Bible verse by verse

[_LittleNipper]

Jeremiah 39:1-18

In the 9th year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the 10th month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came and besieged Jerusalem.

In the 11th year of Zedekiah, in the 4th month on the ninth day of that month, the city wall was broken down.

All the officials of the king of Babylon entered and sat in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsekim the Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer the Rabmag, and all the rest of the officials of the Babylonian king.

When Zedekiah the king of Judah saw them and all the warriors, they fled and went out of the city by night, through the king’s garden, by the gate between the two walls. And he went out the way of the Arabah.

But the Chaldeans’ army chased after them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. And when they had taken him, they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he passed sentence on him.

Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah before his eyes. Additionally, the king of Babylon slew all the nobles of Judah.

He also had Zedekiah’s eyes poked out and bound him with chains to carry him to Babylon.

The Chaldeans burned the king’s palace and the houses of the people and demolished the walls of Jerusalem.

Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon what were left of the people remaining in the city, and those who fell away, who fell to him, with the rest of the people who remained.

But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left behind throughout Judah the poor people without anything, and gave them vineyards and fields at that time.

Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon gave care regarding Jeremiah to this Nebuzaradan -- captain of the guard, saying,

“Take him and look after him, and do not harm him. But do to him just as he tells you.”

So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard, Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-Sharezer the Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon

sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the prison and committed him to Ahikam'a son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, that he should take him home. So he lived among the people.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the prison, saying:

"Go and speak to Ebed-Melek the Ethiopian, saying: So pronounces the Lord of Hosts, God of Israel: I will bring My words upon this city for destruction and not for goodwill. And they shall be fulfilled in that day ahead of you.

But I will deliver you that day, says the Lord, and you shall not be handed over to the men of whom you are afraid.

For I will surely deliver you, and you will not fall by the sword; but your life will be as plunder for you, because you have put your trust in Me, says the Lord."


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, come hath Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his force unto Jerusalem, and they lay siege against it;

2 in the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month, in the ninth of the month, hath the city been broken up;

3 and come in do all the heads of the king of Babylon, and they sit at the middle gate, Nergal-Sharezer, Samgar-Nebo, Sarsechim, chief of the eunuchs, Nergal-Sharezer, chief of the Mages, and all the rest of the heads of the king of Babylon.

4 And it cometh to pass, when Zedekiah king of Judah, and all the men of war, have seen them, that they flee and go forth by night from the city, the way of the king's garden, through the gate between the two walls, and he goeth forth the way of the plain.

5 And the forces of the Chaldeans pursue after them, and overtake Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho, and they take him, and bring him up unto Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to Riblah, in the land of Hamath, and he speaketh with him -- judgments.

6 And the king of Babylon slaughtereth the sons of Zedekiah, in Riblah, before his eyes, yea, all the freemen of Judah hath the king of Babylon slaughtered.

7 And the eyes of Zedekiah he hath blinded, and he bindeth him with brazen fetters, to bring him in to Babylon.

8 And the house of the king, and the house of the people, have the Chaldeans burnt with fire, and the walls of Jerusalem they have broken down.

9 And the remnant of the people who are left in the city, and those falling who have fallen to him, and the remnant of the people who are left, hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, removed [to] Babylon.

10 And of the poor people, who have nothing, hath Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, left in the land of Judah, and he giveth to them vineyards and fields on the same day.

11 And Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon giveth a charge concerning Jeremiah, by the hand of Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, saying,

12 `Take him, and place thine eyes upon him, and do no evil thing to him, but as he speaketh unto thee, so do with him.'

13 And Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners sendeth, and Nebushazban, chief of the eunuchs, and Nergal-Sharezer, chief of the Mages, and all the chiefs of the king of Babylon;

14 yea, they send and take Jeremiah out of the court of the prison, and give him unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, to carry him home, and he dwelleth in the midst of the people.

15 And unto Jeremiah hath a word of Jehovah been -- in his being detained in the court of the prison -- saying:

16 `Go, and thou hast spoken to Ebed-Melech the Cushite, saying: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am bringing in My words unto this city for evil, and not for good, and they have been before thee in that day.

17 And I have delivered thee in that day -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- and thou art not given into the hand of the men of whose face thou art afraid,

18 for I do certainly deliver thee, and by sword thou fallest not, and thy life hath been to thee for a spoil, for thou hast trusted in Me -- an affirmation of Jehovah.'

[_LittleNipper]

Jeremiah 40:1-16

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, had freed Jeremiah at Ramah. He been taken there in chains, along with all the other people from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken away as prisoners to Babylonia.

The commanding officer took Jeremiah aside and said, “The Lord your God threatened this land with destruction,

and now he has accomplished what he said he would do. All this occurred because your people sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him.

Now, I am removing the chains off your wrists and freeing you. If you wish to accompany me to Babylon, you may do so, and I will take care of you. But if you don't want to go, you don't have to. You have the whole country to choose from, and you may go wherever you wish.”

When Jeremiah did not answer, Nebuzaradan said, “Go back Ahikam's son and Shaphan's grandson Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon has made governor of the towns of Judah. You may stay with him and live among the people, or you may go anywhere you think you should.” Then he gave me a gift and some food to take with me, and let me go on my way.

Jeremiah went to stay with Gedaliah in Mizpah and lived among the people who were left in the land.

Some of the Judean officers and soldiers had not surrendered. They heard that the king of Babylonia had made Gedaliah governor of the land and had placed him in charge of all those who had not been taken away to Babylonia—the poorest people of the land.

So Nethaniah's son Ishmael ,Kareah's son Johanan , Tanhumeth's son Seraiah , the sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jezaniah from Maacah went with their men to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

Gedaliah said to them, “I give you my word that there is no need for you to be afraid to surrender to the Babylonians. Settle in this land, serve the king of Babylon, and all will go well with you.

I myself will stay in Mizpah and be your representative when the Babylonians come here. But you can gather and store up wine, fruit, and olive oil, and live in the villages you occupy.”

Meanwhile, all the Israelites who were in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other countries, heard that the king of Babylon had allowed some Israelites to stay on in Judah and that he had made Gedaliah their governor.

So they left the places where they had been scattered, and returned to Judah. They came to Gedaliah at Mizpah, and there they gathered in large amounts of wine and fruit.

After this, Johanan and the leaders of the soldiers who had not surrendered came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

They said to him, “Don't you know that King Baalis of Ammon has sent Ishmael to murder you?” But Gedaliah did not believe it.

Then Johanan said privately to him, “Let me go and kill Ishmael, and no one will know who did it. Why should he be allowed to murder you? That would cause all the Jews who have gathered around you to be scattered, and it would bring disaster on all the people who are left in Judah.”

16 But Gedaliah answered, “Don't do it! What you are saying concerning Ishmael is untrue!”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, hath sent him from Ramah, in his taking him -- and he a prisoner in chains -- in the midst of all the removal of Jerusalem and of Judah, who are removed to Babylon.

2 And the chief of the executioners taketh Jeremiah, and saith unto him, `Jehovah thy God hath spoken this evil concerning this place,

3 and Jehovah bringeth [it] in, and doth as He spake, because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened to His voice, even this thing hath been to you.

4 `And now, lo, I have loosed thee to-day from the chains that [are] on thy hand; if good in thine eyes to come with me [to] Babylon, come, and I keep mine eye upon thee: and if evil in thine eyes to come with me to Babylon, forbear; see, all the land [is] before thee, whither [it be] good, and whither [it be] right in thine eyes to go -- go.' --

5 and while he doth not reply -- `Or turn back unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it is right in thine eyes to go -- go.' And the chief of the executioners giveth to him for the way, and a gift, and sendeth him away,

6 and Jeremiah cometh in unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelleth with him, in the midst of the people who are left in the land.

7 And all the heads of the forces that [are] in the field hear, they and their men, that the king of Babylon hath appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and that he hath charged him [with] men, and women, and infants, and of the poor of the land, of those who have not been removed to Babylon;

8 and they come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, and Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maachathite, they and their men.

9 And swear to them doth Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and to their men, saying, `Be not afraid of serving the Chaldeans, abide in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it is well for you;

10 and I, lo, I am dwelling in Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who are come in unto us, and ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruit, and oil, and put in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.'

11 And also all the Jews who [are] in Moab, and among the sons of Ammon, and in Edom, and who [are] in all the lands, have heard that the king of Babylon hath given a remnant to Judah, and that he hath appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan,

12 and all the Jews from all the places whither they have been driven, turn back and enter the land of Judah, unto Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and they gather wine and summer fruit -- very much.

13 And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces that [are] in the field, have come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah,

14 and they say unto him, `Dost thou really know that Baalis king of the sons of Ammon hath sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to smite thy soul?' And Gedaliah son of Ahikam hath not given to them credence.

15 And Johanan son of Kareah hath spoken unto Gedaliah in secret, in Mizpah, saying, `Let me go, I pray thee, and I smite Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one doth know; why doth he smite thy soul? and scattered have been all Judah who are gathered unto thee, and perished hath the remnant of Judah.'

16 And Gedaliah son of Ahikam saith unto Johanan son of Kareah, `Thou dost not do this thing, for falsehood thou art speaking concerning Ishmael.'

[_LittleNipper]

Jeremiah 41:-18

In the 7th month, Nethaniah’s son Ishmael --- Elishama’s grandson, who was of a royal family and who was one of the chief officers of the king, came with 10 men to Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, at Mizpah. While they were eating a meal together,

Nethaniah’s son Ishmae,l and these 10 men got up and killed Ahikam’s son and Shaphan’s grandson named Gedaliah with swords. They murdered him because he had been appointed over the region by the king of Babylon.

Ishmael also murdered all the Judeans who had rallied around Gedaliah at Mizpah as well as the Babylonian soldiers stationed there.

The day after Gedaliah was killed, before anyone realized it,

80 men with shaved beards, torn clothes, and gashed bodies arrived from Shechem, Shiloh, and Samaria. They brought grain offerings and incense to present at the Lord’s temple.

Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, left Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he reached them, he said, “Come to Gedaliah, Ahikam’s son!”

When they arrived in the middle of the town ,Nethaniah’s son Ishmael and the men with him slaughtered them and threw their bodies into a cistern.

But there were 10 men among them who begged Ishmael, “Don’t kill us; we have wheat, barley, oil, and honey hidden in a field.” So he stopped and didn’t kill them along with the rest.

Now the cistern that Ishmael used to discard the bodies of the men he had killed because of their association with Gedaliah was the one that King Asa had made to defend against Israel’s King Baasha. Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, filled it with the bodies.

Ishmael captured the rest of the people who were at Mizpah, including the daughters of the king and all those assigned to Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, at Mizpah by Nebuzaradan the captain of the special guard. Then Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, set out to cross over to the Ammonites with the hostages.

Kareah’s son Johanan, and all the army officers at his side heard of the terrible acts committed by Nethaniah’s son Ishmael.

So they readied all their forces and went to fight him. They found Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, at the great pool in Gibeon.

When all those taken by Ishmael at Mizpah saw Kareah’s son Johanan, and all his army officers with him, they were overjoyed.

They rallied around Johanan, and returned home with him.

But Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, and 8 of his men escaped Johanan and went to the Ammonites.

Then Kareah’s son Johanan, and all the army officers with him took the small group they had rescued in Gibeon, including the soldiers, women, children, and commanding officers that Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, had captured at Mizpah after killing Ahikam’s son Gedaliah.

They set out for Egypt, stopping on the way at Geruth Chimham near Bethlehem,

because they were afraid of what the Babylonians would do when they found out that Nethaniah’s son Ishmael, had killed Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, appointed over the region by Nebuchadnezzar.


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, in the seventh month, come hath Ishmael son of Nethaniah, son of Elishama, of the seed royal, and of the chiefs of the king, and ten men with him, unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and they eat there bread together in Mizpah.

2 And Ishmael son of Nethaniah riseth, and the ten men who have been with him, and they smite Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, with the sword, and he putteth him to death whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the land.

3 And all the Jews who have been with him, with Gedaliah, in Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who have been found there -- the men of war -- hath Ishmael smitten.

4 And it cometh to pass, on the second day of the putting of Gedaliah to death, (and no one hath known,)

5 that men come in from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria -- eighty men -- with shaven beards, and rent garments, and cutting themselves, and an offering and frankincense in their hand, to bring in to the house of Jehovah.

6 And Ishmael son of Nethaniah goeth forth to meet them, from Mizpah, going on and weeping, and it cometh to pass, at meeting them, that he saith unto them, `Come in unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam.'

7 And it cometh to pass, at their coming in unto the midst of the city, that Ishmael son of Nethaniah doth slaughter them, at the midst of the pit, he and the men who [are] with him.

8 And ten men have been found among them, and they say unto Ishmael, `Do not put us to death, for we have things hidden in the field -- wheat, and barley, and oil, and honey.' And he forbeareth, and hath not put them to death in the midst of their brethren.

9 And the pit whither Ishmael hath cast all the carcases of the men whom he hath smitten along with Gedaliah, is that which the king Asa made because of Baasha king of Israel -- it hath Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled with the pierced.

10 And Ishmael taketh captive all the remnant of the people who [are] in Mizpah, the daughters of the king, and all the people who are left in Mizpah, whom Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, hath committed [to] Gedaliah son of Ahikam, and Ishmael son of Nethaniah taketh them captive, and goeth to pass over unto the sons of Ammon.

11 And hear doth Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces that [are] with him, of all the evil that Ishmael son of Nethaniah hath done,

12 and they take all the men, and go to fight with Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and they find him at the great waters that [are] in Gibeon.

13 And it cometh to pass, when all the people who [are] with Ishmael see Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces who [are] with him, that they rejoice.

14 And all the people whom Ishmael hath taken captive from Mizpah turn round, yea, they turn back, and go unto Johanan son of Kareah.

15 And Ishmael son of Nethaniah hath escaped, with eight men, from the presence of Johanan, and he goeth unto the sons of Ammon.

16 And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces who [are] with him, take all the remnant of the people whom he hath brought back from Ishmael son of Nethaniah, from Mizpah -- after he had smitten Gedaliah son of Ahikam -- mighty ones, men of war, and women, and infants, and eunuchs, whom he had brought back from Gibeon,

17 and they go and abide in the habitations of Chimham, that [are] near Beth-Lehem, to go to enter Egypt,

18 from the presence of the Chaldeans, for they have been afraid of them, for Ishmael son of Nethaniah had smitten Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the land.

[_LittleNipper]

Jeremiah 42:1-22

Then Johanan and the army captains and all the people of every standing, came to Jeremiah

and said, “Please pray for us to the Lord your God, for as you know so well, we are only a little group of survivors of what we once were.

Beg the Lord your God to show us what to do and where to go.”

“All right,” Jeremiah replied. “I will ask him and I will tell you what He replies. I will hide nothing from you.”

Then they said to Jeremiah, “May the curse of God be on us if we refuse to obey whatever He says we should do!

Whether we enjoy it or not, we will obey the Lord our God, to whom we send you with our request. For if we obey Him, everything will be positive.”

10 days later the Lord gave his reply to Jeremiah.

So Jeremiah sent for Johanan and the captains of his forces, and for all the people of every background,

and said to them: “You sent me to the Lord, the God of Israel, with your request, and this is His reply:

“Stay here in this land. If you do, I will bless you, and no one will hurt you. For I am sorry for all the punishment I have had to give you.

Don’t fear the king of Babylon anymore, for I am with you to save you and to deliver you from his control.

And I will be merciful to you by making this ruler kind so that he will not kill you or make slaves of you but will let you remain here in your country.

“But if you refuse to obey the Lord and say, ‘We will emigrate,’—and insist on heading to Egypt where you think you will be free from war and hunger and concerns,

then this is what the Lord replies, See here survivors of Judah: The Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: If you insist on going to Egypt,

the war and famine you fear will follow right behind you, and you will die there.

That is the fate awaiting every one of you who insists on going to live in Egypt. Yes, you will die from sword, famine, and disease. None of you will escape from the evil by leaving this country.

“For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Just as my anger and fury were poured out upon the people of Jerusalem, so it will be poured out on you when you arrive in Egypt. You will be despised and hated—you will be criticized. And you will never again see your own country.

For the Lord has said: Hey survivors of Judah, don't go to Egypt!”

Jeremiah summed it all up: “Never forget the warning I have given you today.

If you go, it will be at the forfeit of your lives. For you were not honest when you sent me to pray for you and said, ‘Just tell us what God says and we will do it!’

Today I have told you exactly what He said, but you will not obey any more now than you did in times past.

Therefore know for certain that you will die by sword, famine, and disease in Egypt, where you insist going.”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And they come nigh -- all the heads of the forces, and Johanan son of Kareah, and Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least even unto the greatest --

2 and they say unto Jeremiah the prophet, `Let, we pray thee, our supplication fall before thee, and pray for us unto Jehovah thy God, for all this remnant; for we have been left a few out of many, as thine eyes do see us;

3 and Jehovah thy God doth declare to us the way in which we walk, and the thing that we do.'

4 And Jeremiah the prophet saith unto them, `I have heard: lo, I am praying unto Jehovah your God according to your words, and it hath come to pass, the whole word that Jehovah answereth you, I declare to you -- I do not withhold from you a word.'

5 And they have said to Jeremiah, `Jehovah is against us for a witness true and faithful, if -- according to all the word with which Jehovah thy God doth send thee unto us -- we do not so.

6 Whether good or evil, to the voice of Jehovah our God, to whom we are sending thee, we do hearken; because it is good for us when we hearken to the voice of Jehovah our God.'

7 And it cometh to pass, at the end of ten days, that there is a word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah,

8 and he calleth unto Johanan son of Kareah, and unto all the heads of the forces that [are] with him, and to all the people, from the least even unto the greatest,

9 and he saith unto them, `Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, unto whom ye sent me, to cause your supplication to fall before Him:

10 `If ye do certainly dwell in this land, then I have builded you up, and I throw not down; and I have planted you, and I pluck not up; for I have repented concerning the evil that I have done to you.

11 Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, whom ye are afraid of; be not afraid of him -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- for with you [am] I, to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.

12 And I give to you mercies, and he hath pitied you, and caused you to turn back unto your own ground.

13 `And if ye are saying, We do not dwell in this land -- not to hearken to the voice of Jehovah your God,

14 saying, No; but the land of Egypt we enter, that we see no war, and the sound of a trumpet do not hear, and for bread be not hungry; and there do we dwell.

15 And now, therefore, hear ye a word of Jehovah, O remnant of Judah: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: If ye really set your faces to enter Egypt, and have gone in to sojourn there,

16 then it hath come to pass, the sword that ye are afraid of, doth there overtake you, in the land of Egypt; and the hunger, because of which ye are sorrowful, doth there cleave after you in Egypt, and there ye die.

17 `Thus are all the men who have set their faces to enter Egypt to sojourn there; they die -- by sword, by hunger, and by pestilence, and there is not to them a remnant and an escaped one, because of the evil that I am bringing in upon them;

18 for thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: As poured out hath been Mine anger and My fury on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so poured out is My fury upon you in your entering Egypt, and ye have been for an execration, and for an astonishment, and for a reviling, and for a reproach, and ye do not see any more this place.

19 `Jehovah hath spoken against you, O remnant of Judah, do not enter Egypt: know certainly that I have testified against you to-day;

20 for ye have shewed yourselves perverse in your souls, for ye sent me unto Jehovah your God, saying, Pray for us unto Jehovah our God, and according to all that Jehovah our God saith, so declare to us, and we have done [it];

21 and I declare to you to-day, and ye have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah your God, and to anything with which He hath sent me unto you.

22 And now, know ye certainly that by sword, by famine, and by pestilence ye die, in the place that ye have desired to go in to sojourn there.'

[_LittleNipper]

Jeremiah 43:1-13

When Jeremiah finished speaking to all the people these words of the Lord God, which the Lord God had sent Jeremiah to deliver,

Hoshaiah's son Azariah, Kareah's son Johanan, and all the proud men said to Jeremiah, “This is a lie. The Lord our God has not sent you to say, ‘Do not go into Egypt to stay there.’

But Neriah's son Baruch pits you against us to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might kill us and carry us away captives into Babylon.”

So Johanan and all the captains of the troops and all the people did not obey the voice of the Lord to remain in Judah.

Johanan and all the captains of the forces took all the survivors of Judah who had returned from the nations to wherever they had been driven to dwell within Judah,

even men, women, children, the king’s daughters, every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Ahikam's son Gedaliah, the grandson of Shaphan, including Jeremiah the prophet, and Neriah's son Baruch.

So they came into the land of Egypt because they did not obey the voice of the Lord --- entering as far as Tahpanhes.

There the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying:

Take some large stones in your hand and hide them in the clay in the brick kiln which is at the entrance of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in view of the men of Judah,

and say to them, 'So says the Lord of Hosts, God of Israel: I will send and take Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will place his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

When he arrives, he shall devastate the land of Egypt and deliver whoever is meant for death unto death, whoever is meant for captivity into captivity, and whoever is meant for the sword to the sword.

I will start a fire in the temples of the Egyptian gods and he shall burn them and carry them away captives. And he shall decorate himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd puts on his cloths, and he shall leave there tranquilly.

He shall also break the images of Heliopolis in the land of Egypt, and the temples of the Egyptian gods he shall burn.'


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it cometh to pass, when Jeremiah doth finish to speak unto all the people all the words of Jehovah their God, with which Jehovah their God hath sent him unto them -- all these words --

2 that Azariah son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan son of Kareah, and all the proud men, speak unto Jeremiah, saying, `Falsehood thou art speaking; Jehovah our God hath not sent thee to say, Do not enter Egypt to sojourn there;

3 for Baruch son of Neriah is moving thee against us, in order to give us up into the hand of the Chaldeans, to put us to death, and to remove us to Babylon.'

4 And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces, and all the people, have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, to dwell in the land of Judah;

5 and Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces, take all the remnant of Judah who have turned from all the nations whither they were driven to sojourn in the land of Judah,

6 the men, and the women, and the infant, and the daughters of the king, and every person that Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch son of Neriah,

7 and they enter the land of Egypt, for they have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and they enter unto Tahpanhes.

8 And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

9 `Take in thy hand great stones, and thou hast hidden them, in the clay, in the brick-kiln, that [is] at the opening of the house of Pharaoh in Tahpanhes, before the eyes of the men of Judah,

10 and thou hast said unto them: Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: `Lo, I am sending, and I have taken Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, My servant, and I have set his throne above these stones that I have hid, and he hath stretched out his pavilion over them,

11 and he hath come, and smitten the land of Egypt -- those who [are] for death to death, and those who [are] for captivity to captivity, and those who [are] for the sword to the sword.

12 And I have kindled a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt, and it hath burned them, and he hath taken them captive, and covered himself with the land of Egypt, as cover himself doth the shepherd with his garment, and he hath gone forth thence in peace;

13 and he hath broken the standing pillars of the house of the sun, that [is] in the land of Egypt, and the houses of the gods of Egypt he doth burn with fire.'

[Guest]

Jeremiah 44:1-30

The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the Jews which lived in Egypt ---dwelling at Migdol, Tahpanhes, and Memphis, and in the country of Pathros.

The Lord of Hosts, God of Israel says, "You have witnessed all the calamity that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah. Now they are empty, and no man dwells there,

because of their wickedness, which they accomplished provoking My anger, in that they went worshipped idols and served them, whom they didn't know; they nor you nor your fathers.

However, I sent to you all My servants the prophets, at the onset, saying, “Stop, do not do this abomination that I hate.”

But they did not listen or care to turn from their wickedness of worshipping other gods.

Therefore My fury and anger was dumped out and was kindled in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem; and they are ruined and desolate, as it is this day.

Now says the Lord God of Hosts, God of Israel: Why are you committing this great evil against your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and infant, out of Judah, leaving you no one to remain,

provoking Me to fury with the works of your hands, worshipping other gods in the land of Egypt, where you have gone to dwell, so that you think you might cut yourselves off and become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth?

Have you forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, the kings of Judah, their wives, your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, which they have committed in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?

They are not humiliated to this day, nor have they regard, nor walked in My law and My statutes that I established before you and before your fathers.

So thus says the Lord of Hosts, God of Israel: I will set My face against you for disaster, and cut off all Judah.

I will take the survivors of Judah who were determined to go into the land of Egypt to stay there, and they all will be consumed and die in the land of Egypt. They will even be consumed by the sword and by the famine. They will die, from the meager to the notable, by sword and famine; and they will be an object of intense hate, a shocker, a curse, and disapproval.

For I will punish those who dwell in Egypt, as I have punished Jerusalem; by the sword, famine, and disease.

So none of the survivors of Judah who have gone to Egypt to stay will escape or remain, with the result that they return to Judah to which they have a desire to return to dwell there. For no one shall return except those who escape.

Then all the men who knew that their wives had burned incense to other gods and all the women that stood by, a great gathering, of those people who lived in Egypt, at Pathros, answered Jeremiah, saying:

“As for what you have told us in the name of the Lord, we will not listen to you.

But we will certainly do whatever we have vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven, and to pour out drink offerings to her, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our officials, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem. For then we had plenty of food, and were well off, and saw no disaster.

But since we left off burning incense to the queen of heaven and pouring out drink offerings to her, we have been needy and have been killed by the sword and through famine.”

The women also said, “When we burned incense to the queen of heaven, and poured out drink offerings to her, did we make her cakes to worship her and pour out drink offerings to her without our husbands?”

Then Jeremiah said to all the men and women, and all the people who had given him such an answer:

“The incense offerings that you burned in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, you, your fathers, your kings, your officials, and citizenry, did not the Lord remember them and did they not come to His thoughts?

So the Lord could no longer stand the evil of your deeds and the abominations which you have committed. Therefore your land is a desolation, a shocker, and a curse, without any inhabitant, as it is presently.

Because you have worshipped and because you have sinned against the Lord and have not obeyed the Lord's words, nor walked in His law, statutes, or His testimonies --- therefore this calamity has happened to you, as it is now.”

Also Jeremiah said to all the people including women, “Hear the word of the Lord, all Judah who are in Egypt.

The Lord of Hosts, God of Israel says: You and your wives have both spoken with your mouths and carried out physically, saying, ‘We will surely perform our vows which we vowed, to burn incense to the queen of heaven and to pour out drink offerings to her.’ [Here is a verse that demonstrates GOD's abhorrence against any declaration of some heavenly queen/god wife--a Mormon tendency]

“Go ahead accomplish your vows and surely perform them!

Now hear the word of the Lord, all of Judah who dwell in Egypt: I have sworn by Myself, says the Lord, that My name shall no more be pronounced by any man of Judah in all the land of Egypt, saying, ‘As the Lord God lives.’

I will look over them for disaster and not for good. And all the men of Judah in the land of Egypt shall be consumed by the sword and by famine until there is an end of them.

Yet a tiny number who escape the sword shall leave the land of Egypt for Judah, and all the survivors of Judah who have gone into the land of Egypt to stay there will know whose words will stand, Mine or theirs.

“This will be a sign to you, says the Lord, that I will punish you here so that you may realize that My words shall surely be against you as disaster.

I will give Pharaoh Hophra of Egypt into the hand of his enemies and to those who seek his life, just as I gave Zedekiah king of Judah to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and seeking his life.”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 The word that hath been unto Jeremiah concerning all the Jews who are dwelling in the land of Egypt -- who are dwelling in Migdol, and in Tahpanhes, and in Noph, and in the land of Pathros -- saying,

2 `Thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Ye -- ye have seen all the evil that I have brought in on Jerusalem, and on all the cities of Judah, and lo, they [are] a waste this day, and there is none dwelling in them,

3 because of their wickedness that they have done, by provoking Me to anger, by going to make perfume, by serving other gods, that they knew not, they, ye, and your fathers.

4 `And I send unto you all my servants, the prophets, rising early and sending, saying: I pray you, do not this abomination that I have hated --

5 and they have not hearkened nor inclined their ear, to turn back from their wickedness, not to make perfume to other gods,

6 and poured out is My fury, and Mine anger, and it burneth in cities of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem, and they are for a waste, for a desolation, as [at] this day.

7 `And, now, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Why are ye doing great evil unto your own souls, to cut off to you man and woman, infant and suckling, from the midst of Judah, so as not to leave to you a remnant:

8 by provoking Me to anger by the works of your hands, by making perfume to other gods in the land of Egypt, whither ye are going in to sojourn, so as to cut yourselves off, and so as to your being for a reviling and for a reproach among all nations of the earth?

9 `Have ye forgotten the wickedness of your fathers, and the wickedness of the kings of Judah, and the wickedness of their wives, and your own wickedness, and the wickedness of your wives, that they have done in the land of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem?

10 They have not been humbled unto this day, nor have they been afraid, nor have they walked in My law, and in My statutes, that I have set before you and before your fathers.

11 `Therefore, thus said Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am setting my face against you for evil, even to cut off all Judah,

12 and I have taken the remnant of Judah, who have set their faces to enter the land of Egypt to sojourn there, and they have all been consumed in the land of Egypt; they fall by sword, by famine they are consumed, from the least even unto the greatest, by sword and by famine they die, and they have been for an execration, for an astonishment, and for a reviling, and for a reproach.

13 `And I have seen after those dwelling in the land of Egypt, as I saw after Jerusalem, with sword, with famine, and with pestilence,

14 and there is not an escaped and remaining one of the remnant of Judah, who are entering into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, even to turn back to the land of Judah, whither they are lifting up their soul to return to dwell, for they do not turn back, except those escaping.'

15 And they answer Jeremiah -- all the men who are knowing that their wives are making perfume to other gods, and all the women who are remaining, a great assembly, even all the people who are dwelling in the land of Egypt, in Pathros -- saying:

16 `The word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of Jehovah -- we are not hearkening unto thee;

17 for we certainly do everything that hath gone out of our mouth, to make perfume to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out to her libations, as we have done, we, and our fathers, our kings, and our heads, in cities of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem, and -- we are satisfied with bread, and we are well, and evil we have not seen.

18 `And from the time we have ceased to make perfume to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out to her libations, we have lacked all, and by sword and by famine we have been consumed,

19 and when we are making perfume to the queen of the heavens, and pouring out to her libations -- without our husbands have we made for her cakes to idolize her, and to pour out to her libations?'

20 And Jeremiah saith unto all the people, concerning the men and concerning the women, and concerning all the people who are answering him, saying:

21 `The perfume that ye made in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, ye, and your fathers, your kings, and your heads, and the people of the land, hath not Jehovah remembered it? yea, it cometh up on His heart.

22 And Jehovah is not able any more to accept [you], because of the evil of your doings, because of the abominations that ye have done, and your land is for a waste, and for an astonishment, and for a reviling, without inhabitant, as [at] this day.

23 `Because that ye have made perfume, and because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and in His law, and in His statutes, and in His testimonies ye have not walked, therefore hath this evil met you as [at] this day.'

24 And Jeremiah saith unto all the people, and unto all the women, `Hear ye a word of Jehovah, all Judah who [are] in the land of Egypt,

25 Thus spake Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel, saying: Ye and your wives both speak with your mouth, and with your hands have fulfilled, saying: We certainly execute our vows that we have vowed, to make perfume to the queen of the heavens, and to pour out to her libations, ye do certainly establish your vows, and certainly execute your vows.

26 `Therefore, hear ye a word of Jehovah, all Judah who are dwelling in the land of Egypt: Lo, I -- I have sworn by My great name, said Jehovah, My name is no more proclaimed by the mouth of any man of Judah, saying, Live doth the Lord Jehovah -- in all the land of Egypt.

27 Lo, I am watching over them for evil, and not for good, and consumed have been all the men of Judah who [are] in the land of Egypt, by sword and by famine, till their consumption.

28 `And the escaped of the sword turn back out of the land of Egypt to the land of Judah, few in number, and known have all the remnant of Judah who are coming into the land of Egypt to sojourn there, whose word is established, Mine or theirs.

29 `And this [is] to you the sign -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- that I am seeing after you in this place, so that ye know that My words are certainly established against you for evil;

30 Thus said Jehovah, Lo, I am giving Pharaoh-Hophra king of Egypt into the hand of his enemies, and into the hand of those seeking his life, as I have given Zedekiah king of Judah into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, his enemy, and who is seeking his life.'

[_LittleNipper]

Jeremiah 45:1-5

This is the message Jeremiah gave to Baruch during the 4th year of Josiah's son King Jehoiakim reign, upon Baruch having had written down all God’s messages as Jeremiah was dictating them to him:

Dear Baruch, the Lord God of Israel says this to you:

"You have said, 'Oh me oh my! Don’t I have enough troubles already? And now the Lord has heaped on more! I am weary of my own sighing and I'm restless.'

But inform Baruch, The Lord says: I will destroy this nation that I built; I will demolish.

Are you seeking greatness for yourself? DON'T! For though I will bring calamity upon all these people, I will protect you wherever you travel, as your reward."


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 The word that Jeremiah the prophet hath spoken unto Baruch son of Neriah, in his writing these words on a book from the mouth of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, saying:

2 `Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, concerning thee, O Baruch:

3 `Thou hast said, Wo to me, now, for Jehovah hath added sorrow to my pain, I have been wearied with my sighing, and rest I have not found.

4 Thus dost thou say unto him: Thus said Jehovah: Lo, that which I have built I am throwing down, and that which I have planted I am plucking up, even the whole land itself.

5 And thou -- thou seekest for thee great things -- do not seek, for lo, I am bringing in evil on all flesh -- an affirmation of Jehovah -- and I have given to thee thy life for a spoil, in all places whither thou goest.

[_LittleNipper]

Jeremiah 46:1-28

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah concerning the nations.

He spoke about Egypt and the army of Pharaoh Necho of Egypt which was encamped along the Euphrates River at Carchemish. Now this was the army that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon defeated in the 4th year that Josiah's son Jehoiakim was ruling Judah.

“Assemble with your shields ready! Prepare to march into battle!

Harness the horses to the chariots! Mount your horses! Put on your helmets and take your positions! Sharpen your spears! Put on your armor!

What do I observe?” says the Lord. “The soldiers are terrified. They retreat. They've defeated. They desert quickly without looking back.

But even the fastest cannot get away, the strongest cannot escape. There in the north by the Euphrates River they trip and fall in defeat.

Who is this that floods like the Nile, like its tributaries raging at flood stage?

Egypt floods like the Nile... Egypt says, ‘I will flood and cover the earth. I will destroy cities and the people who inhabit them.’

Go and charge into battle, you horsemen! Drive furiously, you charioteers! Let the soldiers march into battle, those from Ethiopia and Libya who carry shields, and those from Lydia who are armed with bows.

But that day belongs to the Lord God who rules over all. It is time for payback towards enemies. His sword will devour them until satisfied --- drinking their blood until full! For the Lord God who rules over all will offer them up as a sacrifice in the northern land by the Euphrates River.

Travel up to Gilead and get medicinal supplies, you people of Egypt unused to attack --- though such will prove useless no matter how much medication you use. You will not heal.

The nations will hear of your devastating defeat. Your cries of distress will reverberate across the earth. In the panic of their retreat one soldier will trip over another
and both of them will fall down defeated.”

The Lord spoke to the prophet Jeremiah concerning Nebuchadnezzar's approaching attack against Egypt.

“Announce throughout Egypt --- in Migdol, Memphis, and Tahpanhes: ‘Take your positions and prepare for battle. The enemy army is destroying all the surrounding nations.’

Why will your soldiers be defeated? They will not stand because I, the Lord, will crush them.

I will cause many to stumble. They will fall over one another in their hurry to flee.
They will say, ‘Get up! Let’s return to our own -- back to our homelands because the enemy is coming to destroy us.’

Back at the home front they will say, ‘The Pharaoh king of Egypt is worthless! He has let the most opportune moment escape.’

I the King, the Lord who rules over all, swear this: I swear as surely as I live that a conqueror is coming. He will be as imposing as Mount Tabor is in its mountain range, as Mount Carmel is against the backdrop of the Mediterranean.

Pack your bags for exile, you inhabitants of poor Egypt. For Memphis will be laid waste. It will lie in ruins and be uninhabited.

Egypt is like a beautiful young calf. But northern armies will swarm around her.

Even her mercenaries will prove to be like pampered, well-fed calves. For they too will turn and run away. They will not stand their ground when the time for them to be destroyed and punished.

Egypt will run away, hissing like an asp, as the enemy comes marching up in force. They will come against her with axes as if they were woodsmen felling trees.

The population of Egypt is like a vast, impenetrable forest. But I, the Lord, affirm that the enemy will cut them down. For those who chop them down will be more numerous than locusts -- uncountable.

Poor Egypt will be shamed. She will be given to the people of the north.”

The Lord God of Israel who rules over all says, “I will punish Amon, the god of Thebes. I will punish Egypt, its gods, and kings. I will punish Pharaoh and all who trust in him.

I will hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar and his troops, who want to kill them. But later on, people will live in Egypt again as they did once. I, the Lord, affirm it!”

“You descendants of Jacob, my servants, do not be afraid or terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from the foreign lands where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be safe and no one will terrify them.

I, the Lord, tell you to fear not, you descendants of Jacob, my servant -- I am with you. Though I devastate all the nations where I scatter you, I will not completely destroy you. I will discipline you but only in due measure. You will not to go entirely unpunished.”


Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 That which hath been the word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah the prophet concerning the nations,

2 For Egypt, concerning the force of Pharaoh-Necho king of Egypt, that hath been by the river Phrat, in Carchemish, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath smitten, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

3 `Set ye in array shield and buckler, And draw nigh to battle.

4 Gird the horses, and go up, ye horsemen, And station yourselves with helmets, Polish the javelins, put on the coats of mail.

5 Wherefore have I seen them dismayed -- They are turned backward, And their mighty ones are beaten down, And [to] a refuge they have fled, and not turned the face? Fear [is] round about -- an affirmation of Jehovah.

6 The swift do not flee, nor do the mighty escape, Northward, by the side of the river Phrat, They have stumbled and fallen.

7 Who is this? as a flood he cometh up, As rivers do his waters shake themselves!

8 Egypt, as a flood cometh up, And as rivers the waters shake themselves. And he saith, I go up; I cover the land, I destroy the city and the inhabitants in it.

9 Go up, ye horses; and boast yourselves, ye chariots, And go forth, ye mighty, Cush and Phut handling the shield, And Lud handling -- treading the bow.

10 And that day [is] to the Lord Jehovah of Hosts A day of vengeance, To be avenged of His adversaries, And the sword hath devoured, and been satisfied, And it hath been watered from their blood, For a sacrifice [is] to the Lord Jehovah of Hosts, In the land of the north, by the river Phrat.

11 Go up to Gilead, and take balm, O virgin daughter of Egypt, In vain thou hast multiplied medicines, Healing there is none for thee.

12 Nations have heard of thy shame, And thy cry hath filled the land, For the mighty on the mighty did stumble, Together they have fallen -- both of them!'

13 The word that Jehovah hath spoken unto Jeremiah the prophet concerning the coming in of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, to smite the land of Egypt:

14 `Declare ye in Egypt, and sound in Migdol, Yea, sound in Noph, and in Tahpanhes say: Station thyself, yea, prepare for thee, For a sword hath devoured around thee,

15 Wherefore hath thy bull been swept away? He hath not stood, because Jehovah thrust him away.

16 He hath multiplied the stumbling, Yea one hath fallen upon his neighbour, And they say: Rise, and we turn back to our people, And unto the land of our birth, Because of the oppressing sword.

17 They have cried there: Pharaoh king of Egypt [is] a desolation, Passed by hath the appointed time.

18 I live -- an affirmation of the King, Jehovah of Hosts [is] His name, Surely as Tabor [is] among mountains, And as Carmel by the sea -- he cometh in,

19 Goods for removal make for thee, O inhabitant, daughter of Egypt, For Noph becometh a desolation, And hath been burnt up, without inhabitant.

20 A heifer very fair [is] Egypt, Rending from the north doth come into her.

21 Even her hired ones in her midst [are] as calves of the stall, For even they have turned, They have fled together, they have not stood, For the day of their calamity hath come on them, The time of their inspection.

22 Its voice as a serpent goeth on, For with a force they go, And with axes they have come in to her, As hewers of trees.

23 They have cut down her forest, An affirmation of Jehovah -- for it is not searched, For they have been more than the grasshopper, And they have no numbering.

24 Ashamed hath been the daughter of Egypt, She hath been given into the hand of the people of the north.

25 Said hath Jehovah of Hosts, God of Israel: Lo, I am seeing after Amon of No, And after Pharaoh, and after Egypt, And after her gods, and after her kings, And after Pharaoh, and after those trusting in him,

26 And I have given them into the hand of those seeking their life, And into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, And into the hand of his servants, And afterwards it is inhabited, As [in] days of old -- an affirmation of Jehovah.

27 And thou, thou dost not fear, my servant Jacob, Nor [art] thou dismayed, O Israel, For lo, I am saving thee from afar, And thy seed from the land of their captivity, And Jacob hath turned back, And hath been at rest, and been at ease, And there is none disturbing.

28 Thou, thou dost not fear, My servant Jacob, An affirmation of Jehovah -- for with thee I [am], For I make an end of all the nations Whither I have driven thee, And of thee I do not make an end, And I have reproved thee in judgment, And do not entirely acquit thee!'

[_Chap]

Gosh, is he still at it?

[_spotlight]

Gosh, is he still at it?

Well he may get carpal tunnel but that is better than the dire consequences of what will happen if his hand and wrist become the idle tools of the devil.