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Jeremiah 38:9 (ERVEN) Easy to Read - English

1 Some of the royal officials heard what Jeremiah was saying. They were Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jehucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malkijah. Jeremiah was telling all the people this message:
2 "This is what the Lord says: 'Everyone who stays in Jerusalem will die by a sword, or hunger, or terrible sickness. But everyone who surrenders to the army of Babylon will live and escape with their lives.'
3 And this is what the Lord says: 'This city of Jerusalem will surely be given to the army of the king of Babylon. He will capture this city.'"
4 Then the royal officials who heard what Jeremiah was telling the people went to King Zedekiah. They said to the king, "Jeremiah should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers who are still in the city and everyone else by what he is saying. He is not looking for peace; he is just trying to cause trouble."
5 So King Zedekiah said to the officials, "Jeremiah is in your control. I cannot do anything to stop you."
6 So the officials took Jeremiah and put him into Malkijah's cistern. (Malkijah was the king's son.) The cistern was in the Temple yard where the king's guard stayed. They used ropes to lower Jeremiah into the cistern. The cistern didn't have any water in it, only mud. And Jeremiah sank down into the mud.
7 But a man named Ebed Melech heard that the officials had put Jeremiah into the cistern. Ebed Melech was from Ethiopia, and he was a eunuch in the king's palace. King Zedekiah was sitting at the Benjamin Gate, so Ebed Melech left the king's palace and went to talk to the king at the gate.
8 Ebed Melech said, "My lord and king, these officials have done evil. They have treated Jeremiah the prophet badly. They have thrown him into a cistern and left him there to die."
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10 Then King Zedekiah gave a command to Ebed Melech, the Ethiopian. This was the command: "Ebed Melech, take three men from the palace with you, and go get Jeremiah out of the cistern before he dies."
11 So Ebed Melech took the men with him. But first he went to a room under the storeroom in the king's palace. He took some old rags and worn-out clothes from that room. Then he let the rags down with some ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.
12 Ebed Melech, the Ethiopian, said to Jeremiah, "Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms. When we pull you out, these rags will pad your underarms. Then the ropes will not hurt you." So Jeremiah did as Ebed Melech said.
13 The men pulled Jeremiah up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern. And Jeremiah stayed under guard in the Temple yard.
14 Then King Zedekiah sent someone to get Jeremiah the prophet. He had Jeremiah brought to the third entrance to the Temple of the Lord. Then the king said, "Jeremiah, I am going to ask you something. Don't hide anything from me, but tell me everything honestly."
15 Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, "If I give you an answer, you will probably kill me. And even if I give you advice, you will not listen to me."
16 But King Zedekiah secretly swore an oath to Jeremiah. Zedekiah said, "The Lord gives us breath and life. As surely as the Lord lives, I will not kill you, Jeremiah. And I promise not to give you to the officials who want to kill you."
17 Then Jeremiah said to King Zedekiah, "The Lord God All-Powerful is the God of Israel. This is what he says, 'If you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, your life will be saved, and Jerusalem will not be burned down. And you and your family will live.
18 But if you refuse to surrender, Jerusalem will be given to the Babylonian army. They will burn Jerusalem down, and you will not escape from them.'"
19 But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "But I am afraid of the men of Judah who have already gone over to the side of the Babylonian army. I am afraid that the soldiers will give me to the men of Judah, and they will treat me badly and hurt me."
20 But Jeremiah answered, "The soldiers will not give you to the men of Judah. King Zedekiah, obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then things will go well for you, and your life will be saved.
21 But if you refuse to surrender to the army of Babylon, the Lord has shown me what will happen. This is what the Lord has told me:
22 All the women who are left in the house of the king of Judah will be brought out. They will be brought to the important officials of the king of Babylon. Your women will make fun of you with a song. This is what they will say: 'Your friends were stronger than you, and they led you the wrong way. You trusted them, but now your feet are stuck in the mud, and your friends have left you.'
23 "All your wives and children will be brought out. They will be given to the Babylonian army. You yourself will not escape from the army of Babylon. You will be captured by the king of Babylon, and Jerusalem will be burned down."
24 Then Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, "Don't tell anyone that I have been talking to you. If you do, you might die.
25 If the officials find out that I talked to you, they will come to you and say, 'Jeremiah, tell us what you said to King Zedekiah and what he said to you. Be honest with us, and tell us everything, or we will kill you.'
26 If they say this to you, tell them, 'I was begging the king not to send me back to the cell in the dungeon under Jonathan's house. If I were to go back there, I would die.'"
27 It happened that the royal officials of the king did come to Jeremiah to question him. So Jeremiah told them everything the king had ordered him to say. Then they left Jeremiah alone. No one had heard what Jeremiah and the king had talked about.
28 So Jeremiah stayed under guard in the Temple yard until the day Jerusalem was captured.
1 Then Shephatiah H8203 the son H1121 CMS of Mattan H4977 , and Gedaliah H1436 the son H1121 CMS of Pashur H6583 , and Jucal H3116 the son H1121 CMS of Shelemiah H8018 , and Pashur H6583 the son H1121 CMS of Malchiah H4441 , heard H8085 the words H1697 AMP that H834 RPRO Jeremiah H3414 had spoken H1696 VPPMS unto H413 PREP all H3605 NMS the people H5971 , saying H559 L-VQFC ,
2 Thus H3541 saith H559 VQQ3MS the LORD H3068 EDS , He that remaineth H3427 D-VQPMS in this H2063 D-DFS city H5892 BD-NFS shall die H4191 VQY3MS by the sword H2719 , by the famine H7458 , and by the pestilence H1698 : but he that goeth forth H3318 to H413 PREP the Chaldeans H3778 shall live H2421 ; for he shall have H1961 W-VQQ3FS his life H5315 NMS-3MS for a prey H7998 , and shall live H2425 .
3 Thus H3541 saith H559 VQQ3MS the LORD H3068 EDS , This H2063 D-DFS city H5892 D-GFS shall surely be given H5414 into the hand H3027 B-CFS of the king H4428 NMS of Babylon H894 LFS \'s army H2428 , which shall take H3920 it .
4 Therefore the princes H8269 said H559 W-VQY3MP unto H413 PREP the king H4428 D-NMS , We beseech thee H4994 IJEC , let this H2088 D-PMS man H376 D-NMS be put to death H4191 : for H3588 CONJ thus H5921 PREP he H1931 PPRO-3MS weakeneth H7503 the hands H3027 CFD of the men H376 D-NMS of war H4421 that remain H7604 in this H2063 D-DFS city H5892 BD-NFS , and the hands H3027 CFD of all H3605 CMS the people H5971 , in speaking H1696 such H428 D-DPRO-3MP words H1697 unto H413 PREP them : for H3588 CONJ this H2088 D-PMS man H376 D-NMS seeketh H1875 not H369 the welfare H7965 of this H2088 D-PMS people H5971 , but H518 PART the hurt H7451 .
5 Then Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 D-NMS said H559 W-VQY3MS , Behold H2009 IJEC , he H1931 PPRO-3MS is in your hand H3027 B-CFS-2MP : for H3588 CONJ the king H4428 D-NMS is not H369 NPAR he that can do H3201 VQY3MS any thing H1697 against you .
6 Then took H3947 W-VQY3MP they Jeremiah H3414 , and cast H7993 him into H413 PREP the dungeon H953 of Malchiah H4441 the son H1121 CMS of Hammelech H4429 , that H834 RPRO was in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 : and they let down H7971 Jeremiah H3414 with cords H2256 . And in the dungeon H953 there was no H369 ADV water H4325 OMD , but H518 PART mire H2916 : so Jeremiah H3414 sunk H2883 in the mire H2916 .
7 Now when Ebed H5663 - melech the Ethiopian H3569 , one H376 NMS of the eunuchs H5631 which H1931 W-PPRO-3MS was in the king H4428 D-NMS \'s house H1004 B-CMS , heard H8085 that H3588 CONJ they had put H5414 Jeremiah H3414 in H413 PREP the dungeon H953 ; the king H4428 then sitting H3427 VQPMS in the gate H8179 of Benjamin H1144 ;
8 Ebed H5663 - melech went forth H3318 W-VQY3MS out of the king H4428 D-NMS \'s house H1004 , and spoke H1696 W-VPY3MS to H413 PREP the king H4428 D-NMS , saying H559 L-VQFC ,
9 My lord H113 the king H4428 D-NMS , these H428 D-DPRO-3MP men H376 D-NMP have done evil H7489 in all H3605 NMS that H834 RPRO they have done H6213 VQQ3MP to Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 , whom H834 RPRO they have cast H7993 into H413 PREP the dungeon H953 ; and he is like to die H4191 W-VQY3MS for M-CMP hunger H7458 in the place where H8478 PREP-3MS he is : for H3588 CONJ there is no H369 NPAR more H5750 ADV bread H3899 in the city H5892 B-NMS .
10 Then the king H4428 D-NMS commanded H6680 Ebed H5663 - melech the Ethiopian H3569 , saying H559 L-VQFC , Take H3947 VQI2MS from hence H2088 M-DPRO thirty H7970 MMP men H376 NMP with H3027 B-CFS-2MS thee , and take up H5927 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 out of H4480 PREP the dungeon H953 , before H2962 B-ADV he die H4191 .
11 So Ebed H5663 - melech took H3947 W-VQY3MS the men H376 D-NMP with H3027 B-CFS-3MS him , and went into H935 W-VQY3MS the house H1004 CMS of the king H4428 D-NMS under H413 PREP the treasury H214 , and took H3947 W-VQY3MS thence H8033 M-ADV old H1094 cast clouts H5499 and old H1094 rotten rags H4418 , and let them down H7971 by cords H2256 into H413 PREP the dungeon H953 to H413 PREP Jeremiah H3414 .
12 And Ebed H5663 - melech the Ethiopian H3569 said H559 W-VQY3MS unto H413 PREP Jeremiah H3414 , Put H7760 VQFC now H4994 IJEC these old H1094 cast clouts H5499 and rotten rags H4418 under H8478 NMS thine armholes H679 under H8478 NMS the cords H2256 . And Jeremiah H3414 did H6213 W-VQY3MS so H3651 ADV .
13 So they drew up H4900 Jeremiah H3414 with cords H2256 , and took him up H5927 out of H4480 PREP the dungeon H953 : and Jeremiah H3414 remained H3427 W-VQY3MS in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 .
14 Then Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 D-NMS sent H7971 W-VQY3MS , and took H3947 W-VQY3MS Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 unto H413 PREP-3MS him into H413 PREP the third H7992 D-ONUM entry H3996 that H834 RPRO is in the house H1004 B-CMS of the LORD H3068 EDS : and the king H4428 D-NMS said H559 W-VQY3MS unto H413 PREP Jeremiah H3414 , I H589 PPRO-1MS will ask H7592 thee a thing H1697 VQPMS ; hide H3582 nothing H408 NPAR from H4480 M-PREP-1MS me .
15 Then Jeremiah H3414 said H559 W-VQY3MS unto H413 PREP Zedekiah H6667 , If H3588 CONJ I declare H5046 VHY3MS it unto thee , wilt thou not H3808 ADV surely put me to death H4191 ? and if H3588 CONJ I give thee counsel H3289 , wilt thou not H3808 NADV hearken H8085 unto H413 PREP me ?
16 So Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 D-NMS swore H7650 secretly H5643 BD-NMS unto H413 PREP Jeremiah H3414 , saying H559 L-VQFC , As the LORD H3068 EDS liveth H2416 AMS , that H834 RPRO made H6213 VQQ3MS us this H2063 D-DFS soul H5315 D-NFS , I will not H518 PART put thee to death H4191 , neither H518 PART will I give H5414 thee into the hand H3027 B-CFS of these H428 D-DPRO-3MP men H376 D-NMP that H834 RPRO seek H1245 thy life H5315 .
17 Then said H559 W-VQY3MS Jeremiah H3414 unto H413 PREP Zedekiah H6667 , Thus H3541 saith H559 W-VQY3MS the LORD H3068 EDS , the God H430 CDP of hosts H6635 , the God H430 CDP of Israel H3478 ; If H518 PART thou wilt assuredly go forth unto H413 PREP the king H4428 NMS of Babylon H894 LFS \'s princes H8269 CMP , then thy soul H5315 shall live H2421 W-VQQ3FS , and this H2063 D-DFS city H5892 shall not H3808 NADV be burned H8313 with fire H784 ; and thou H859 PPRO-2MS shalt live H2421 , and thine house H1004 :
18 But if H518 W-PART thou wilt not H3808 ADV go forth H3318 to H413 PREP the king H4428 NMS of Babylon H894 LFS \'s princes H8269 CMP , then shall this H2063 D-DFS city H5892 D-GFS be given H5414 into the hand H3027 B-CFS of the Chaldeans H3778 , and they shall burn H8313 it with fire H784 , and thou H859 W-PPRO-2MS shalt not H3808 ADV escape H4422 out of their hand H3027 .
19 And Zedekiah H6667 the king H4428 D-NMS said H559 W-VQY3MS unto H413 PREP Jeremiah H3414 , I H589 PPRO-1MS am afraid of the Jews H3064 that H834 RPRO are fallen H5307 to H413 PREP the Chaldeans H3778 , lest H6435 they deliver H5414 me into their hand H3027 , and they mock H5953 me .
20 But Jeremiah H3414 said H559 W-VQY3MS , They shall not H3808 NADV deliver H5414 thee . Obey H8085 VQI2MS , I beseech thee H4994 IJEC , the voice H6963 B-NMS of the LORD H3068 EDS , which H834 L-RPRO I H589 PPRO-1MS speak H1696 VQPMS unto H413 PREP-2MS thee : so it shall be well H3190 unto thee , and thy soul H5315 shall live H2421 .
21 But if H518 W-PART thou H859 PPRO-2MS refuse H3986 to go forth H3318 , this H2088 DPRO is the word H1697 D-NMS that H834 RPRO the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS hath showed H7200 me :
22 And , behold H2009 IJEC , all H3605 CMS the women H802 D-NFP that H834 RPRO are left H7604 in the king H4428 NMS of Judah H3063 \'s house H1004 B-CMS shall be brought forth H3318 to H413 PREP the king H4428 NMS of Babylon H894 LFS \'s princes H8269 CMP , and those H2007 women shall say H559 , Thy friends H7965 have set H5496 thee on , and have prevailed H3201 against thee : thy feet H7272 are sunk H2883 in the mire H1206 , and they are turned away H5472 back H268 .
23 So they shall bring out H3318 all H3605 NMS thy wives H802 and thy children H1121 CMP-2MS to H413 PREP the Chaldeans H3778 : and thou H859 W-PPRO-2MS shalt not H3808 NADV escape H4422 out of their hand H3027 , but H3588 CONJ shalt be taken H8610 by the hand H3027 of the king H4428 NMS of Babylon H894 LFS : and thou shalt cause this H2063 D-DFS city H5892 D-GFS to be burned H8313 with fire H784 .
24 Then said H559 W-VQY3MS Zedekiah H6667 unto H413 PREP Jeremiah H3414 , Let no H408 NPAR man H376 NMS know H3045 of these H428 D-DPRO-3MP words H1697 , and thou shalt not H3808 W-NPAR die H4191 .
25 But if H3588 CONJ the princes H8269 hear H8085 VQY3MP that H3588 CONJ I have talked H1696 with H854 PART-2MS thee , and they come H935 unto H413 PREP thee , and say H559 unto H413 PREP thee , Declare H5046 unto us now H4994 IJEC what H4100 IPRO thou hast said H1696 unto H413 PREP the king H4428 D-NMS , hide H3582 it not H408 NPAR from H4480 M-PREP-3MS us , and we will not H3808 W-NPAR put thee to death H4191 ; also what H4100 IPRO the king H4428 said H1696 VPQ3MS unto H413 PREP thee :
26 Then thou shalt say H559 unto H413 PREP-3MP them , I H589 PPRO-1MS presented H5307 my supplication H8467 before H6440 L-CMP the king H4428 D-NMS , that he would not H1115 L-NPAR cause me to return H7725 VHI2MS to Jonathan H3129 \'s house H1004 CMS , to die H4191 L-VQFC there H8033 ADV .
27 Then came H935 W-VQY3MP all H3605 CMS the princes H8269 unto H413 PREP Jeremiah H3414 , and asked H7592 him : and he told H5046 W-VHY3MS them according to all H3605 these H428 D-DPRO-3MP words H1697 AMP that H834 RPRO the king H4428 D-NMS had commanded H6680 VPQ3MS . So they left off speaking H2790 with H4480 M-PREP-3MS him ; for H3588 CONJ the matter H1697 was not H3808 ADV perceived H8085 VQY1MP .
28 So Jeremiah H3414 abode H3427 W-VQY3MS in the court H2691 of the prison H4307 until H5704 PREP the day H3117 NMS that H834 RPRO Jerusalem H3389 was taken H3920 : and he was H1961 W-VQQ3MS there when H834 RPRO Jerusalem H3389 was taken H3920 .