Jeremiah 21 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

This is the message that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh when King Zedekiah sent Pashhur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to him, saying,

"Please ask Yahweh on our behalf, because Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon is waging war against us. Maybe Yahweh will do something amazing for us, like all the incredible things he's done before, and make him pull back from us."

But Jeremiah told them, "Go back and tell Zedekiah this:"

"This is what Yahweh, the God of Israel, says: I'm about to turn the weapons in your hands against you — the ones you're using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians besieging you outside the walls — and I will gather them all into the center of this city."

"And I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a powerful arm, with fury, rage, and overwhelming anger."

"I will strike down everyone living in this city — both people and animals. They will die from a terrible plague."

"After that — this is Yahweh's declaration — I will hand over Zedekiah king of Judah, along with his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague, the war, and the famine, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, to their enemies, and to those who want them dead. He will cut them down with the sword. He won't feel sorry for them, he won't spare them, and he won't show them any mercy."

"And to the people of this city, say: This is what Yahweh says — Look, I'm putting two paths in front of you: the path that leads to life, and the path that leads to death."

"Anyone who stays in this city will die — by the sword, by famine, or by plague. But anyone who leaves and surrenders to the Babylonians besieging you will live. They'll escape with their life and nothing else."

"Because I have set my face against this city to bring disaster, not good — this is Yahweh's declaration. It will be handed over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it to the ground."

"And to the royal family of Judah, say: Listen to what Yahweh has to say!"

"Family of David — this is what Yahweh says: Administer justice every morning! Rescue people who are being exploited from those who are exploiting them. Otherwise, my fury will break out like fire and burn with no one able to put it out — because of the evil things you've been doing."

"Look — I'm against you, you who sit above the valley, you rock of the plain — this is Yahweh's declaration. You who say, 'Who could possibly come down against us? Who could break into our strongholds?'"

"I will punish you exactly as your actions deserve — this is Yahweh's declaration. I will set fire to her forests, and it will devour everything around her."