Jeremiah 37

Thomson(i) 1 When Sedekias son of Josias, whom Nabuchodonosar had made king over Juda, reigned in the room of Joakim, 2 and neither he nor his servants nor the people of the land hearkened to the words which the Lord spoke by the ministry of Jeremias and king Sedekias: 3 sent Joachel son of Selemias and Sophonias son of Maasias the priest to Jeremias saying, Pray now to the Lord for us. 4 [Now Jeremias went out and came in through the midst of the city and they had not committed him to prison, 5 and the army of Pharao had come out of Egypt, and the Chaldeans had heard the news of them when they came up against Jerusalem.] 6 Then a word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying, 7 Thus said the Lord, Thus shalt thou say to the king of Juda who hath sent to thee to inquire of me, Behold the army of Pharao which is coming to your assistance shall turn back to the land of Egypt, 8 and the Chaldeans shall return and fight against this city and take it and burn it with fire. 9 For thus said the Lord, Flatter not yourselves, saying, "The Chaldeans are retreating; they will depart from us." For they shall not depart. 10 Nay, though you should smite all the army of the Chaldeans who are warring against you and only some wounded men should be left, every one in his place; these shall rise up and burn this city with fire. 11 Now when the army of the Chaldeans left Jerusalem, on account of the army of Pharao, 12 Jeremias was going out of Jerusalem among the people with a design to go to the land of Benjamin, to make thence some purchase; 13 but when he was at the gate of Benjamin, a man there at whose house he stopped namely Sarouia son of Selemias, son of Ananias, took hold of Jeremias, saying, Thou art fleeing to the Chaldeans. 14 To which he replied, It is false. I am not fleeing to the Chaldeans. But Sarouia hearkened not to him, but took hold of Jeremias and brought him to the chiefs. 15 And the chiefs were enraged at Jeremias and smote him and committed him to the house of Jonathan the scribe; for they had made that a prison. 16 And when Jeremias had gone into the lowest apartment, even into the Chereth, and had been there many days, Sedekias sent for him. 17 And the king asked him privately to tell him whether there was a message from the Lord. And Jeremias said, There is. Thou shalt be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon. 18 Then Jeremias said to the king, Wherein have I offended thee and thy servants and this people, that thou hast committed me to prison? 19 Where now are your prophets who prophesied to you saying, "The king of Babylon shall not come against this land?" 20 Now therefore, my Lord the king, let me find favour in thy sight. Why art thou sending me back to the house of Jonathan the scribe? Must I not die there? 21 Thereupon the king gave orders and they committed him to the guard house and gave him a loaf of bread a day from the bake house until all the bread in the city was spent. So Jeremias remained in the court of the prison.