Jeremiah

And it came to pass, that when Jeremiah had made an end of speaking unto all the people all the words of the LORD their God, for which the LORD their God had sent him to them, even all these words,

1Jeremiah finished telling the people everything the LORD their God had said. God had sent him to give them all of it, and he left nothing out.

2Then spake Azariah the son of Hoshaiah, and Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the proud men, saying unto Jeremiah, Thou speakest falsely: the LORD our God hath not sent thee to say, Go not into Egypt to sojourn there:

2Then Azariah son of Hoshaiah, Johanan son of Kareah, and all the proud men said to Jeremiah, "You are lying. The LORD our God did not send you to say, 'Do not go and live in Egypt.'

3But Baruch the son of Neriah setteth thee on against us, for to deliver us into the hand of the Chaldeans, that they might put us to death, and carry us away captives into Babylon.

3It is Baruch son of Neriah who is stirring you up against us. He wants the Chaldeans to catch us, kill us, and carry us off to Babylon."

4So Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, and all the people, obeyed not the voice of the LORD, to dwell in the land of Judah.

4So Johanan son of Kareah, all the army commanders, and all the people refused to obey the LORD's command to stay in the land of Judah.

5But Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces, took all the remnant of Judah, that were returned from all nations, whither they had been driven, to dwell in the land of Judah;

5Instead, Johanan son of Kareah and all the army commanders gathered everyone left in Judah. These people had come back home from all the nations where they had been scattered.

6Even men, and women, and children, and the king’s daughters, and every person that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet, and Baruch the son of Neriah.

6They took the men, the women, the children, and the king's daughters. They took everyone Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, had left with Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. They also took Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch son of Neriah.

7So they came into the land of Egypt: for they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: thus came they even to Tahpanhes.

7So they went into the land of Egypt, because they would not obey the LORD. They traveled as far as the city of Tahpanhes.

8Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah in Tahpanhes, saying,

8Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah while he was in Tahpanhes. God said:

9Take great stones in thine hand, and hide them in the clay in the brickkiln, which is at the entry of Pharaoh’s house in Tahpanhes, in the sight of the men of Judah;

9"Pick up some large stones. While the men of Judah are watching, bury them in the clay of the brick pavement at the entrance to Pharaoh's palace in Tahpanhes.

NoteThe KJV says "brickkiln," but the word means a paved area of brick, like a courtyard or terrace, not an oven for baking bricks.

10And say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will send and take Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will set his throne upon these stones that I have hid; and he shall spread his royal pavilion over them.

10Then tell them: This is what the LORD of Armies, the God of Israel, says. I will send for my servant Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, and I will set his throne over these stones you buried. He will spread his royal tent above them.

Note"LORD of hosts" means the LORD who commands armies. A "pavilion" is a large tent set up for a king.

11And when he cometh, he shall smite the land of Egypt, and deliver such as are for death to death; and such as are for captivity to captivity; and such as are for the sword to the sword.

11He will come and attack the land of Egypt. Those meant for death will die. Those meant to be taken away will be taken away. Those meant for the sword will fall by the sword.

12And I will kindle a fire in the houses of the gods of Egypt; and he shall burn them, and carry them away captives: and he shall array himself with the land of Egypt, as a shepherd putteth on his garment; and he shall go forth from thence in peace.

12I will start a fire in the temples of Egypt's gods. Nebuchadnezzar will burn those temples and carry off their idols. He will wrap the land of Egypt around himself the way a shepherd wraps his coat around him. Then he will leave, and no one will harm him.

NoteThe KJV says Nebuchadnezzar will "go forth from thence in peace," which means he will leave Egypt unhurt, not that he will make peace.

13He shall break also the images of Bethshemesh, that is in the land of Egypt; and the houses of the gods of the Egyptians shall he burn with fire.

13He will smash the stone pillars at the temple of the sun in Egypt, and he will burn down the temples of Egypt's gods."

NoteThe KJV name "Bethshemesh" means "house of the sun." It is the Egyptian city the Greeks called Heliopolis, where the sun god was worshiped.