15. I answered, “If I tell you the truth, you will put me to death, and if I give you advice, you won't pay any attention.”
16. So King Zedekiah promised me in secret, “I swear by the living God, the God who gave us life, that I will not put you to death or hand you over to the men who want to kill you.”
17. Then I told Zedekiah that the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, had said, “If you surrender to the king of Babylonia's officers, your life will be spared, and this city will not be burnt down. Both you and your family will be spared.
18. But if you do not surrender, then this city will be handed over to the Babylonians, who will burn it down, and you will not escape from them.”
19. But the king answered, “I am afraid of our countrymen who have deserted to the Babylonians. I may be handed over to them and tortured.”
20. I said, “You will not be handed over to them. I beg you to obey the Lord's message; then all will go well with you, and your life will be spared.
21. But the Lord has shown me in a vision what will happen if you refuse to surrender.