,耶和华说,

“‘你们要天天秉公行义,

从压迫者手中解救受剥削的人,

免得你们的恶行激起我的怒火,

如烈焰燃起,无人能灭。

13耶和华说,耶路撒冷啊,

你坐落在山谷之上,

如平原的磐石,

自以为无人能攻击你,

无人能闯入你的住处。

但我要攻击你,

14照你的所作所为惩罚你;

我要点燃你的树林,

烧光你周围的一切。

这是耶和华说的。’”