Jeremiah, in the presence of all the priests and the people, said that it was the earnest wish of his heart that God would so favor His people that the vessels of the Lord’s house might be returned and the captives brought back from Babylon; but this could only be done on condition that the people repented and turned from their evil way to the obedience of God’s law. Jeremiah loved his country and ardently wished that the desolation predicted might be averted by the humiliation of the people, but he knew the wish was vain. He hoped the punishment of Israel would be as light as possible, therefore he earnestly entreated them to submit to the king of Babylon for the time that the Lord specified. {4T 170.2}

Jeremias sagde, under fyrsternes og folkets nærvær, at det var hans hjertes alvorligste ønske om Gud ville begunstige sit folk så meget at karrene fra Herrens hus kunne bringes tilbage og fangerne bringes tilbage fra Babylon; men dette kunne kun ske på betingelse af at folket angrede og vendte sig fra deres onde vej til lydighed mod Guds lov. Jeremias elskede sit land og ønsket brændende at den foreskrevede ødelæggelse kunne afværges ved folkets ydmygelse, men han vidste at ønskede var forgæves. Han håbede at Israels straf ville være så let så muligt, derfor bad ham dem alvorligt at underlægge sig Babylons konge i den tid Herren havde bestemt.