Jeremiah 21:9-14

21:9 Those who stay in this city will die in battle or of starvation or disease. Those who leave the city and surrender to the Babylonians who are besieging it will live. They will escape with their lives. 21:10 For I, the Lord, say that I am determined not to deliver this city but to bring disaster on it. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon and he will destroy it with fire.’”

Warnings to the Royal Court

21:11 The Lord told me to say to the royal court of Judah,

“Listen to what the Lord says,

21:12 O royal family descended from David.

The Lord says:

‘See to it that people each day are judged fairly.

Deliver those who have been robbed from those who oppress them.

Otherwise, my wrath will blaze out against you.

It will burn like a fire that cannot be put out

because of the evil that you have done.

21:13 Listen, you who sit enthroned above the valley on a rocky plateau.

I am opposed to you,’ says the Lord.

‘You boast, “No one can swoop down on us.

No one can penetrate into our places of refuge.”

21:14 But I will punish you as your deeds deserve,’

says the Lord.

‘I will set fire to your palace;

it will burn up everything around it.’”