¹² I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke^(A) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.^(B)

² “This is what the Lord says: ‘Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague,^(A) but whoever goes over to the Babylonians^[a] will live. They will escape with their lives; they will live.’^(B)

¹⁷ Then Jeremiah said to Zedekiah, “This is what the Lord God Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘If you surrender^(A) to the officers of the king of Babylon, your life will be spared and this city will not be burned down; you and your family will live.^(B)

¹⁸ I will save^(A) you; you will not fall by the sword^(B) but will escape with your life,^(C) because you trust^(D) in me, declares the Lord.’”

⁵ Should you then seek great^(A) things for yourself? Do not seek them.^(B) For I will bring disaster^(C) on all people,^(D) declares the Lord, but wherever you go I will let you escape^(E) with your life.’”^(F)