Jeremiah 21:8
6 And I will smite the inhabitants of this city, both man and beast: they shall die of a great pestilence.
7 And afterward, saith the LORD, I will deliver Zedekiah king of Judah, and his servants, and the people, and such as are left in this city from the pestilence, from the sword, and from the famine, into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and into the hand of their enemies, and into the hand of those that seek their life: and he shall smite them with the edge of the sword; he shall not spare them, neither have pity, nor have mercy.
And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
9 He that abideth in this city shall die by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth out, and falleth to the Chaldeans that besiege you, he shall live, and his life shall be unto him for a prey.
10 For I have set my face against this city for evil, and not for good, saith the LORD: it shall be given into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall burn it with fire.
This was said to Israel at a particular time, so it is wise to read it together with the surrounding text. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- Furthermore, you are to tell this people that this is what the LORD says: ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
- KJV
- And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
- WEB
- “You shall say to this people, ‘The LORD says: “Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
- ASV
- And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
- DARBY
- And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith Jehovah: Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.
- BLB
- And to this people you shall say, thus says YHWH: ‘Behold, I am setting before you⁺ the way of the life and the way of the death.
- ÅB
- Og til dette folk skal du si: Så sier Herren: Se, jeg legger fram for dere livets vei og dødens vei:
- OTB
- "Videre, si til dette folket: ‘Dette sier Herren: Se, jeg setter foran dere livets vei og dødens vei.
- B1930
- Og til dette folk skal du si: Så sier Herren: Se, jeg legger frem for eder livets vei og dødens vei:
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Deuteronomy 30:19
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Read in contextDeuteronomy 30:15
See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
Read in contextDeuteronomy 11:26
Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse;
Read in contextIsaiah 1:19–20
If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:
Read in context