1 At the outset of the reign of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD {YHWH, Message Giver}, saying {le'emor: speech introduction}.
2 Thus says the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Commander}: Take your stand in the courtyard of the LORD’s house and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to bow in worship {hištahăwōt: Bow Down In Reverence} at the LORD’s house—everything I command you to say to them; do not cut off a single word.
3 It may be that they will listen and each one will turn back from his evil way, so that I {YHWH, Relenting Judge} will relent concerning the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of the evil of their deeds {ma'alleihem: actions and conduct}.
4 You shall say to them, “Thus says the LORD {YHWH, Divine Instructor}: If you will not listen to Me and walk in My law {torah: instruction} that I have set before you,
5 And if you will not listen to the words of my servants the prophets {neviim: divine spokesmen}, whom I {YHWH, Sovereign Authority} keep sending to you—rising early and sending—yet you have not listened.
6 And I {YHWH, Holy Judge} will make this house like Shiloh, and this city, this very one, I will make a curse {klalah: notorious omen} for all the nations of the earth.
7 The priests, the prophets, and all the people heard Jeremiah proclaiming {medabber: intensive proclamation} these words inside the house of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Sanctuary}.
8 When Jeremiah finished speaking everything the LORD {YHWH, Commanding Sovereign} had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests, the prophets, and the entire assembly seized him, declaring, “You must surely die {tamuth: final penalty}.”
9 “Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD {YHWH, Divine Authority}, saying, ‘This house will become like Shiloh {ke-Shiloh: ancient site of desolation}, and this city will be laid waste with no one living in it’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.
10 When the officials of Judah heard these words, they went up from the house of the king to the house of the LORD {YHWH, Supreme Judge} and took their seats at the entrance {petach: threshold} of the New Gate of the LORD’s house.
11 Then the priests {hakkohanim: temple ministers} and the prophets spoke to the leaders and to all the people, saying, “This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city—as you yourselves heard with your ears {oznayim: listening organs}.”
12 Jeremiah spoke to all the officials {sarim: leadership council} and all the people: “The LORD {YHWH, Divine Commissioner} has commissioned me to prophesy against this house and this city with every word you have heard.”
13 Now therefore, amend your ways and your deeds and heed the voice of the LORD your God {YHWH Eloheikhem, Covenant Guardian}; then the LORD will relent concerning the calamity {hara'ah: divine judgment} He has announced against you.
14 As for me, look, I am in your hand; deal with me as seems good {tov: beneficial} and right {yashar: morally upright} in your eyes.
15 Only you must surely know that if you put me to death, you will bring innocent {naki: free from guilt} blood upon yourselves, upon this city, and upon its inhabitants; for truly the LORD {YHWH, Divine Sender} has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.
16 And the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “There is no sentence of death {mishpat-mavet: judicial execution} for this man, for in the name of the LORD our God {YHWH Eloheinu: Covenant Keeper} he has spoken to us.”
17 Then some men from the elders {miziknei: respected leaders} of the land stood up and said to all the assembly {qahal: gathered community} of the people, saying,
18 Micah the Morasthite prophesied during the reign of Hezekiah king of Judah, and he spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, “Thus says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tseva’ot, Commander of Armies}: Zion shall be plowed like a field, Jerusalem shall become heaps {iyim: ruins}, and the mountain of the house shall be like the high places of a forest.”
19 Did Hezekiah, king of Judah, and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Judge} and seek the face {penei: presence} of the LORD, so that the LORD relented concerning the disaster He had spoken against them? But we are bringing great evil upon our souls.
20 There was also a man prophesying in the name of the LORD {YHWH, Name of Authority}, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from Kiriath-jearim, and he prophesied against this city and this land in line with all the words of Jeremiah {Yirmeyahu: Yahweh will exalt}.
21 When King Jehoiakim {Yehoyakim: Human Monarch} and all his warriors and all the officials heard his words, the king sought to put him to death; but Urijah heard it and was afraid {yare: felt intense terror}, and he fled and went to Egypt.
22 Then King {melekh: sovereign monarch} Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt, including Elnathan son {ben: lineage marker} of Achbor and other men with him.
23 They removed Uriah {Uriyahu: Yahweh is my light} from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and threw his corpse {nivlato: ritually unclean body} into the graves of the common people.
24 Nevertheless, the hand {yad: power, influence} of Ahikam {akhikam: supporter of Jeremiah} son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.