Jeremiah 26

1. In the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the LORD, saying,

2. “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand in the court of the LORD’S house and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the LORD’S house, all the words that I command you to speak to them; do not keep back a word.

3. It may be that they will hearken, and each man turn from his evil way, that I may repent of the evil which I plan to do to them because of the evil of their doings.’

4. And you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD, “If you will not hearken to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you,

5. To hearken to the words of My servants the prophets whom I have been sending to you again and again, but you have not hearkened;

6. Then I will make this house like Shiloh, and will make this city a curse to all the nations of the earth.” ’ ”

7. So the priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD.

8. Now it came to pass when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people took him, saying, “You shall surely die!

9. Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, ‘This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be wasted, without inhabitant’?” And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

10. When the rulers of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king’s house to the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD’S house.

11. And the priests and the prophets spoke to the rulers and to all the people, saying, “Let a death sentence be for this man, for he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.”

12. Then Jeremiah spoke to all the rulers and to all the people, saying, “The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words that you have heard.

13. Therefore now make your ways and your doings good, and obey the voice of the LORD your God. And the LORD will repent of the evil that He has pronounced against you.

14. As for me, behold, I am in your hand. Do with me as seems good and right in your eyes.

15. But know for certain that if you put me to death you shall surely bring innocent blood on yourselves, and on this city, and on its inhabitants. For truly the LORD has sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”

16. Then the rulers and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “This man is not worthy to die; for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God.”

17. Then some of the elders of the land rose up and spoke to all the assembly of the people, saying,

18. “Micah the Morasthite prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and spoke to all the people of Judah, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, “Zion shall be plowed like a field, and Jerusalem shall become heaps, and the mountain of the house like the high places of a forest.” ’

19. Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah indeed put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD, and pray to the LORD, and the LORD repented of the evil which He had spoken against them? Thus we might bring great evil against ourselves.”

20. And there was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD, Urijah the son of Shemaiah of Kirjath Jearim, who prophesied against this city and against this land according to all the words of Jeremiah.

21. And when Jehoiakim the king, with all his mighty men, and all the rulers, heard his words, the king tried to put him to death. But when Urijah heard it, he was afraid, and fled and went into Egypt.

22. And Jehoiakim the king sent men into Egypt; Elnathan the son of Achbor, and men with him into Egypt.

23. And they brought Urijah out of Egypt and brought him to Jehoiakim the king, who killed him with the sword and threw his dead body into the graves of the common people.

24. But the hand of Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, that they should not give him into the hand of the people to put him to death.