Jeremiah 39 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his entire army and laid siege to it.

In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, on the ninth day of the fourth month, the city wall was breached.

Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came in and took their seats at the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer, Samgar-nebo, Sarsechim the chief officer, Nergal-sharezer the high-ranking official, and all the rest of the king of Babylon's officials.

When Zedekiah king of Judah and all his soldiers saw them, they fled. They left the city at night through the king's garden, going out by the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Jordan Valley.

But the Babylonian army chased after them and caught Zedekiah on the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the territory of Hamath, where Nebuchadnezzar pronounced sentence on him.

There at Riblah, the king of Babylon slaughtered Zedekiah's sons right in front of him. He also slaughtered all the leading men of Judah.

Then he put out Zedekiah's eyes, bound him in bronze chains, and took him to Babylon.

The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people, and they tore down the walls of Jerusalem.

Nebuzaradan, the commander of the imperial guard, deported to Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city, along with those who had deserted to him, and everyone else who was left.

But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poorest people, who owned nothing. He gave them vineyards and fields that same day.

Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given specific orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the commander of the imperial guard:

"Find him, look after him, and don't harm him in any way. Whatever he asks for, do it for him."

So Nebuzaradan the commander of the imperial guard, along with Nebushazban the chief officer, Nergal-sharezer the high-ranking official, and all the other senior officers of the king of Babylon —

they sent for Jeremiah and had him taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They handed him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him home. And so he stayed among the people.

While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, a message from Yahweh had come to him:

"Go and tell Ebed-melek the Cushite: This is what Yahweh, Commander of Armies, the God of Israel says — Pay attention: I am about to bring my words against this city into reality — for disaster, not for good. And when that day comes, you will see it happen right in front of you.

But I will rescue you on that day — this is Yahweh's declaration. You will not be handed over to the men you are afraid of.

I will certainly save your life. You will not be killed, because you put your trust in me — this is Yahweh's declaration."