1 In the ninth year {hatshi'it: regnal count} of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and put it under siege {vayatzuru: military blockade}.
2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah {tsidkiyahu: Judah’s last king}, in the fourth month, on the ninth of the month, the city was breached {havqeah: violently broken open}.
3 Then all the officials {sarei: high-ranking administrators} of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate {hatevekh: central entry point}: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the chief of the eunuchs, Nergal-sharezer the chief magician, and all the rest of the officials of the king of Babylon.
4 And it came to pass, when Zedekiah {tsidqiyahu: Yahweh’s Righteousness} king of Judah saw them and all the men of war, they fled and went out by night from the city by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and then he went out by way of the Arabah {ha’aravah: wilderness plain}.
5 But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains {arvot: lowlands} of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath, and there he pronounced judgments {mishpatim: verdicts or sentences} upon him.
6 And the king of Babylon {melech Babel: imperial conqueror} slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes and slaughtered all the nobles {ḥōrê: ruling elite} of Judah.
7 And he blinded {iver: violent impairment} the eyes of Zedekiah, and bound him with bronze shackles to bring him to Babylon {Bavelah: exile destination}.
8 The Chaldeans {kasdim: Babylonian invaders} set the king’s house and the people’s houses ablaze {sarfu: to destroy by fire}, and they pulled down the walls of Jerusalem.
9 Nebuzaradan the chief of the guards {rav tabbachim: commander of executioners} carried into exile to Babylon the remnant {yeter: surviving remnant} of the people who remained in the city, along with those who defected to him and the rest of the survivors.
10 But from the people the poor {dal: those of lowest status} who had nothing, Nebuzaradan {ne-vu-za-ra-dan: Babylonian commander} left them in the land of Judah and gave them vineyards and fields on that day.
11 And Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon {melek bavel: imperial ruler}, commanded concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards {rav tabbachim: head officer}, saying,
12 Take him, and set {sim: focus attention} your eyes on him, and do not do any evil to him; for just as he speaks {yedabber: gives instruction} to you, so you shall do with him.
13 Then Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guard {rav-tabbaḥim: head executioner}, Nebushazban the chief eunuch, Nergal-sharezer the chief of the magi, and all the principal officers of the king of Babylon {Bavel: imperial rulers} sent messengers.
14 And they sent and took Jeremiah {Yirmeyahu: Yahweh will exalt} from the court of the guardhouse {mattarah: detention area}, and they gave him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to bring him out to the house. He dwelt among the people.
15 And the word of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Lord} came to Jeremiah while he was detained {atzur: restrained} in the court of the guard, saying,
16 Go and say to Ebed-melech the Cushite, “Thus says the LORD of hosts {YHWH Tsevaot: Commander of Armies}, the God of Israel {Elohei Yisrael: National Protector}: Behold, I am bringing my words upon this city for disaster and not for good, and they will be carried out before you {lefanekha: in your presence} on that day.”
17 But I will deliver you on that day, declares the LORD {YHWH, Rescuer}, and you will not be given into the hand of the men whom you fear {yagor: are afraid of}.
18 For I will surely deliver you, and by the sword you will not fall, and your life will be spoil {shalal: prize of rescue}, because you have trusted in Me, declares the LORD {YHWH, Faithful Protector}.