1In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came to Jerusalem and besieged it.2In the eleventh year of Zedekiah, in the fourth month on the ninth day of the month, the city was broken up.3Then all the rulers of the king of Babylon came and sat in the middle gate: Nergal-sar-ezer, Samgar-nebu-sar-sekim the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the rest of the rulers of the king of Babylon.4When Zedekiah king of Judah and all the men of battle saw them, they fled and went out of the city by night through the king's garden gate between the two walls, and he went out toward the Arabah.5The Chaldean army pursued them and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho. They seized him and brought him up to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the land of Hamath, where he spoke judgments with him.6The king of Babylon slaughtered the sons of Zedekiah at Riblah before his eyes, and the king of Babylon slaughtered all the nobles of Judah.7He blinded Zedekiah's eyes and bound him with bronze chains to bring him to Babylon.8The Chaldeans burned the king's house and the people's house with fire and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.9Nebuzaradan the chief of the guards of Babylon carried away the rest of the people who remained in the city, the deserters who had fallen to him, and the rest of the people who remained.10From the poorest of the people who had nothing left, Nebuzaradan the chief of the guards left some in the land of Judah and gave them vineyards and fields on that day.11Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon commanded concerning Jeremiah through Nebuzaradan the chief of the guards, saying:12Take him, keep your eyes on him, and do him no harm; but whatever he says to you, do with him accordingly.13So Nebuzaradan the chief of the guards, Nebushazban the Rab-saris, Nergal-sar-ezer the Rab-mag, and all the chief officers of the king of Babylon sent.14They sent and took Jeremiah from the court of the Guard and gave him to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan to bring him out to a house, and he dwelt among the people.15The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was still confined in the court of the Guard, saying:16Go and tell Ebed-melech the Ethiopian: Thus says the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing my words against this city for harm and not for good, and they will be before you on that day.17I will rescue you on that day, declares the LORD, and you will not be given into the hand of the men you fear.18For I will surely deliver you, and you will not fall by the sword; your life will be your spoil because you trusted in me, declares the LORD.