~ The Word Came to Jeremiah from the Lord ~

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord
when King Zedekiah sent him Pashhur son of Malkijah
and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah.
They said:  "Inquire now of the Lord for us
because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
is attacking us.
Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders for us
as in times past
so that he will withdraw from us."

But Jeremiah answered them,
"Tell Zedekiah,
'This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says:
I am about to turn against you
the weapons of war that are in your hands,
which you are using to fight
the king of Babylon and the Babylonians
who are outside the wall besieging you.
And I will gather them inside this city.
I myself will fight against you
with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm
in anger and fury and great wrath.
I will strike down those who live in this city --
both men and animals --
and they will die of a terrible plague.
After that declares the Lord,
I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah,
his officials and the people in this city
who survive the plague, sword and famine,
to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon
and to their enemies who seek their lives.
He will put them to the sword;
he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.'"

(Jeremiah 21:1-7)