1-2. God’s Message to Jeremiah when King Zedekiah sent Pashur son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah to him with this request: “Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, has waged war against us. Pray to God for us. Ask him for help. Maybe God will intervene with one of his famous miracles and make him leave.”
11-14. “To the royal house of Judah, listen to God’s Message!House of David, listen—God’s Message to you:‘Start each day by dealing with justice.Rescue victims from their exploiters.Prevent fire—the fire of my anger—for once it starts, it can’t be put out.Your evil regimeis fuel for my anger.Don’t you realize that I’m against you,yes, against you.You think you’ve got it made,all snug and secure.You say, “Who can possibly get to us?Who can crash our party?”Well, I can—and will!I’ll punish your evil regime.I’ll start a fire that will rage unchecked,burn everything in sight to cinders.’”