Jeremiah 39

1(in the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and besieged it;

1In the ninth year of Zedekiah's reign as king of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and his entire army marched against Jerusalem and began a siege.

2in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth day of the month, a breach was made in the city),

2In the eleventh year of Zedekiah's reign, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city wall was finally broken through.

3that all the princes of the king of Babylon came in, and sat in the middle gate, to wit, Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim, Rab-saris, Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.

3All the officials of the king of Babylon came in and sat at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the chief officer, Nergal-sharezer the high official, and all the rest of the king of Babylon’s officials.

4And it came to pass that, when Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them, then they fled, and went forth out of the city by night, by the way of the king’s garden, through the gate betwixt the two walls; and he went out toward the Arabah.

4When King Zedekiah of Judah and all his soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night through the king’s garden, going through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Jordan Valley.

5But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after them, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho: and when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; and he gave judgment upon him.

5But the Babylonian army chased after them and caught Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where the king passed sentence on him.

6Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes: also the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.

6There at Riblah, the king of Babylon executed Zedekiah’s sons as he watched. The king of Babylon also executed all the nobles of Judah.

7Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him in fetters, to carry him to Babylon.

7He then put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze chains to take him away to Babylon.

8And the Chaldeans burned the king’s house, and the houses of the people, with fire, and brake down the walls of Jerusalem.

8The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem.

9Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the residue of the people that remained in the city, the deserters also that fell away to him, and the residue of the people that remained.

9Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, took the people who were left in the city, those who had surrendered to him, and everyone else who remained, and deported them to Babylon.

10But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people, that had nothing, in the land of Judah, and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time.

10But Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard, left behind some of the poorest people who owned nothing. At that time, he gave them vineyards and fields.

11Now Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon gave charge concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, saying,

11Now King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon had given these orders concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan, the captain of the guard:

12Take him, and look well to him, and do him no harm; but do unto him even as he shall say unto thee.

12'Find him and take good care of him. Do not hurt him, but do whatever he asks you to do.'

13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard sent, and Nebushazban, Rab-saris, and Nergal-sharezer, Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon;

13So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-sharezer a high official, and all the other officers of the king of Babylon sent for him.

14they sent, and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard, and committed him unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, that he should carry him home. So he dwelt among the people.

14They had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard and handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. So Jeremiah stayed among his own people.

15Now the word of Jehovah came unto Jeremiah, while he was shut up in the court of the guard, saying,

15While Jeremiah had been held in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the LORD came to him:

16Go, and speak to Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished before thee in that day.

16'Go and tell Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city through disaster, not through good. You will see it happen with your own eyes on that day.

17But I will deliver thee in that day, saith Jehovah; and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

17But I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD. You will not be handed over to the men you fear.

18For I will surely save thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee; because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith Jehovah.

18I will certainly save you; you will not die by the sword. You will escape with your life because you trusted in me, declares the LORD.'