¹In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah , in the tenth month , Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem , and besieged it .

²In the eleventh year of Zedekiah , in the fourth month , the ninth day of the month , a breach was made in the city .

³All the princes of the king of Babylon came in , and sat in the middle gate : Nergal Sharezer, Samgarnebo, Sarsechim the Rabsaris , Nergal Sharezer the Rabmag, with all the rest of the princes of the king of Babylon.

⁴When Zedekiah the king of Judah and all the men of war saw them , then they fled and went out of the city by night , by the way of the king ’s garden , through the gate between the two walls ; and he went out towards the Arabah .

⁵But the army of the Chaldeans pursued them , and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho . When they had taken him , they brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath ; and he pronounced judgement on him .

⁶Then the king of Babylon killed Zedekiah ’s sons in Riblah before his eyes . The king of Babylon also killed all the nobles of Judah .

⁷Moreover he put out Zedekiah ’s eyes and bound him in fetters , to carry him to Babylon.

⁸The Chaldeans burnt the king ’s house and the people ’s houses with fire and broke down the walls of Jerusalem .

⁹Then Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carried away captive into Babylon the rest of the people who remained in the city , the deserters also who fell away to him , and the rest of the people who remained .

¹⁰But Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard left of the poor of the people , who had nothing , in the land of Judah , and gave them vineyards and fields at the same time .

¹¹Now Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard concerning Jeremiah , saying,

¹²“Take him and take care of him . Do him no harm ; but do to him even as he tells you .”

¹³So Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard , Nebushazban, Rabsaris , and Nergal Sharezer, Rabmag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon

¹⁴sent and took Jeremiah out of the court of the guard , and committed him to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan , that he should bring him home . So he lived amongst the people .

¹⁵Now the LORD ’s word came to Jeremiah while he was shut up in the court of the guard , saying ,

¹⁶“Go , and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian , saying , ‘The LORD of Armies , the God of Israel , says : “Behold , I will bring my words on this city for evil , and not for good ; and they will be accomplished before you in that day .

¹⁷But I will deliver you in that day ,” says the LORD ; “and you will not be given into the hand of the men of whom you are afraid .

¹⁸For I will surely save you . You won’t fall by the sword , but you will escape with your life , because you have put your trust in me ,” says the LORD .’”