1 Now these are the words|strong="H1697" of the letter|strong="H5612" that Jeremiah|strong="H3414" the prophet|strong="H5030" sent|strong="H7971" from Jerusalem|strong="H3389" unto the residue|strong="H3499" of the elders|strong="H2205" which were carried away captives|strong="H1473", and to the priests|strong="H3548", and to the prophets|strong="H5030", and to all the people|strong="H5971" whom Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" had carried away captive|strong="H1540" from Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to Babylon|strong="H0894";
2 (After|strong="H0310" that Jeconiah|strong="H3204" the king|strong="H4428", and the queen|strong="H1377", and the eunuchs|strong="H5631", the princes|strong="H8269" of Judah|strong="H3063" and Jerusalem|strong="H3389", and the carpenters|strong="H2796", and the smiths|strong="H4525", were departed|strong="H3318" from Jerusalem|strong="H3389";)
3 By the hand|strong="H3027" of Elasah|strong="H0501" the son|strong="H1121" of Shaphan|strong="H8227", and Gemariah|strong="H1587" the son|strong="H1121" of Hilkiah|strong="H2518", (whom Zedekiah|strong="H6667" king|strong="H4428" of Judah|strong="H3063" sent|strong="H7971" unto Babylon|strong="H0894" to Nebuchadnezzar|strong="H5019" king|strong="H4428" of Babylon|strong="H0894") saying|strong="H0559",
4 Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635", the God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478", unto all that are carried away captives|strong="H1473", whom I have caused to be carried away|strong="H1540" from Jerusalem|strong="H3389" unto Babylon|strong="H0894";
5 Build|strong="H1129" ye houses|strong="H1004", and dwell|strong="H3427" in them; and plant|strong="H5193" gardens|strong="H1593", and eat|strong="H0398" the fruit|strong="H6529" of them;
6 Take|strong="H3947" ye wives|strong="H0802", and beget|strong="H3205" sons|strong="H1121" and daughters|strong="H1323"; and take|strong="H3947" wives|strong="H0802" for your sons|strong="H1121", and give|strong="H5414" your daughters|strong="H1323" to husbands|strong="H0582", that they may bear|strong="H3205" sons|strong="H1121" and daughters|strong="H1121"; that ye may be increased|strong="H7235" there, and not diminished|strong="H4591".
7 And seek|strong="H1875" the peace|strong="H7965" of the city|strong="H5892" whither I have caused you to be carried away captives|strong="H1540", and pray|strong="H6419" unto the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* for it: for in the peace|strong="H7965" thereof shall ye have peace|strong="H7965".
8 For thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635", the God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478"; Let not your prophets|strong="H5030" and your diviners|strong="H7080", that be in the midst|strong="H7130" of you, deceive|strong="H5377" you, neither hearken|strong="H8085" to your dreams|strong="H2472" which ye cause to be dreamed|strong="H2492".
9 For they prophesy|strong="H5012" falsely|strong="H8267" unto you in my name|strong="H8034": I have not sent|strong="H7971" them, saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*.
10 For thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, That after|strong="H6310" seventy|strong="H7657" years|strong="H8141" be accomplished|strong="H4390" at Babylon|strong="H0894" I will visit|strong="H6485" you, and perform|strong="H6965" my good|strong="H2896" word|strong="H1697" toward you, in causing you to return|strong="H7725" to this place|strong="H4725".
11 For I know|strong="H3045" the thoughts|strong="H4284" that I think|strong="H2803" toward you, saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, thoughts|strong="H4284" of peace|strong="H7965", and not of evil|strong="H7451", to give|strong="H5414" you an expected|strong="H8615" end|strong="H0319".
12 Then shall ye call|strong="H7121" upon me, and ye shall go|strong="H1980" and pray|strong="H6419" unto me, and I will hearken|strong="H8085" unto you.
13 And ye shall seek|strong="H1245" me, and find|strong="H4672" me, when ye shall search|strong="H1875" for me with all your heart|strong="H3824".
14 And I will be found|strong="H4672" of you, saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*: and I will turn away|strong="H7725" your captivity|strong="H7622", and I will gather|strong="H6908" you from all the nations|strong="H1471", and from all the places|strong="H4725" whither I have driven|strong="H5080" you, saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*; and I will bring you again|strong="H7725" into the place|strong="H4725" whence I caused you to be carried away captive|strong="H1540".
15 Because ye have said|strong="H0559", The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* hath raised us up|strong="H6965" prophets|strong="H5030" in Babylon|strong="H0894";
16 Know that thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of the king|strong="H4428" that sitteth|strong="H3427" upon the throne|strong="H3678" of David|strong="H1732", and of all the people|strong="H5971" that dwelleth|strong="H3427" in this city|strong="H5892", and of your brethren|strong="H0251" that are not gone forth|strong="H3318" with you into captivity|strong="H1473";
17 Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635"; Behold, I will send|strong="H7971" upon them the sword|strong="H2719", the famine|strong="H7458", and the pestilence|strong="H1698", and will make|strong="H5414" them like vile|strong="H8182" figs|strong="H8384", that cannot be eaten|strong="H0398", they are so evil|strong="H7455".
18 And I will persecute|strong="H7291" them|strong="H0310" with the sword|strong="H2719", with the famine|strong="H7458", and with the pestilence|strong="H1698", and will deliver|strong="H5414" them to be removed|strong="H2189" to all the kingdoms|strong="H4467" of the earth|strong="H0776", to be a curse|strong="H0423", and an astonishment|strong="H8047", and an hissing|strong="H8322", and a reproach|strong="H2781", among all the nations|strong="H1471" whither I have driven|strong="H5080" them:
19 Because they have not hearkened|strong="H8085" to my words|strong="H1697", saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, which I sent|strong="H7971" unto them by my servants|strong="H5650" the prophets|strong="H5030", rising up early|strong="H7925" and sending|strong="H7971" them; but ye would not hear|strong="H8085", saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*.
20 Hear|strong="H8085" ye therefore the word|strong="H1697" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, all ye of the captivity|strong="H1473", whom I have sent|strong="H7971" from Jerusalem|strong="H3389" to Babylon|strong="H0894":
21 Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635", the God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478", of Ahab|strong="H0256" the son|strong="H1121" of Kolaiah|strong="H6964", and of Zedekiah|strong="H6667" the son|strong="H1121" of Maaseiah|strong="H4641", which prophesy|strong="H5012" a lie|strong="H8267" unto you in my name|strong="H8034"; Behold, I will deliver|strong="H5414" them into the hand|strong="H3027" of Nebuchadrezzar|strong="H5019" king|strong="H4428" of Babylon|strong="H0894"; and he shall slay|strong="H5221" them before your eyes|strong="H5869";
22 And of them shall be taken up|strong="H3947" a curse|strong="H7045" by all the captivity|strong="H1546" of Judah|strong="H3063" which are in Babylon|strong="H0894", saying|strong="H0559", The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* make|strong="H7760" thee like Zedekiah|strong="H6667" and like Ahab|strong="H0256", whom the king|strong="H4428" of Babylon|strong="H0894" roasted|strong="H7033" in the fire|strong="H0784";
23 Because they have committed|strong="H6213" villany|strong="H5039" in Israel|strong="H3478", and have committed|strong="H6213" adultery|strong="H5003" with their neighbours’|strong="H7453" wives|strong="H0802", and have spoken|strong="H1696" lying|strong="H8267" words|strong="H1697" in my name|strong="H8034", which I have not commanded|strong="H6680" them; even I know|strong="H3045", and am a witness|strong="H5707", saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*.
24 Thus shalt thou also speak|strong="H0559" to Shemaiah|strong="H8098" the Nehelamite|strong="H5161", saying|strong="H0559",
25 Thus speaketh|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* of hosts|strong="H6635", the God|strong="H0430" of Israel|strong="H3478", saying|strong="H0559", Because thou hast sent|strong="H7971" letters|strong="H5612" in thy name|strong="H8034" unto all the people|strong="H5971" that are at Jerusalem|strong="H3389", and to Zephaniah|strong="H6846" the son|strong="H1121" of Maaseiah|strong="H4641" the priest|strong="H3548", and to all the priests|strong="H3548", saying|strong="H0559",
26 The \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* hath made|strong="H5414" thee priest|strong="H3548" in the stead of Jehoiada|strong="H3077" the priest|strong="H3548", that ye should be officers|strong="H6496" in the house|strong="H1004" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*, for every man|strong="H0376" that is mad|strong="H7696", and maketh himself a prophet|strong="H5012", that thou shouldest put|strong="H5414" him in prison|strong="H4115", and in the stocks|strong="H6729".
27 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved|strong="H1605" Jeremiah|strong="H3414" of Anathoth|strong="H6069", which maketh himself a prophet|strong="H5012" to you?
28 For therefore he sent|strong="H7971" unto us in Babylon|strong="H0894", saying|strong="H0559", This|strong="H1931" captivity is long|strong="H0752": build|strong="H1129" ye houses|strong="H1004", and dwell|strong="H3427" in them; and plant|strong="H5193" gardens|strong="H1593", and eat|strong="H0398" the fruit|strong="H6529" of them.
29 And Zephaniah|strong="H6846" the priest|strong="H3548" read|strong="H7121" this letter|strong="H5612" in the ears|strong="H0241" of Jeremiah|strong="H3414" the prophet|strong="H5030".
30 Then came the word|strong="H1697" of the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* unto Jeremiah|strong="H3414", saying|strong="H0559",
31 Send|strong="H7971" to all them of the captivity|strong="H1473", saying|strong="H0559", Thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w* concerning Shemaiah|strong="H8098" the Nehelamite|strong="H5161"; Because that Shemaiah|strong="H8098" hath prophesied|strong="H5012" unto you, and I sent|strong="H7971" him not, and he caused you to trust|strong="H0982" in a lie|strong="H8267":
32 Therefore thus saith|strong="H0559" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*; Behold, I will punish|strong="H6485" Shemaiah|strong="H8098" the Nehelamite|strong="H5161", and his seed|strong="H2233": he shall not have a man|strong="H0376" to dwell|strong="H3427" among|strong="H8432" this people|strong="H5971"; neither shall he behold|strong="H7200" the good|strong="H2896" that I will do|strong="H6213" for my people|strong="H5971", saith|strong="H5002" the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*; because he hath taught|strong="H1696" rebellion|strong="H5627" against the \+w LORD|strong="H3068"\+w*.