所以要发预言说，主耶和华如此说：因为敌人使你荒凉，四围吞吃，好叫你归与其余的外邦人为业，并且多嘴多舌的人提起你来，百姓也说你有臭名。

所以你要预言，说：主耶和华如此说：因为敌人使你荒凉，四围践踏你，要叫你归其余的列国为业，使你们成为各族的话柄与百姓的笑谈；

所以你要预言，说：主耶和华如此说：因为敌人使你荒凉，四围践踏你，要叫你归其余的列国为业，使你们成为各族的话柄与百姓的笑谈；

所以你要发预言，宣告主耶和华这样说，‘你们被蹂躏、掠夺，归了列国所有，成了外族人的话柄和笑谈。

所以你要说预言：主耶和华这样说：因为敌人使你们荒凉，四围践踏你们，好使你们归给列国中余剩的人为业，成为人们提说和嘲笑的对象，

所以要發預言說，主耶和華如此說：因為敵人使你荒涼，四圍吞吃，好叫你歸與其餘的外邦人為業，並且多嘴多舌的人提起你來，百姓也說你有臭名。

所以你要預言，說：主耶和華如此說：因為敵人使你荒涼，四圍踐踏你，要叫你歸其餘的列國為業，使你們成為各族的話柄與百姓的笑談；

所以你要預言，說：主耶和華如此說：因為敵人使你荒涼，四圍踐踏你，要叫你歸其餘的列國為業，使你們成為各族的話柄與百姓的笑談；

所以你要發預言，宣告主耶和華這樣說，『你們被蹂躪、掠奪，歸了列國所有，成了外族人的話柄和笑談。

所以你要說預言：主耶和華這樣說：因為敵人使你們荒涼，四圍踐踏你們，好使你們歸給列國中餘剩的人為業，成為人們提說和嘲笑的對象，

所以你要傳神言說：主永恆主這麼說：因為敵人真地使你們淒涼，四圍蹂躪你們，要使你們歸於其餘的外國人為業，被鼓舌傷人者的嘴和暴民的讒誹所取笑；

故爾當預言曰、主耶和華云、敵人使爾荒涼、四周吞噬、俾為列國遺民之業、為喋喋者談論、被人毀謗、

爾當以我言告之云、主耶和華曰、敵縱橫噬、使山荒寂、為他邦之人所得、虛誕之徒、播其流言、

故爾當預言曰、主天主如是云、爾四周之敵、使爾荒蕪、使爾荒蕪或作毀滅爾吞噬爾、致爾為未滅未滅原文作所餘下同之異邦人所得、又為人所談論、所譏刺、

Therefore prophesy and say,‘ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Because they ravaged and crushed you from every side so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations and the object of people’s malicious talk and slander,

Ezekiel, prophesy. Say,‘ The Lord and King says,“ Your enemies destroyed you. They crushed you from every side. So the rest of the nations took over your land. People talked about you. They told lies about you.” ’ ”

therefore prophesy, and say, Thus says the Lord God: Precisely because they made you desolate and crushed you from all sides, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you became the talk and evil gossip of the people,

Therefore, son of man, give the mountains of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: Your enemies have attacked you from all directions, making you the property of many nations and the object of much mocking and slander.

therefore, prophesy and say,‘ This is what the Lord GOD says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people’s gossip and slander,

therefore prophesy and say,‘ This is what the Lord God says:“ For good reason they have made you desolate and harassed you from every side, so that you would become a possession of the rest of the nations; and you have been taken up in the talk and the rumor of the people.” ’ ”

therefore prophesy, and say,‘ Thus says the Lord GOD:“ Because they made you desolate and swallowed you up on every side, so that you became the possession of the rest of the nations, and you are taken up by the lips of talkers and slandered by the people”—

therefore prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the nations, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people;

therefore, prophesy and say: This is what the Lord God says: Because they have made you desolate and have trampled you from every side, so that you became a possession for the rest of the nations and an object of people’s gossip and slander,

Therefore prophesy and say, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Because they have made[ you] desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that ye might be a possession unto the residue of the heathen, and ye are taken up in the lips of talkers, and[ are] an infamy of the people:

So prophesy and say:‘ This is what the sovereign LORD says: Surely because they have made you desolate and crushed you from all directions, so that you have become the property of the rest of the nations, and have become the subject of gossip and slander among the people,

therefore prophesy, and say,‘ The Lord Yahweh says:“ Because, even because they have made you desolate, and swallowed you up on every side, that you might be a possession to the residue of the nations, and you are taken up in the lips of talkers, and the evil report of the people;”

You have made us a reproach to our neighbors, the scorn and derision of those around us.You have made us a byword among the nations; the peoples shake their heads at us. (niv)

All who pass your way clap their hands at you; they scoff and shake their heads at Daughter Jerusalem:“ Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of the whole earth?”All your enemies open their mouths wide against you; they scoff and gnash their teeth and say,“ We have swallowed her up. This is the day we have waited for; we have lived to see it.” (niv)

Their land will be an object of horror and of lasting scorn; all who pass by will be appalled and will shake their heads. (niv)

then I will cut off Israel from the land I have given them and will reject this temple I have consecrated for my Name. Israel will then become a byword and an object of ridicule among all peoples.This temple will become a heap of rubble. All who pass by will be appalled and will scoff and say,‘ Why has the Lord done such a thing to this land and to this temple?’ (niv)

Do not let them think,“ Aha, just what we wanted!” or say,“ We have swallowed him up.” (niv)

In the seventh month Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was of royal blood and had been one of the king’s officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. While they were eating together there,Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him got up and struck down Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, with the sword, killing the one whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land.Ishmael also killed all the men of Judah who were with Gedaliah at Mizpah, as well as the Babylonian soldiers who were there.The day after Gedaliah’s assassination, before anyone knew about it,eighty men who had shaved off their beards, torn their clothes and cut themselves came from Shechem, Shiloh and Samaria, bringing grain offerings and incense with them to the house of the Lord.Ishmael son of Nethaniah went out from Mizpah to meet them, weeping as he went. When he met them, he said,“ Come to Gedaliah son of Ahikam.”When they went into the city, Ishmael son of Nethaniah and the men who were with him slaughtered them and threw them into a cistern.But ten of them said to Ishmael,“ Don’t kill us! We have wheat and barley, olive oil and honey, hidden in a field.” So he let them alone and did not kill them with the others.Now the cistern where he threw all the bodies of the men he had killed along with Gedaliah was the one King Asa had made as part of his defense against Baasha king of Israel. Ishmael son of Nethaniah filled it with the dead.Ishmael made captives of all the rest of the people who were in Mizpah— the king’s daughters along with all the others who were left there, over whom Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam. Ishmael son of Nethaniah took them captive and set out to cross over to the Ammonites.When Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him heard about all the crimes Ishmael son of Nethaniah had committed,they took all their men and went to fight Ishmael son of Nethaniah. They caught up with him near the great pool in Gibeon.When all the people Ishmael had with him saw Johanan son of Kareah and the army officers who were with him, they were glad.All the people Ishmael had taken captive at Mizpah turned and went over to Johanan son of Kareah.But Ishmael son of Nethaniah and eight of his men escaped from Johanan and fled to the Ammonites.Then Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers who were with him led away all the people of Mizpah who had survived, whom Johanan had recovered from Ishmael son of Nethaniah after Ishmael had assassinated Gedaliah son of Ahikam— the soldiers, women, children and court officials he had recovered from Gibeon.And they went on, stopping at Geruth Kimham near Bethlehem on their way to Egyptto escape the Babylonians. They were afraid of them because Ishmael son of Nethaniah had killed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, whom the king of Babylon had appointed as governor over the land. (niv)

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their headsand saying,“ You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.“ He saved others,” they said,“ but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him.He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said,‘ I am the Son of God.’”In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (niv)

Zedekiah was twenty- one years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eleven years. His mother’s name was Hamutal daughter of Jeremiah; she was from Libnah.He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim had done.It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence. Now Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it.The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.By the ninth day of the fourth month the famine in the city had become so severe that there was no food for the people to eat.Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled. They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,but the Babylonian army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered,and he was captured. He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah.Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, bound him with bronze shackles and took him to Babylon, where he put him in prison till the day of his death.On the tenth day of the fifth month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem.He set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down.The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the rest of the craftsmen and those who had deserted to the king of Babylon.But Nebuzaradan left behind the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars, the movable stands and the bronze Sea that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.The commander of the imperial guard took away the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands, dishes and bowls used for drink offerings— all that were made of pure gold or silver.The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the twelve bronze bulls under it, and the movable stands, which King Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed.Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference; each was four fingers thick, and hollow.The bronze capital on top of one pillar was five cubits high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar.There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates above the surrounding network was a hundred.The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah the chief priest, Zephaniah the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.Of those still in the city, he took the officer in charge of the fighting men, and seven royal advisers. He also took the secretary who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land, sixty of whom were found in the city.Nebuzaradan the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah.There at Riblah, in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed. So Judah went into captivity, away from her land.This is the number of the people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile: in the seventh year, 3,023 Jews;in Nebuchadnezzar’s eighteenth year, 832 people from Jerusalem;in his twenty-third year, 745 Jews taken into exile by Nebuzaradan the commander of the imperial guard. There were 4,600 people in all.In the thirty- seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the year Awel- Marduk became king of Babylon, on the twenty- fifth day of the twelfth month, he released Jehoiachin king of Judah and freed him from prison.He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat of honor higher than those of the other kings who were with him in Babylon.So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance as long as he lived, till the day of his death.How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! How like a widow is she, who once was great among the nations! She who was queen among the provinces has now become a slave.Bitterly she weeps at night, tears are on her cheeks. Among all her lovers there is no one to comfort her. All her friends have betrayed her; they have become her enemies.After affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her in the midst of her distress.The roads to Zion mourn, for no one comes to her appointed festivals. All her gateways are desolate, her priests groan, her young women grieve, and she is in bitter anguish.Her foes have become her masters; her enemies are at ease. The Lord has brought her grief because of her many sins. Her children have gone into exile, captive before the foe. (niv)

“‘ Because they lead my people astray, saying,“ Peace,” when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, (niv)

“ But now they mock me, men younger than I, whose fathers I would have disdained to put with my sheep dogs.Of what use was the strength of their hands to me, since their vigor had gone from them?Haggard from want and hunger, they roamed the parched land in desolate wastelands at night.In the brush they gathered salt herbs, and their food was the root of the broom bush.They were banished from human society, shouted at as if they were thieves.They were forced to live in the dry stream beds, among the rocks and in holes in the ground.They brayed among the bushes and huddled in the undergrowth.A base and nameless brood, they were driven out of the land.“ And now those young men mock me in song; I have become a byword among them.They detest me and keep their distance; they do not hesitate to spit in my face. (niv)

Without pity the Lord has swallowed up all the dwellings of Jacob; in his wrath he has torn down the strongholds of Daughter Judah. He has brought her kingdom and its princes down to the ground in dishonor. (niv)

Hear my cry, O God; listen to my prayer. (niv)

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee; assailants gathered against me without my knowledge. They slandered me without ceasing.Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked; they gnashed their teeth at me. (niv)

“ Have you not noticed that these people are saying,‘ The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms he chose’? So they despise my people and no longer regard them as a nation. (niv)

Lord, in keeping with all your righteous acts, turn away your anger and your wrath from Jerusalem, your city, your holy hill. Our sins and the iniquities of our ancestors have made Jerusalem and your people an object of scorn to all those around us. (niv)

For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees. (niv)

let’s swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; (niv)

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army and laid siege to it.And on the ninth day of the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, the city wall was broken through.Then all the officials of the king of Babylon came and took seats in the Middle Gate: Nergal-Sharezer of Samgar, Nebo-Sarsekim a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officials of the king of Babylon.When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the soldiers saw them, they fled; they left the city at night by way of the king’s garden, through the gate between the two walls, and headed toward the Arabah.But the Babylonian army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They captured him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he pronounced sentence on him.There at Riblah the king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes and also killed all the nobles of Judah.Then he put out Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him with bronze shackles to take him to Babylon.The Babylonians set fire to the royal palace and the houses of the people and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard carried into exile to Babylon the people who remained in the city, along with those who had gone over to him, and the rest of the people.But Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard left behind in the land of Judah some of the poor people, who owned nothing; and at that time he gave them vineyards and fields.Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had given these orders about Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard:“ Take him and look after him; don’t harm him but do for him whatever he asks.”So Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard, Nebushazban a chief officer, Nergal-Sharezer a high official and all the other officers of the king of Babylonsent and had Jeremiah taken out of the courtyard of the guard. They turned him over to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, to take him back to his home. So he remained among his own people.While Jeremiah had been confined in the courtyard of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him:“ Go and tell Ebed- Melek the Cushite,‘ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I am about to fulfill my words against this city— words concerning disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes.But I will rescue you on that day, declares the Lord; you will not be given into the hands of those you fear.I will save you; you will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life, because you trust in me, declares the Lord.’” (niv)

“ Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has devoured us, he has thrown us into confusion, he has made us an empty jar. Like a serpent he has swallowed us and filled his stomach with our delicacies, and then has spewed us out. (niv)

I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, a curse and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish them. (niv)

Those who sit at the gate mock me, and I am the song of the drunkards. (niv)

Why should the nations say,“ Where is their God?” Before our eyes, make known among the nations that you avenge the outpoured blood of your servants. (niv)

The Lord is like an enemy; he has swallowed up Israel. He has swallowed up all her palaces and destroyed her strongholds. He has multiplied mourning and lamentation for Daughter Judah. (niv)

when we are slandered, we answer kindly. We have become the scum of the earth, the garbage of the world— right up to this moment. (niv)

You will become a thing of horror, a byword and an object of ridicule among all the peoples where the Lord will drive you. (niv)