Jeremiah 26 — Septuagint (LXX)

At the beginning of the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the LORD:

This is what the LORD says: Stand in the courtyard of the house of the LORD and speak to all the people of the cities of Judah who come to worship in the house of the LORD — all the words I have commanded you to speak to them. Do not hold back a single word.

Perhaps they will listen and each turn back from his evil way, and I will relent of the disaster I am planning to bring on them because of the wickedness of their deeds.

Say to them: This is what the LORD says — If you will not listen to me by walking in my instruction that I have set before you,

and by heeding the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you persistently — though you have not listened —

then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse among all the nations of the earth.

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

When Jeremiah had finished speaking everything the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You must die!"

"Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, 'This house will become like Shiloh, and this city will be desolate, without inhabitant'?" And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

When the officials of Judah heard about these events, they came up from the royal palace to the house of the LORD and took their seats at the entrance of the New Gate of the LORD's house.

The priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, "This man deserves the death sentence, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears."

Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: "The LORD sent me to prophesy against this house and against this city all the words you have heard.

Now therefore, reform your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will relent of the disaster he has pronounced against you.

As for me — I am in your hands. Do with me whatever you consider right and just.

But know this with certainty: if you put me to death, you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing."

Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, "This man does not deserve the death sentence, for he has spoken to us in the name of the LORD our God."

Then some of the elders of the land stood up and addressed the whole assembly of the people:

"Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah and said to all the people of Judah: This is what the LORD of Hosts says — Zion will be plowed like a field, Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble, and the temple mount will become a wooded ridge."

Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and seek the favor of the LORD, so that the LORD relented of the disaster he had pronounced against them? But we are about to bring great disaster on ourselves!

There was also a man who prophesied in the name of the LORD — Uriah son of Shemaiah, from Kiriath-jearim — who prophesied against this city and this land in words just like Jeremiah's.

When King Jehoiakim and all his warriors and all the officials heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and was afraid, and he fled to Egypt.

King Jehoiakim sent men to Egypt — Elnathan son of Achbor and men with him — to Egypt.

They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who struck him down with the sword and threw his body into the burial ground of the common people.

But the hand of Ahikam son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah, so that he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.