Jeremiah

Warnings about Jerusalem's destruction due to unfaithfulness, with promises of a new covenant.

Chapter 26

1 In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah came this word from the LORD, saying,

*At the start of King Jehoiakim's rule, the son of King Josiah of Judah received a message from God, saying,

2 Thus saith the LORD; Stand in the court of the LORD’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’s house, all the words that I command thee to speak unto them; diminish not a word:

*So says God: Stand in God's temple and talk to all the cities of Judah visiting for worship. Share with them every word I tell you, don't leave out any part.

3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil way, that I may repent me of the evil, which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

*If they listen, everyone will change from their wrong actions. Then I won't have to punish them for their bad behavior.

4 And thou shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD; If ye will not hearken to me, to walk in my law, which I have set before you,

*And you should tell them, The Lord says: If you don't listen to me and follow my rules that I've given you,

5 To hearken to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but ye have not hearkened;

*Listen to the messages of my prophets that I sent to you. I sent them in the morning and again, but you did not listen.

6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.

*Then I will turn this place into a Shiloh-like house and turn this city into a curse for all the world's countries.

7 So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

*So, the priests, prophets, and everyone listened as Jeremiah spoke these words inside God's house.

8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, Thou shalt surely die.

*After Jeremiah finished speaking everything the Lord told him to say to the people, the priests, prophets, and everyone else grabbed him, saying, "You must definitely die."

9 Why hast thou prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant? And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

*Why did you say something in God's name, claiming that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be empty? Everyone came together against Jeremiah inside the Lord's house.

10 When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD’s house.

*When the leaders of Judah heard this news, they went from the king's palace to God's temple and sat at the entrance of the new gate.

11 Then spake the priests and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as ye have heard with your ears.

*Then the priests and prophets spoke to the leaders and everyone, "This man should die because he predicted bad things about our city, just like you heard."

12 Then spake Jeremiah unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that ye have heard.

*Then Jeremiah spoke to all the leaders and the people, saying, "The Lord sent me to share these messages with you about this house and this city, which include everything you just heard."

13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God; and the LORD will repent him of the evil that he hath pronounced against you.

*So, change your actions and follow God's guidance now, and God will stop the bad things He said would happen to you.

14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand: do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.

*As for me, I'm under your control; do whatever you think is right and fair.

15 But know ye for certain, that if ye put me to death, ye shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof: for of a truth the LORD hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.

*But understand, if you kill me, you will have innocent blood on you, this city, and its people. The LORD has truly sent me to talk to you and share these messages.

16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests and to the prophets; This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.

*Then, the leaders and everyone else told the priests and prophets, "This man shouldn't die because he spoke to us using the name of the LORD our God."

17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying,

*Then some older people from the land stood up and spoke to everyone, saying,

18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spake to all the people of Judah, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.

*Micah, a prophet from Morash, spoke to the people during Hezekiah's reign as king of Judah. The LORD of hosts said, "Zion will be treated like farmland, Jerusalem will be destroyed, and the temple mountain will become like the high parts of a forest."

19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him at all to death? did he not fear the LORD, and besought the LORD, and the LORD repented him of the evil which he had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.

*Did King Hezekiah and the people of Judah ever try to kill him? No, they didn't because they feared God, prayed to Him, and He changed His mind about punishing them. We should learn from this that if we disobey God, we can bring great harm to ourselves.

20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjathjearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah:

*There was another person, Urijah, who spoke for God. He was from Kirjathjearim and he predicted bad things for this city and land just like what Jeremiah said.

21 And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt;

*When King Jehoiakim and his powerful men, along with the leaders, heard what he said, the king wanted to kill him. But when Urijah found out, he became scared, ran away, and went to live in Egypt.

22 And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt, namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt.

*King Jehoiakim sent people to Egypt, including Elnathan, son of Achbor, and some others with him.

23 And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

*They brought Urijah from Egypt to King Jehoiakim, who killed him with a sword and threw his body into the grave of ordinary people.

24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.

*However, Ahikam, son of Shaphan, supported Jeremiah, so the people wouldn't kill him.

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