1 In the beginning of the reign of Yehoyaqim the son of Josiah (Yoshiyahu) king of Judah (Yehudah) came this word from יהוה, saying,

2 “Thus saith יהוה: “Stand in the court of יהוה’s house, and speak unto all the cities of Judah (Yehudah), who come to worship in יהוה’s house, all the words that I command you to speak unto them; diminish not a word.

3 If so be they will hearken, and turn every man from his evil (raah) way, that I may regret of the disaster (raah), which I purpose to do unto them because of the evil of their doings.

4 And you shalt say unto them, ‘Thus saith יהוה: “If you will not hearken to Me, to walk in My Torah, which I have set before you,

5 To hearken to the words of My servants the prophets, whom I sent unto you, both rising up early, and sending them, but you have not hearkened;

6 Then will I make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.”’”

7 So the priests (kohanim) and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) speaking these words in the house of יהוה.

8 Now it came to pass, when Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) had made an end of speaking all that יהוה had commanded him to speak unto all the people, that the priests (kohanim) and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, “You shalt surely die!

9 Why have you prophesied in the name of יהוה, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate without an inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) in the house of יהוה.

10 When the princes of Judah (Yehudah) heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house unto the house of יהוה, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of יהוה’s house.

11 Then spake the priests (kohanim) and the prophets unto the princes and to all the people, saying, “This man is worthy to die; for he hath prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.”

12 Then spake Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu) unto all the princes and to all the people, saying, “יהוה sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.

13 Therefore now amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of יהוה your God (Elohim); and יהוה will regret of the disaster (raah) that He hath pronounced against you.

14 As for me, behold, I am in your hand; do with me as seemeth good and meet unto you.

15 But know you for certain, that if you put me to death, you shall surely bring innocent blood upon yourselves, and upon this city, and upon the inhabitants thereof; for of a truth יהוה hath sent me unto you to speak all these words in your ears.”

16 Then said the princes and all the people unto the priests (kohanim) and to the prophets: “This man is not worthy to die: for he hath spoken to us in the name of יהוה our God (Elohim).”

17 Then rose up certain of the elders of the land, and spake to all the assembly of the people, saying:

18 Mikhah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) king of Judah (Yehudah), and spake to all the people of Judah (Yehudah), saying, Thus saith יהוה of hosts (YHWH Tsevaot): “Zion (Tsiyon) shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem (Yerushalayim) shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house as the high places of a forest.”’

19 Did Hezekiah (Chizqiyahu) king of Judah (Yehudah) and all Judah (Yehudah) put him at all to death? Did he not fear יהוה, and besought יהוה, and יהוה regretted of the disaster (raah) which He had pronounced against them? Thus might we procure great evil against our souls.”

20 And there was also a man that prophesied in the name of יהוה, Uriyahu the son of Shemayahu of Qiryat-Yearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu).

21 And when Yehoyaqim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the princes, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death: but when Uriyahu heard it, he was afraid, and fled, and went into Egypt (Mitsrayim);

22 And Yehoyaqim the king sent men into Egypt (Mitsrayim): namely, Elnathan the son of Achbor, and certain men with him into Egypt (Mitsrayim).

23 And they fetched forth Uriyahu out of Egypt (Mitsrayim), and brought him unto Yehoyaqim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people.

24 Nevertheless the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah (Yirmeyahu), that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.