Then Shephatiahthe sonof Mattan, and Gedaliahthe sonof Pashur, and Jucalthe sonof Shelemiah, and Pashurthe sonof Malchiah, heardthe wordsthatJeremiahhad spokenuntoallthe people, saying, Thussaiththe LORD, He that remainethin thiscityshall dieby the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forthtothe Chaldeansshall live; for he shall havehis lifefor a prey, and shall live. Thussaiththe LORD, Thiscityshall surely be giveninto the handof the kingof Babylon's army, which shall takeit. Therefore the princessaiduntothe king, We beseech thee, let thismanbe put to death: forthusheweakeneththe handsof the menof warthat remainin thiscity, and the handsof allthe people, in speakingsuchwordsuntothem: forthismanseekethnotthe welfareof thispeople, butthe hurt. Then Zedekiahthe kingsaid, Behold, he is in your hand: forthe king is not he that can do any thingagainst you. Then tookthey Jeremiah, and casthim intothe dungeonof Malchiahthe sonof Hammelech, that was in the courtof the prison: and they let downJeremiahwith cords. And in the dungeon there was nowater, butmire: so Jeremiahsunkin the mire. Now when Ebed-melech the Ethiopian, oneof the eunuchswhichwas in the king's house, heardthatthey had putJeremiahinthe dungeon; the kingthen sittingin the gateof Benjamin; Ebed-melech went forthout of the king's house, and spoketothe king, saying, My lordthe king, thesemenhave done evilin allthatthey have doneto Jeremiahthe prophet, whomthey have castintothe dungeon; and he is like to dieforhungerin the place wherehe is: for there is nomorebreadin the city. Then the kingcommandedEbed-melech the Ethiopian, saying, Takefrom hencethirtymenwiththee, and take upJeremiahthe prophetout ofthe dungeon, beforehe die. So Ebed-melech tookthe menwithhim, and went intothe houseof the kingunderthe treasury, and tookthenceoldcast cloutsand oldrotten rags, and let them downby cordsintothe dungeontoJeremiah. And Ebed-melech the EthiopiansaiduntoJeremiah, Putnow these oldcast cloutsand rotten ragsunderthine armholesunderthe cords. And Jeremiahdidso. So they drew upJeremiahwith cords, and took him upout ofthe dungeon: and Jeremiahremainedin the courtof the prison. Then Zedekiahthe kingsent, and tookJeremiahthe prophetuntohim intothe thirdentrythat is in the houseof the LORD: and the kingsaiduntoJeremiah, Iwill askthee a thing; hidenothingfromme. Then JeremiahsaiduntoZedekiah, IfI declare it unto thee, wilt thou notsurely put me to death? and ifI give thee counsel, wilt thou nothearkenuntome? So Zedekiahthe kingsworesecretlyuntoJeremiah, saying, As the LORDliveth, thatmadeus thissoul, I will notput thee to death, neitherwill I givethee into the handof thesementhatseekthy life. Then saidJeremiahuntoZedekiah, Thussaiththe LORD, the Godof hosts, the Godof Israel; Ifthou wilt assuredly go forthuntothe kingof Babylon's princes, then thy soulshall live, and thiscityshall notbe burnedwith fire; and thoushalt live, and thine house: But ifthou wilt notgo forthtothe kingof Babylon's princes, then shall thiscitybe giveninto the handof the Chaldeans, and they shall burnit with fire, and thoushalt notescapeout of their hand. And Zedekiahthe kingsaiduntoJeremiah, Iam afraid ofthe Jewsthatare fallentothe Chaldeans, lestthey deliverme into their hand, and they mockme. But Jeremiahsaid, They shall notdeliver thee . Obey, I beseech thee, the voiceof the LORD, whichIspeakuntothee: so it shall be wellunto thee, and thy soulshall live. But ifthourefuseto go forth, this is the wordthatthe LORDhath showedme: And, behold, allthe womenthatare leftin the kingof Judah's house shall be brought forthtothe kingof Babylon's princes, and those women shall say, Thy friendshave setthee on, and have prevailedagainst thee: thy feetare sunkin the mire, and they are turned awayback. So they shall bring outallthy wivesand thy childrentothe Chaldeans: and thoushalt notescapeout of their hand, butshalt be takenby the handof the kingof Babylon: and thou shalt cause thiscityto be burnedwith fire. Then saidZedekiahuntoJeremiah, Let nomanknowof thesewords, and thou shalt notdie. But ifthe princeshearthatI have talkedwiththee, and they comeuntothee, and sayuntothee, Declareunto us nowwhatthou hast saiduntothe king, hideit notfromus, and we will notput thee to death; also whatthe kingsaiduntothee: Then thou shalt sayuntothem, Ipresentedmy supplicationbeforethe king, that he would notcause me to returnto Jonathan's house, to diethere. Then cameallthe princesuntoJeremiah, and askedhim: and he toldthem according to allthesewordsthatthe kinghad commanded. So they left off speakingwithhim; forthe matterwas notperceived. So Jeremiahabodein the courtof the prisonuntilthe daythatJerusalemwas taken: and he was there whenJerusalemwas taken.