Then Jeremiah said unto Zedekiah, If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death? and if I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me?
If I give thee counsel, wilt thou not hearken unto me? Zedekiah does not answer this last query; the former one, "If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not put me to death?" he replies to in Jeremiah 38:16. Rather translate, 'Thou wilt not hearken to me.' Jeremiah judges so from the past conduct of the king. Compare Jeremiah 38:17 with Jeremiah 38:19.