The officials demand silence

1Shephatiah son of Mattan, Gedaliah son of Pashhur, Jucal son of Shelemiah, and Pashhur son of Malchiah heard the words that Jeremiah was speaking to all the people, saying,

2Thus says Yahweh: He who remains in this city will die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence; but he who goes out to the Chaldeans will live, and his life will be to him as spoil, and he will live.

3Thus says Yahweh: This city will surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it.

4Then the officials said to the king, “Please let this man be put to death, for in this way he is weakening the hands of the men of war who remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, by speaking to them words like these. For this man is not seeking the welfare of this people, but their harm.”

5Then King Zedekiah said, “Look, he is in your hands, for the king can do nothing against you.”