<p class="bodytext">However, some of the officials<n id="1" /> of Judah heard about what was happening<n id="2" /> and they rushed up to the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple from the royal palace. They set up court<n id="3" /> at the entrance of the New Gate of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s temple.<n id="4" />

But correct the way you have been living and do what is right.<n id="1" /> Obey the <sc>Lordsc> your God. If you do, the <sc>Lordsc> will forgo destroying you as he threatened he would.<n id="2" />

Do not listen to the prophets who are telling you that you do not need to serve<n id="1" /> the king of Babylon. For they are prophesying lies to you.

Do not listen to them. Be subject to the king of Babylon. Then you<n id="1" /> will continue to live. Why should this city be made a pile of rubble?&#8217;&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="poetry">Hear what the <sc>Lordsc> has to say, O nations.p> <p class="poetry">Proclaim it in the faraway lands along the sea.p> <p class="poetry">Say, &#8220;The one who scattered Israel will regather them.p> <p class="poetry">He will watch over his people like a shepherd watches over his flock.&#8221;p>

They have turned away from me instead of turning to me.<n id="1" /> I tried over and over again<n id="2" /> to instruct them, but they did not listen and respond to correction.<n id="3" />

However, listen to what I, the <sc>Lordsc>, promise you, King Zedekiah of Judah. I, the <sc>Lordsc>, promise that<n id="1" /> you will not die in battle or be executed.<n id="2" />

We and our wives and our sons and daughters have obeyed everything our ancestor Jonadab commanded us. We have never drunk wine.<n id="1" />

Yes,<n id="1" /> the descendants of Jonadab son of Rechab have carried out the orders that their ancestor gave them. But you people<n id="2" /> have not obeyed me!

Micaiah told them everything he had heard Baruch read from the scroll in the hearing of the people.<n id="1" />

Neither he nor any of his attendants showed any alarm when they heard all that had been read. Nor did they tear their clothes to show any grief or sorrow.<n id="1" />

The king did not even listen to Elnathan, Delaiah, and Gemariah, who had urged him not to burn the scroll.<n id="1" />

Neither he nor the officials who served him nor the people of Judah paid any attention to what the <sc>Lordsc> said through the prophet Jeremiah.<n id="1" />p>

At that time the Babylonian forces<n id="1" /> had temporarily given up their siege against Jerusalem.<n id="2" /> They had had it under siege, but withdrew when they heard that the army of Pharaoh had set out from Egypt.<n id="3" />)

Jeremiah answered, &#8220;That&#8217;s a lie! I am not deserting to the Babylonians.&#8221;<n id="1" /> But Irijah would not listen to him. Irijah put Jeremiah under arrest and took him to the officials.

But now please listen, your royal Majesty,<n id="1" /> and grant my plea for mercy.<n id="2" /> Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan, the royal secretary. If you do, I will die there.&#8221;<n id="3" />

Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, &#8220;If I answer you, you will certainly kill me.<n id="1" /> If I give you advice, you will not listen to me.&#8221;

Then Jeremiah answered, &#8220;You will not be handed over to them. Please obey the <sc>Lordsc> by doing what I have been telling you.<n id="1" /> Then all will go well with you and your life will be spared.<n id="2" />

Now he has brought it about. The <sc>Lordsc> has done just as he threatened to do. This disaster has happened because you people sinned against the <sc>Lordsc> and did not obey him.<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the atrocities<n id="1" /> that Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed.