The Daily Audio Bible

⁵⁸ This is what the Lord Almighty says:

⁵⁹ This is the message Jeremiah the prophet gave to the staff officer Seraiah son of Neriah,^(R) the son of Mahseiah, when he went to Babylon with Zedekiah^(S) king of Judah in the fourth^(T) year of his reign. ⁶⁰ Jeremiah had written on a scroll^(U) about all the disasters that would come upon Babylon—all that had been recorded concerning Babylon. ⁶¹ He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, see that you read all these words aloud. ⁶² Then say, ‘Lord, you have said you will destroy this place, so that neither people nor animals will live in it; it will be desolate^(V) forever.’ ⁶³ When you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates.^{(W) 64} Then say, ‘So will Babylon sink to rise no more^(X) because of the disaster I will bring on her. And her people^(Y) will fall.’”^(Z)

The words of Jeremiah end^(AA) here.

The Fall of Jerusalem^(AB)(AC)(AD)

52 Zedekiah^(AE) 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.^{(AF) 2} He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, just as Jehoiakim^(AG) had done. ³ It was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah,^(AH) and in the end he thrust them from his presence.^(AI)

Now Zedekiah rebelled^(AJ) against the king of Babylon.

⁴ So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth^(AK) day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem^(AL) with his whole army. They encamped outside the city and built siege works^(AM) all around it.^{(AN) 5} The city was kept under siege until the eleventh year of King Zedekiah.

⁶ 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.^{(AO) 7} Then the city wall was broken through, and the whole army fled.^(AP) They left the city at night through the gate between the two walls near the king’s garden, though the Babylonians^[b] were surrounding the city. They fled toward the Arabah,^{[c] 8} but the Babylonian^[d] army pursued King Zedekiah and overtook him in the plains of Jericho. All his soldiers were separated from him and scattered, ⁹ and he was captured.^(AQ)

He was taken to the king of Babylon at Riblah^(AR) in the land of Hamath,^(AS) where he pronounced sentence on him. ¹⁰ There at Riblah the king of Babylon killed the sons^(AT) of Zedekiah before his eyes; he also killed all the officials of Judah. ¹¹ 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.^(AU)

¹² On the tenth day of the fifth^(AV) month, in the nineteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, Nebuzaradan^(AW) commander of the imperial guard, who served the king of Babylon, came to Jerusalem. ¹³ He set fire^(AX) to the temple^(AY) of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses^(AZ) of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down. ¹⁴ The whole Babylonian army, under the commander of the imperial guard, broke down all the walls^(BA) around Jerusalem. ¹⁵ Nebuzaradan the commander of the guard carried into exile^(BB) some of the poorest people and those who remained in the city, along with the rest of the craftsmen^[e] and those who had deserted^(BC) to the king of Babylon. ¹⁶ But Nebuzaradan left behind^(BD) the rest of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

¹⁷ The Babylonians broke up the bronze pillars,^(BE) the movable stands^(BF) and the bronze Sea^(BG) that were at the temple of the Lord and they carried all the bronze to Babylon.^{(BH) 18} They also took away the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls,^(BI) dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service.^{(BJ) 19} The commander of the imperial guard took away the basins, censers,^(BK) sprinkling bowls, pots, lampstands,^(BL) dishes^(BM) and bowls used for drink offerings^(BN)—all that were made of pure gold or silver.^(BO)

²⁰ The bronze from the two pillars, the Sea and the twelve bronze bulls^(BP) under it, and the movable stands, which King Solomon had made for the temple of the Lord, was more than could be weighed.^{(BQ) 21} Each pillar was eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits in circumference^[f]; each was four fingers thick, and hollow.^{(BR) 22} The bronze capital^(BS) on top of one pillar was five cubits^[g] high and was decorated with a network and pomegranates^(BT) of bronze all around. The other pillar, with its pomegranates, was similar. ²³ There were ninety-six pomegranates on the sides; the total number of pomegranates^(BU) above the surrounding network was a hundred.^(BV)

²⁴ The commander of the guard took as prisoners Seraiah^(BW) the chief priest, Zephaniah^(BX) the priest next in rank and the three doorkeepers.^{(BY) 25} 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^(BZ) who was chief officer in charge of conscripting the people of the land, sixty of whom were found in the city. ²⁶ Nebuzaradan^(CA) the commander took them all and brought them to the king of Babylon at Riblah. ²⁷ There at Riblah,^(CB) in the land of Hamath, the king had them executed.

So Judah went into captivity, away^(CC) from her land. ²⁸ This is the number of the people Nebuchadnezzar carried into exile:^(CD)

Jehoiachin Released^(CG)

³¹ In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin^(CH) 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. ³² 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. ³³ So Jehoiachin put aside his prison clothes and for the rest of his life ate regularly at the king’s table.^{(CI) 34} Day by day the king of Babylon gave Jehoiachin a regular allowance^(CJ) as long as he lived, till the day of his death.

Saved in Order to Do Good

3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities,^(A) to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,^{(B) 2} to slander no one,^(C) to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

³ At one time^(D) we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. ⁴ But when the kindness^(E) and love of God our Savior^(F) appeared,^{(G) 5} he saved us,^(H) not because of righteous things we had done,^(I) but because of his mercy.^(J) He saved us through the washing^(K) of rebirth and renewal^(L) by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom he poured out on us^(M) generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that, having been justified by his grace,^(N) we might become heirs^(O) having the hope^(P) of eternal life.^{(Q) 8} This is a trustworthy saying.^(R) And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good.^(S) These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.

⁹ But avoid^(T) foolish controversies and genealogies and arguments and quarrels^(U) about the law,^(V) because these are unprofitable and useless.^{(W) 10} Warn a divisive person once, and then warn them a second time. After that, have nothing to do with them.^{(X) 11} You may be sure that such people are warped and sinful; they are self-condemned.

Final Remarks

¹² As soon as I send Artemas or Tychicus^(Y) to you, do your best to come to me at Nicopolis, because I have decided to winter there.^{(Z) 13} Do everything you can to help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos^(AA) on their way and see that they have everything they need. ¹⁴ Our people must learn to devote themselves to doing what is good,^(AB) in order to provide for urgent needs and not live unproductive lives.

¹⁵ Everyone with me sends you greetings. Greet those who love us in the faith.^(AC)

Grace be with you all.^(AD)

Psalm 100

A psalm. For giving grateful praise.