Jeremiah Chapter 21
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
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But if ye will not hearken unto me to hallow the sabbath day, and not to bear a burden and enter in at the gates of Jerusalem on the sabbath day; then will I kindle a fire in the gates thereof, and it shall devour the palaces of Jerusalem, and it shall not be quenched.
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The word which came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
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Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.
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Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he was making a work on the wheels.
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And when the vessel that he made of the clay was marred in the hand of the potter, he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
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Then the word of Jehovah came to me, saying,
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O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith Jehovah. Behold, as the clay in the potter’s hand, so are ye in my hand, O house of Israel.
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At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up and to break down and to destroy it;
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if that nation, concerning which I have spoken, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
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And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;
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if they do that which is evil in my sight, that they obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
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Now therefore, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and amend your ways and your doings.
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But they say, It is in vain; for we will walk after our own devices, and we will do every one after the stubbornness of his evil heart.
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Therefore thus saith Jehovah: Ask ye now among the nations, who hath heard such things; the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
The word that came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, when king Zedekiah sent unto him Pashur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
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Inquire, I pray thee, of Jehovah for us; for Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon maketh war against us; if so be that Jehovah will deal with us according to all his marvellous works, that he may go up from us.
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And Jeremiah said unto them, Thus shall ye say to Zedekiah:
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Thus saith Jehovah theGod of Israel: Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which ye fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you, outside the walls, and I will assemble them into the midst of this city.
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And I myself will fight against you with a stretched-out hand, and with a strong arm, and in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath.
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And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
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And afterwards, saith Jehovah, I will give Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life, and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword: he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
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And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
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He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence; but he that goeth out, and deserteth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
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For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith Jehovah: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
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And touching the house of the king of Judah, hear ye the word of Jehovah.
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House of David, thus saith Jehovah: Judge with justice in the morning, and deliver him that is spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my fury go forth like fire and burn, and there be none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
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Behold, I am against thee, inhabitress of the valley, the rock of the plain, saith Jehovah; ye that say, Who shall come down against us, or who shall enter into our dwellings?
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And I will visit you according to the fruit of your doings, saith Jehovah; and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it shall devour all that is round about her.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
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The Word that came from the Lord to Jeremias, when King Sedekias sent to him Paschor the Son of Melchias, and Sophonias Son of Basæas, the Priest, saying,
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Enquire of the Lord for us; for the king of Babylon has risen up against us; if the Lord will do according to all his wonderful works, and [the king] shall depart from us.
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And Jeremias said to them, Thus shall ye say to Sedekias king of Juda,
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Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I [will] turn back the weapons of war wherewith ye fight against the Chaldeans that have besieged you from outside the wall, and I will gather them into the midst of this city.
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And I will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, with wrath and great anger.
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And I will smite all the dwellers in this city, [both] men and cattle, with grievous pestilence: and they shall die.
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And after this, thus saith the Lord; I will give Sedekias king of Juda, and his servants, and the people that is left in this city from the pestilence, and from the famine, and from the sword, into the hands of their enemies, that seek their lives: and they shall cut them in pieces with the edge of the sword: I will not spare them, and I will not have compassion upon them.
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And thou shalt say to this people, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I have set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
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He that remains in this city shall die by the sword, and by famine: but he that goes forth to advance to the Chaldeans that have besieged you, shall live, and his life shall be to him for a spoil, and he shall live.
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For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good: it shall be delivered into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he shall consume it with fire.
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O house of the king of Juda, hear ye the word of the Lord.
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O house of David, thus saith the Lord; Judge judgment in the morning, and act rightly, and rescue the spoiled one from the hand of him that wrongs him, lest mine anger be kindled like fire, and it burn, and there be none to quench [it].
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Behold, I am against thee that dwellest in the valley of Sor; in the plain country, [even against] them that say, Who shall alarm us? or who shall enter into our habitation?
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And I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, and it shall devour all things round about it.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Verbum, quod factum est ad Ieremiam a Domino, quando misit ad eum rex Sedecias Phassur filium Melchiæ, et Sophoniam filium Maasiæ sacerdotem, dicens:
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Interroga pro nobis Dominum, quia Nabuchodonosor rex Babylonis præliatur adversum nos: si forte faciat Dominus nobiscum secundum omnia mirabilia sua, et recedat a nobis.
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Et dixit Ieremias ad eos: Sic dicetis Sedeciæ:
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Hæc dicit Dominus Deus Israel: Ecce ego convertam vasa belli, quæ in manibus vestris sunt, et quibus vos pugnatis adversum regem Babylonis, et Chaldæos, qui obsident vos in circuitu murorum: et congregabo ea in medio civitatis huius.
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Et debellabo ego vos in manu extenta, et in brachio forti, et in furore, et in indignatione, et in ira grandi.
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Et percutiam habitatores civitatis huius, homines et bestiæ pestilentia magna morientur.
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Et post hæc ait Dominus: dabo Sedeciam regem Iuda, et servos eius, et populum eius, et qui derelicti sunt in civitate hac a peste et gladio, et fame, in manu Nabuchodonosor regis Babylonis, et in manu inimicorum eorum, et in manu quærentium animam eorum, et percutiet eos in ore gladii, et non flectetur, neque parcet, nec miserebitur.
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Et ad populum hunc dices: Hæc dicit Dominus: Ecce ego do coram vobis viam vitæ, et viam mortis.
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Qui habitaverit in urbe hac, morietur gladio, et fame, et peste: qui autem egressus fuerit, et transfugerit ad Chaldæos, qui obsident vos, vivet, et erit ei anima sua, quasi spolium.
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Posui enim faciem meam super civitatem hanc in malum, et non in bonum, ait Dominus: in manu regis Babylonis dabitur, et exuret eam igni.
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Et domui regis Iuda: Audite verba Domini,
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domus David, hæc dicit Dominus: Iudicate mane iudicium, et eruite vi oppressum de manu calumniantis: ne forte egrediatur ut ignis indignatio mea, et succendatur, et non sit qui extinguat propter malitiam studiorum vestrorum.
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Ecce ego ad te habitatricem vallis solidæ atque campestris, ait Dominus: qui dicitis: Quis percutiet nos? et quis ingredietur domos nostras?
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Et visitabo super vos iuxta fructum studiorum vestrorum, dicit Dominus: et succendam ignem in saltu eius: et devorabit omnia in circuitu eius.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, when King Zedekiah sent to him Pashhur the son of Malchijah, and Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, saying,
2
“Please inquire of the LORD for us; for Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon makes war against us. Perhaps the LORD will deal with us according to all his wondrous works, that he may withdraw from us.”
3
Then Jeremiah said to them, “Tell Zedekiah:
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‘The LORD, the God of Israel says, “Behold, I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hands, with which you fight against the king of Babylon, and against the Chaldeans who besiege you outside the walls; and I will gather them into the middle of this city.
5
I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and with a strong arm, even in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation.
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I will strike the inhabitants of this city, both man and animal. They will die of a great pestilence.
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Afterward,” says the LORD, “I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, his servants, and the people, even those who are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those who seek their life. He will strike them with the edge of the sword. He will not spare them, have pity, or have mercy.”’
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“You shall say to this people, ‘The LORD says: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
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He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence, but he who goes out and passes over to the Chaldeans who besiege you, he will live, and he will escape with his life.
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For I have set my face on this city for evil, and not for good,” says the LORD. “It will be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.”’
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“Concerning the house of the king of Judah, hear the LORD’s word:
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House of David, the LORD says, ‘Execute justice in the morning, and deliver him who is robbed out of the hand of the oppressor, lest my wrath go out like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.
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Behold, I am against you, O inhabitant of the valley, and of the rock of the plain,’ says the LORD. ‘You that say, “Who would come down against us?” or, “Who would enter into our homes?”
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I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings,’ says the LORD; ‘and I will kindle a fire in her forest, and it will devour all that is around her.’”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
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The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, in the king Zedekiah's sending unto him Pashhur son of Malchiah, and Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, saying,
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`Inquire, we pray thee, for us at Jehovah, for Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon hath fought against us; perhaps Jehovah doth deal with us according to all His wonders, and doth cause him to go up from off us.'
3
And Jeremiah saith unto them, `Thus do ye say unto Zedekiah,
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Thus said Jehovah, God of Israel: Lo, I am turning round the weapons of battle That <FI>are<Fi> in your hand, With which ye do fight the king of Babylon, And the Chaldeans, who are laying siege against you, At the outside of the wall, And I have gathered them into the midst of this city,
5
And I--I have fought against you, With a stretched-out hand, and with a strong arm, And in anger, and in fury, and in great wrath,
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And I have smitten the inhabitants of this city, Both man and beast, By a great pestilence do they die.
7
And after this--an affirmation of Jehovah, I give Zedekiah king of Judah, And his servants, and the people, And those left in this city, From the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, Into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, And into the hand of their enemies, And into the hand of those seeking their life, And he hath smitten them by the mouth of the sword, He hath no pity on them, Nor doth he spare, nor hath he mercy.
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And unto this people thou dost say, Thus said Jehovah: Lo, I am setting before you the way of life, And the way of death!
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Whoso is abiding in this city--dieth, By sword, and by famine, and by pestilence, And whoso is going forth, And hath fallen unto the Chaldeans, Who are laying siege against you--liveth, And his life hath been to him for a spoil.
10
For I have set My face against this city for evil, And not for good--an affirmation of Jehovah. Into the hand of the king of Babylon it is given, And he hath burned it with fire.
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And as to the house of the king of Judah, Hear ye a word of Jehovah;
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O house of David, thus said Jehovah: Decide ye judgment at morning, And deliver the plundered from the hand of the oppressor, Lest My fury go forth as fire, And hath burned, and none is quenching, Because of the evil of your doings.
13
Lo, I <FI>am<Fi> against thee--an affirmation of Jehovah, O inhabitant of the valley, rock of the plain, Who are saying, Who cometh down against us? And who cometh into our habitations?
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And I have laid a charge against you, According to the fruit of your doings, An affirmation of Jehovah, And I have kindled a fire in its forest, And it hath consumed--all its suburbs!
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).