Do Not Deceive Yourselves” — Jeremiah 37
Verse 1 — A King Who Would Not Listen
Zedekiah sat upon the throne
But would not heed the words I’d spoken
Neither king nor court would hear
Though judgment’s path was growing clear
The Babylonians pressed the land
Until an army changed their plan
Egypt rose, the siege withdrew
Hope returned — but false and new
Chorus — False Relief
Do not deceive yourselves today
The enemy has not gone away
Though they retreat, they will return
The city waits for fire to burn
A pause is not a promise made
Truth still stands… not delayed
Verse 2 — The Arrest at the Gate
I left the city to pass through
The Benjamin Gate, a simple move
But Irijah seized me where I stood
“You’re deserting!” — he misunderstood
I said, “It’s false — I speak the truth”
But lies outweighed my spoken proof
They beat me down, confined my feet
In vaulted cells beneath the street
Chorus — Bound for Speaking
I spoke the word the Lord had said
Now iron chains lay where I tread
Truth is punished, lies walk free
In halls where justice should be
Yet every blow, every wrong
Does not erase… the truth of God
Bridge — A Whispered Question
The king sent word in secret still
“Is there a word from God — a will?”
I said, “There is,” though danger grew
“You will be handed over — true”
Why ask for truth, then turn away?
Why seek the word you won’t obey?
The silence answers what hearts choose
Truth is costly… lies amuse
Verse 3 — Mercy in Chains
I pleaded then for justice fair
“Do not return me to die there
I have not wronged this land or throne
Why should my life be overthrown?”
The king relented, ordered bread
A daily loaf until it fled
Though bars remained, and nights were long
The word still lived… the truth stayed strong
Final Chorus — The Word Remains
You can confine the messenger
But truth itself will still endure
The cell is dark, the future thin
But God still speaks… even within
The siege will rise, the city fall
Yet truth stands firm… through it all
Outro — Faithful Still
From palace halls to prison floor
The word unchanged, the cost still sore
If truth must live in chains awhile
It waits its time… it waits its mile
