4 Yet hear the word of the Lord, O Zedekiah king of Judah! Thus says the Lord concerning you: ‘You shall not die by the sword.

5 You shall die in peace; as in ^athe ceremonies of your fathers, the former kings who were before you, ^bso they shall burn incense for you and ^clament for you, saying, “Alas, lord!” For I have pronounced the word, says the Lord.’ ”  ‡

7 when the king of Babylon’s army fought against Jerusalem and all the cities of Judah that were left, against Lachish and Azekah; for only ^athese fortified cities remained of the cities of Judah.  ‡

8 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people who were at Jerusalem to proclaim ^aliberty to them:  ‡