4The officials then said to the king, “This man ought to die, because he is weakening the morale38:4 Lit hands of the warriors who remain in this city and of all the people by speaking to them in this way. This man is not pursuing the welfare of this people, but their harm.”38:4 Jr 29:11

5King Zedekiah said, “Here he is; he’s in your hands since the king can’t do anything against you.”

6So they took Jeremiah and dropped him into the cistern of Malchiah the king’s son, which was in the guard’s courtyard, lowering Jeremiah with ropes. There was no water in the cistern, only mud, and Jeremiah sank in the mud.38:6 Gn 37:20–24

7But Ebed-melech, a Cushite court official in the king’s palace, heard Jeremiah had been put into the cistern. While the king was sitting at the Benjamin Gate,38:7 Jr 20:2; Ezk 48:32; Zch 14:10

8Ebed-melech went from the king’s palace and spoke to the king:

9“My lord the king, these men have been evil in all they have done to the prophet Jeremiah. They have dropped him into the cistern where he will die from hunger, because there is no more bread in the city.”38:9 Jr 37:21

10So the king commanded Ebed-melech, the Cushite, “Take from here thirty men under your authority38:10 Lit men in your hand and pull the prophet Jeremiah up from the cistern before he dies.”

11So Ebed-melech took the men under his authority38:11 Lit men in his hand and went to the king’s palace to a place below the storehouse.38:11 Or treasury From there he took old rags and worn-out clothes and lowered them by ropes to Jeremiah in the cistern.

12Ebed-melech the Cushite called down to Jeremiah, “Place these old rags and clothes between your armpits and the ropes.” Jeremiah did this.

13They pulled him up with the ropes and lifted him out of the cistern, but he remained in the guard’s courtyard.

15Jeremiah replied to Zedekiah, “If I tell you, you will kill me, won’t you? Besides, if I give you advice, you won’t listen to me anyway.”

16King Zedekiah swore to Jeremiah in private,38:16 Jr 37:17 “As the Lord lives, who has given us this life,38:16 Is 57:16 I will not kill you or hand you over to these men who intend to take your life.”

17Jeremiah therefore said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord, the God of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘If indeed you surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon,38:17 2Kg 24:12; Jr 27:12; 38:2; 39:3 then you will live, this city will not be burned, and you and your household will survive.

18But if you do not surrender to the officials of the king of Babylon, then this city will be handed over to the Chaldeans.38:18 Jr 22:25; 32:24–25,28,43; 43:3 They will burn it, and you yourself will not escape from them.’”

19But King Zedekiah said to Jeremiah, “I am worried about the Judeans who have defected to the Chaldeans. They may hand me over to the Judeans to abuse me.”38:19 Jdg 19:25; 1Sm 31:4

20“They will not hand you over,” Jeremiah replied. “Obey the Lord in what I am telling you, so it may go well for you and you can live.

21But if you refuse to surrender, this is the verdict38:21 Or promise; lit word that the Lord has shown me:

22‘All the women38:22 Or wives who remain in the palace of Judah’s king will be brought out to the officials of the king of Babylon and will say to you,38:22 to you supplied for clarity

24Then Zedekiah warned Jeremiah, “Don’t let anyone know about this conversation38:24 Lit about these words or you will die.

25The officials may hear that I have spoken with you38:25 Jr 38:4–6 and come and demand of you, ‘Tell us what you said to the king; don’t hide anything from us and we won’t kill you. Also, what did the king say to you?’

26If they do, tell them, ‘I was bringing before the king my petition that he not return me to the house of Jonathan to die there.’”38:26 Jr 37:20

27All the officials did come to Jeremiah, and they questioned him. He reported the exact words to them the king had commanded, and they quit speaking with him because the conversation38:27 Lit word had not been overheard.

28Jeremiah remained in the guard’s courtyard until the day Jerusalem was captured, and he was there when it happened.38:28 Or captured. This is what happened when Jerusalem was captured: