The big picture
Jeremiah 52 opens in verse 1 with “Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 17 with “Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD , and the bases, and the…”, and closes in verse 34 with “And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day…” Repeated or prominent terms include king, Babylon, city, captain, carried. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.
Scripture beside the summary
Jeremiah · King James Version · 34Jeremiah 52:1-7
1–7: Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he…
Jeremiah 52:1–7 opens with “Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in…” and reaches “Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon, with particular weight carried by city, month, Jerusalem.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in…” By verse 4, the text has turned to “And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of…” It lands on “Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as city, month, Jerusalem, king, Zedekiah, Babylon tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Jerusalem, Zedekiah, Babylon, Chaldeans, Hamutal, Jehoiakim. Its number language includes one, twenty, two. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 4: “And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: city, month, Jerusalem, king, Zedekiah, Babylon
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 52:1
“Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 52:2
“And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD , according to all that Jehoiakim had done.” Naming Jehoiakim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:3
“For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 52:4
“And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
- Jeremiah 52:5
“So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 52:6
“And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread…” The line’s distinctive content terms include month, bread, city. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 52:7
“Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Jeremiah 52:1-7
King James Version1Zedekiah was one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah.
2And he did that which was evil in the eyes of the LORD , according to all that Jehoiakim had done.
3For through the anger of the LORD it came to pass in Jerusalem and Judah, till he had cast them out from his presence, that Zedekiah rebelled against the king of Babylon.
4And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it, and built forts against it round about.
5So the city was besieged unto the eleventh year of king Zedekiah.
6And in the fourth month, in the ninth day of the month, the famine was sore in the city, so that there was no bread for the people of the land.
7Then the city was broken up, and all the men of war fled, and went forth out of the city by night by the way of the gate between the two walls, which was by the king’s garden; (now the Chaldeans were by the city round about:) and they went by the way of the plain.
Jeremiah 52:8-14
8–14: The army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah…
Jeremiah 52:8–14 opens with “But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of…” and reaches “And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon, with particular weight carried by king, Babylon, army.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of…” By verse 11, the text has turned to “Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and…” It lands on “And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 1 verse naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as king, Babylon, army, Jerusalem, Zedekiah, burned tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Babylon, Jerusalem, Zedekiah, Chaldeans, Riblah, Hamath. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 11: “Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: king, Babylon, army, Jerusalem, Zedekiah, burned
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 52:8
“But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army…” Naming Chaldeans and Jericho keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:9
“Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave…” Naming Babylon and Hamath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:10
“And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.” Naming Babylon and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:11
“Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put…” Naming Babylon and Zedekiah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:12
“Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of…” Naming Babylon and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:13
“And burned the house of the LORD , and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the…” Naming Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:14
“And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem…” Naming Chaldeans and Jerusalem keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 52:8-14
King James Version8But the army of the Chaldeans pursued after the king, and overtook Zedekiah in the plains of Jericho; and all his army was scattered from him.
9Then they took the king, and carried him up unto the king of Babylon to Riblah in the land of Hamath; where he gave judgment upon him.
10And the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes: he slew also all the princes of Judah in Riblah.
11Then he put out the eyes of Zedekiah; and the king of Babylon bound him in chains, and carried him to Babylon, and put him in prison till the day of his death.
12Now in the fifth month, in the tenth day of the month, which was the nineteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzar-adan, captain of the guard, which served the king of Babylon, into Jerusalem,
13And burned the house of the LORD , and the king’s house; and all the houses of Jerusalem, and all the houses of the great men, burned he with fire:
14And all the army of the Chaldeans, that were with the captain of the guard, brake down all the walls of Jerusalem round about.
Jeremiah 52:15-21
15–21: Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of…
Jeremiah 52:15–21 opens with “Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the…” and reaches “And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon, with particular weight carried by brass, captain, guard.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the…” By verse 18, the text has turned to “The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all…” It lands on “And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 stated contrast, 2 verses naming the LORD or God. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as brass, captain, guard, house, LORD, pillars tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Babylon, Nebuzar, Also, Chaldeans, Solomon. Its number language includes two, one, twelve, four. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 16: “But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: brass, captain, guard, house, LORD, pillars
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 52:15
“Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of…” Naming Babylon and Nebuzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:16
“But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.” Naming Nebuzar keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:17
“Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD , and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house…” Naming Also and Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:18
“The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass…” The line’s distinctive content terms include bowls, brass, caldrons. Its relationship to verses 17 and 19 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 52:19
“And the basons, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups…” The line’s distinctive content terms include gold, silver, basons. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 52:20
“The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 52:21
“And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Jeremiah 52:15-21
King James Version15Then Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive certain of the poor of the people, and the residue of the people that remained in the city, and those that fell away, that fell to the king of Babylon, and the rest of the multitude.
16But Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard left certain of the poor of the land for vinedressers and for husbandmen.
17Also the pillars of brass that were in the house of the LORD , and the bases, and the brasen sea that was in the house of the LORD , the Chaldeans brake, and carried all the brass of them to Babylon.
18The caldrons also, and the shovels, and the snuffers, and the bowls, and the spoons, and all the vessels of brass wherewith they ministered, took they away.
19And the basons, and the firepans, and the bowls, and the caldrons, and the candlesticks, and the spoons, and the cups; that which was of gold in gold, and that which was of silver in silver, took the captain of the guard away.
20The two pillars, one sea, and twelve brasen bulls that were under the bases, which king Solomon had made in the house of the LORD : the brass of all these vessels was without weight.
21And concerning the pillars, the height of one pillar was eighteen cubits; and a fillet of twelve cubits did compass it; and the thickness thereof was four fingers: it was hollow.
Jeremiah 52:22-28
22–28: A chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five…
Jeremiah 52:22–28 opens with “And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with…” and reaches “This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon, with particular weight carried by land, pomegranates, city.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with…” By verse 25, the text has turned to “He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven…” It lands on “This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. Its subjects, actions, connecting terms, and consequences reveal how the thought develops before any interpretation is added.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as land, pomegranates, city, people, took, Babylon tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Babylon, Riblah, Hamath, Jews, Judah, Nebuchadrezzar. Its number language includes one, five, six, hundred, three. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 25: “He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near the king’s…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: land, pomegranates, city, people, took, Babylon
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 52:22
“And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network and pomegranates…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 52:23
“And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round…” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 52:24
“And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 52:25
“He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.
- Jeremiah 52:26
“So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.
- Jeremiah 52:27
“And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away…” Naming Babylon and Hamath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:28
“This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
Jeremiah 52:22-28
King James Version22And a chapiter of brass was upon it; and the height of one chapiter was five cubits, with network and pomegranates upon the chapiters round about, all of brass. The second pillar also and the pomegranates were like unto these.
23And there were ninety and six pomegranates on a side; and all the pomegranates upon the network were an hundred round about.
24And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:
25He took also out of the city an eunuch, which had the charge of the men of war; and seven men of them that were near the king’s person, which were found in the city; and the principal scribe of the host, who mustered the people of the land; and threescore men of the people of the land, that were found in the midst of the city.
26So Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard took them, and brought them to the king of Babylon to Riblah.
27And the king of Babylon smote them, and put them to death in Riblah in the land of Hamath. Thus Judah was carried away captive out of his own land.
28This is the people whom Nebuchadrezzar carried away captive: in the seventh year three thousand Jews and three and twenty:
Jeremiah 52:29-34
29–34: In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from…
Jeremiah 52:29–34 opens with “In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred…” and reaches “And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon, with particular weight carried by king, year, Babylon.
Deep dive
The movement opens with “In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight…” By verse 31, the text has turned to “And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of…” It lands on “And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a…” The distance between those lines matters as much as any isolated phrase. The passage has a voice and pulse of its own, including 1 verse with a speech marker. Those features reveal where the narrative slows down, speaks directly, or changes direction.
Accusation, warning, invitation to return, judgment, and hope each do different work. The prophet’s first audience anchors later questions about fulfillment. Words such as king, year, Babylon, persons, captive, carried tie the complete block together. The central idea, “Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon,” should remain answerable to the text. Some conclusions are explicit, some gather support across several verses, and others remain strong inferences or interpretations.
Names or load-bearing terms in this scene include Babylon, Jehoiachin, Judah, Nebuchadrezzar, Evil, Jerusalem. Its number language includes eight, hundred, thirty, two, three. The nearest hinge to the center comes in verse 31: “And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the…” That detail helps separate the opening situation from what the passage changes next.
Words to trace: king, year, Babylon, persons, captive, carried
Verse-by-verse path
- Jeremiah 52:29
“In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons:” The number eight makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 52:30
“In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the…” The number three makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.
- Jeremiah 52:31
“And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.
- Jeremiah 52:32
“And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
- Jeremiah 52:33
“And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.” The line’s distinctive content terms include bread, changed, continually. Its relationship to verses 32 and 34 shows what work it does in this passage.
- Jeremiah 52:34
“And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of…” Naming Babylon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.
Jeremiah 52:29-34
King James Version29In the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar he carried away captive from Jerusalem eight hundred thirty and two persons:
30In the three and twentieth year of Nebuchadrezzar Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard carried away captive of the Jews seven hundred forty and five persons: all the persons were four thousand and six hundred.
31And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, in the five and twentieth day of the month, that Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah, and brought him forth out of prison,
32And spake kindly unto him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon,
33And changed his prison garments: and he did continually eat bread before him all the days of his life.
34And for his diet, there was a continual diet given him of the king of Babylon, every day a portion until the day of his death, all the days of his life.
Questions to keep in mind while reading
- Identify the historical crisis, covenant failure, warning, and promised hope.
- Distinguish the prophet’s immediate audience from later biblical connections.
- Do not turn present-day headlines into confident fulfillment claims without textual evidence.
Text first
Where readers differ
The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.
The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.
Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.
Questions beneath the surface
- What account of God, human freedom, responsibility, and the good life emerges from Jeremiah 52?
- Which tension does the chapter refuse to resolve quickly?
- What changes when the chapter is read as part of the whole canon rather than as an isolated moral story?
- Where might a sincere reader confuse a familiar tradition with something the text states directly?
Questions for serious personal contemplation
These open-ended questions make room for tension, honest response, prayer, and conclusions that remain accountable to the chapter.
Observe without rushing
What part of Jeremiah 52 makes you stop, feel unsettled, or feel surprised, and why?
Which detail in the passage would be easiest to overlook? How does that detail change your understanding?
Where do you see tension between what happens and this focus: Jerusalem and the temple destroyed, captives taken, and Jehoiachin later released and honored in Babylon?
What important question does the passage leave open instead of resolving quickly?
Examine your inner life honestly
Which person, response, fear, or desire in the passage feels most like your own life right now?
What assumption about God, other people, or yourself does this text challenge?
Which part would you rather soften, avoid, or explain away too quickly? What might that reaction reveal?
If this Scripture could ask you one direct question, what do you think it would ask?
Respond with wisdom and courage
What do you need to remember, confess, grieve, thank God for, or trust after reading this passage?
How might another faithful person read this situation differently without ignoring the text?
What obedient response would be costly, uncomfortable, or slow, yet still faithful to Scripture?
What question will you carry into prayer this week, and which verses will you keep in front of you?