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 diminish a word.
3
Perhaps everyone will listen and turn from his evil way, that I may relent concerning the calamity which I purpose to bring on them because of the evil of their doings.'
4
And you shall say to them, 'Thus says the Lord: "If you will not listen to Me, to walk in My law which I have set before you,
5
to heed the words of My servants the prophets whom I sent to you, both rising up early and sending them (but you have not heeded),
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 happened, when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, that the priests and the prophets and all the people seized him, saying, "You will 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 desolate, without an inhabitant'?" And all the people were gathered against Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.