1. The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Melchiah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
2. “Please inquire of the Lord for us, for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps the Lord will deal with us according to all His wonderful works, that the king may go away from us.”
3. Then Jeremiah said to them, “Thus you shall say to Zedekiah,
4. ‘Thus says the Lord God of Israel: “Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon and the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls; and I will assemble them in the midst of this city.
5. I Myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger and fury and great wrath.
6. I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast; they shall die of a great pestilence.