 1 In the ninth year of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, the ninth of the month, the city was broken up. 3 All the rulers of the king of Babylon came in and sat in the middle gate: Nergalsharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim, chief of the eunuchs, Nergalsharezer, chief soothsayer, and all the rest of the rulers of the king of Babylon. 4 When King Zedekiah of Judah and all the men of war saw them, they fled and left the city by night by the way of the king's garden by the gate between the two walls. And he went out the way of the plain. 5 But the Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They took him and made him go up to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, to Riblah in the land of Hamath where he gave judgment on him. 6 Then the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes in Riblah. The king of Babylon also killed all the rulers of Judah. 7 He blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him with chains to carry him to Babylon. 8 The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the houses of the people with fire and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. 9 Then Nebuzaradan, chief of the executioners, exiled to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city and those who fell away who fell to him with the rest of the people that remained. 10 But Nebuzaradan, chief of the executioners, left some of the poor people who had nothing in the land of Judah and gave them vineyards and fields on that day. 11 King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon gave command concerning Jeremiah to Nebuzaradan the chief of the executioners saying, 12 Take him and set your eyes on him and do him no evil. But do with him even as he shall say to you. 13 So Nebuzaradan, chief of the executioners, and Nebushasban, chief of the eunuchs, and Nergalsharezer, Rabmag, and all the king of Babylon's rulers, 14 took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison and entrusted him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan to take him to the house. So he lived among the people. 15 The Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison saying, 16 Speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian saying, Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring my words on this city for evil and not for good and they will be done in that day before you. 17 But I will deliver you in that day, says the Lord. You will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid. 18 For I will surely deliver you and you will not fall by the sword. But your life will be as a prize to you because you have put your trust in me, says the Lord.
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