15. They were angry with me. So they had me beaten. Then they took me to the house of the secretary Jonathan. It had been made into a prison. That's where they put me.
16. I was put into a prison cell that was below ground level. I remained there a long time.
17. Then King Zedekiah sent for me. He had me brought to the palace. There he spoke to me in private. He asked, "Do you have a message from the Lord for me?" "Yes," I replied. "You will be handed over to the king of Babylonia."
18. Then I continued, "Why have you put me in prison? What crime have I committed against you? What have I done to your officials or these people?
19. Where are your prophets who prophesied to you? They said, 'The king of Babylonia won't attack you. He won't march into this land.'
20. "But now please listen, my king and master. Let me make my appeal to you. Please don't send me back to the house of the secretary Jonathan. If you do, I'll die there."