1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, and concerning Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army and all the kingdoms of the land under his dominion and all the peoples fighting against Jerusalem and against all its cities, saying:2Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Go and say to Zedekiah king of Judah, and say to him: Thus says the LORD: Behold, I am giving this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he will burn it with fire.3And you shall not escape from his hand, for you shall surely be captured and given into his hand; your eyes shall see the eyes of the king of Babylon, and his mouth shall speak with your mouth, and you shall go to Babylon.4Hear the word of the LORD, Zedekiah king of Judah. Thus says the LORD concerning you: You shall not die by the sword.5You shall die in peace, and as they burned for your fathers, the former kings who were before you, so they shall burn for you; and they shall mourn for you, saying, 'Alas, lord!' For I have spoken the word, declares the LORD.6Jeremiah the prophet spoke all these words to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem.7And the army of the king of Babylon was fighting against Jerusalem and against all the remaining cities of Judah, against Lachish and against Azekah, for these were the only fortified cities of Judah that remained.