Jeremiah 34

1 This is ^{a34:1 The Heb. lacks This is} the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD while king Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, all his army, all the kingdoms of the earth that were under his authority, along with all the people were fighting against Jerusalem and all its towns:ISV — Jeremiah 34:1

2 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘Go and speak to king Zedekiah of Judah. Say to him, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Look, I’m giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will set it on fire.ISV — Jeremiah 34:2

3 You won’t escape from him. You will certainly be captured and given into his control. ^{b34:3 Lit. hand} You will see the king of Babylon eye to eye, he will speak to you face to face, and you will go to Babylon.’”’ISV — Jeremiah 34:3

4 Yet, hear this message from the LORD, king Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the LORD says to you, ‘You won’t die by the sword.ISV — Jeremiah 34:4

5 You will die peacefully, and as they burned fires ^{c34:5 i.e. a memorial fire} for your ancestors, ^{d34:5 Lit. like the burning for your ancestors} the former kings who were before you, so they’ll burn fires ^{e34:5 The Heb. lacks fires} for you, wailing, “Oh how terrible, your majesty!”’ For I’ve spoken the message,” declares the LORD.ISV — Jeremiah 34:5

6 Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke all of this in Jerusalem to king Zedekiah of Judah,ISV — Jeremiah 34:6

7 while the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, namely Lachish and Azekah. (They were the only fortified cities that remained among the cities of Judah.)ISV — Jeremiah 34:7

8 This is ^{f34:8 The Heb. lacks This is} this message from the LORD that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem proclaiming release for them.ISV — Jeremiah 34:8

9 Each person was to set free his male and female slaves who were Hebrews, so that no Jewish person would enslave his brother. ^{g34:9 i.e. another Jewish person}ISV — Jeremiah 34:9

10 All the officials and all the people who had entered into the covenant agreed ^{h34:10 Or obeyed} that each would set his male and female slaves free so that they ^{i34:10 Lit. he} would not enslave them any longer. They obeyed and they released them.ISV — Jeremiah 34:10

11 But afterward they turned around and took back the male and female slaves that they had set free, and they forced them to become male and female slaves.ISV — Jeremiah 34:11

12 Then this message from the LORD came to Jeremiah from the LORD:ISV — Jeremiah 34:12

13 “This is what the LORD God of Israel says: ‘I made a covenant with your ancestors on the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. I told them:ISV — Jeremiah 34:13

14 “At the end of seven years, each of you is to set free your fellow Hebrew who has sold himself to you and has served you for six years. You are to send him out from you with no further obligation.” But your ancestors didn’t obey me or pay attention. ^{j34:14 Lit. incline their ears}ISV — Jeremiah 34:14

15 You recently repented and did what was right in my eyes by proclaiming release for one another, and you made a covenant before me in the house that is called by my name.ISV — Jeremiah 34:15

16 But then you turned around and profaned my name when each of you took back his male and female slaves whom you had set free according to their desire, and you forced them to become male and female slaves.”’ISV — Jeremiah 34:16

17 “Therefore, this is what the LORD says: ‘You haven’t obeyed me by each of you proclaiming a release for your brothers and neighbors. Now I’m going to proclaim a release for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘a release ^{k34:17 The Heb. lacks a release} to the sword, to plague, and to famine, and I’ll make you a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms of the earth.ISV — Jeremiah 34:17

18 I’ll give over the men who transgressed my covenant, who haven’t fulfilled the terms of the covenant that they made before me when they cut the calf in two and passed between its parts—ISV — Jeremiah 34:18

19 the officials of Judah, the officials of Jerusalem, the eunuchs, ^{l34:19 Or palace officials} the priests, and all the people of the land who passed between the parts of the calf.ISV — Jeremiah 34:19

20 I’ll give them to their enemies who are seeking to kill them, and their dead bodies will be food for the birds of the sky and the animals of the land.ISV — Jeremiah 34:20

21 I’ll give Zedekiah, king of Judah, and his officials into the domination of their enemies, to those ^{m34:21 Lit. to the hands of those} who are seeking to kill them, and to ^{n34:21 Lit. to the hands of the} the army of the king of Babylon that is coming against them.ISV — Jeremiah 34:21

22 Look, I’m in command of them,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I’ll bring them back to this city. They’ll capture it and burn it with fire, and I’ll turn the towns of Judah into desolate places without inhabitants.’”ISV — Jeremiah 34:22