1. The word which came to Jeremiah from Adonai, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur son of Malchiah and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the kohen, saying:
2. “Please inquire of Adonai for us, since Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon is making war against us. Perhaps Adonai would deal with us according to all His wondrous miracles—so that he would withdraw from us?”
3. Then said Jeremiah to them, “Thus will you say to Zedekiah,
4. thus says Adonai, the God of Israel: ‘I will soon turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you use to fight against the king of Babylon and against the Chaldeans, who are besieging you outside the walls—I will assemble them in the center of this city.
5. I myself will fight against you, with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even with anger, fury and in great wrath.
6. I will also strike down the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast—they will die of a great pestilence.’”