Now these are the words{H1697} of the letter{H5612} that Jeremiah{H3414} the prophet{H5030} sent{H7971} from Jerusalem{H3389} unto the residue{H3499} of the elders{H2205} of the captivity,{H1473} and to the priests,{H3548} and to the prophets,{H5030} and to all the people,{H5971} whom Nebuchadnezzar{H5019} had carried away captive{H1540} from Jerusalem{H3389} to Babylon,{H894}

(after{H310} that Jeconiah{H3204} the king,{H4428} and the queen-mother,{H1377} and the eunuchs,{H5631} [and] the princes{H8269} of Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem,{H3389} and the craftsmen,{H2796} and the smiths,{H4525} were departed{H3318} from Jerusalem,){H3389}

by the hand{H3027} of Elasah{H501} the son{H1121} of Shaphan,{H8227} and Gemariah{H1587} the son{H1121} of Hilkiah,{H2518} (whom Zedekiah{H6667} king{H4428} of Judah{H3063} sent{H7971} unto Babylon{H894} to Nebuchadnezzar{H5019} king{H4428} of Babylon,){H894} saying,{H559}

Thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} of hosts,{H6635} the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} unto all the captivity, whom I have caused to be carried away{H1540} captive{H1473} from Jerusalem{H3389} unto Babylon:{H894}

Build{H1129} ye houses,{H1004} and dwell{H3427} in them; and plant{H5193} gardens,{H1593} and eat{H398} the fruit{H6529} of them.

Take{H3947} ye wives,{H802} and beget{H3205} sons{H1121} and daughters;{H1323} and take{H3947} wives{H802} for your sons,{H1121} and give{H5414} your daughters{H1323} to husbands,{H582} that they may bear{H3205} sons{H1121} and daughters;{H1121} and multiply{H7235} ye there, and be not diminished.{H4591}

And seek{H1875} the peace{H7965} of the city{H5892} whither I have caused you to be carried away captive,{H1540} and pray{H6419} unto Jehovah{H3068} for it; for in the peace{H7965} thereof shall ye have peace.{H7965}

For thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} of hosts,{H6635} the God{H430} of Israel:{H3478} Let not your prophets{H5030} that are in the midst{H7130} of you, and your diviners,{H7080} deceive{H5377} you; neither hearken{H8085} ye to your dreams{H2472} which ye cause to be dreamed.{H2492}

For they prophesy{H5012} falsely{H8267} unto you in my name:{H8034} I have not sent{H7971} them, saith{H5002} Jehovah.{H3068}

For thus saith{H559} Jehovah,{H3068} After{H6310} seventy{H7657} years{H8141} are accomplished{H4390} for Babylon,{H894} I will visit{H6485} you, and perform{H6965} my good{H2896} word{H1697} toward you, in causing you to return{H7725} to this place.{H4725}

For I know{H3045} the thoughts{H4284} that I think{H2803} toward you, saith{H5002} Jehovah,{H3068} thoughts{H4284} of peace,{H7965} and not of evil,{H7451} to give{H5414} you hope in your latter{H8615} end.{H319}

And ye shall call{H7121} upon me, and ye shall go{H1980} and pray{H6419} unto me, and I will hearken{H8085} unto you.

And ye shall seek{H1245} me, and find{H4672} me, when ye shall search{H1875} for me with all your heart.{H3824}

And I will be found{H4672} of you, saith{H5002} Jehovah,{H3068} and I will turn again{H7725} your captivity,{H7622} and I will gather{H6908} you from all the nations,{H1471} and from all the places{H4725} whither I have driven{H5080} you, saith{H5002} Jehovah;{H3068} and I will bring you again{H7725} unto the place{H4725} whence I caused you to be carried away captive.{H1540}

Because ye have said,{H559} Jehovah{H3068} hath raised us up{H6965} prophets{H5030} in Babylon;{H894}

thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} concerning the king{H4428} that sitteth{H3427} upon the throne{H3678} of David,{H1732} and concerning all the people{H5971} that dwell{H3427} in this city,{H5892} your brethren{H251} that are not gone forth{H3318} with you into captivity;{H1473}

thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} of hosts;{H6635} Behold, I will send{H7971} upon them the sword,{H2719} the famine,{H7458} and the pestilence,{H1698} and will make{H5414} them like vile{H8182} figs,{H8384} that cannot be eaten,{H398} they are so bad.{H7455}

And I will pursue{H7291} after them{H310} with the sword,{H2719} with the famine,{H7458} and with the pestilence,{H1698} and will deliver{H5414} them to be tossed{H2189} to and fro among all the kingdoms{H4467} of the earth,{H776} to be an execration,{H423} and an astonishment,{H8047} and a hissing,{H8322} and a reproach,{H2781} among all the nations{H1471} whither I have driven{H5080} them;

because they have not hearkened{H8085} to my words,{H1697} saith{H5002} Jehovah,{H3068} wherewith I sent{H7971} unto them my servants{H5650} the prophets,{H5030} rising up early{H7925} and sending{H7971} them; but ye would not hear,{H8085} saith{H5002} Jehovah.{H3068}

Hear{H8085} ye therefore the word{H1697} of Jehovah,{H3068} all ye of the captivity,{H1473} whom I have sent{H7971} away from Jerusalem{H3389} to Babylon.{H894}

Thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} of hosts,{H6635} the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} concerning Ahab{H256} the son{H1121} of Kolaiah,{H6964} and concerning Zedekiah{H6667} the son{H1121} of Maaseiah,{H4641} who prophesy{H5012} a lie{H8267} unto you in my name:{H8034} Behold, I will deliver{H5414} them into the hand{H3027} of Nebuchadrezzar{H5019} king{H4428} of Babylon;{H894} and he shall slay{H5221} them before your eyes;{H5869}

and of them shall be taken up{H3947} a curse{H7045} by all the captives{H1546} of Judah{H3063} that are in Babylon,{H894} saying,{H559} Jehovah{H3068} make{H7760} thee like Zedekiah{H6667} and like Ahab,{H256} whom the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} roasted{H7033} in the fire;{H784}

because they have wrought{H6213} folly{H5039} in Israel,{H3478} and have committed{H6213} adultery{H5003} with their neighbors'{H7453} wives,{H802} and have spoken{H1696} words{H1697} in my name{H8034} falsely,{H8267} which I commanded{H6680} them not; and I am he that knoweth,{H3045} and am witness,{H5707} saith{H5002} Jehovah.{H3068}

And concerning Shemaiah{H8098} the Nehelamite{H5161} thou shalt speak,{H559} saying,{H559}

Thus speaketh{H559} Jehovah{H3068} of hosts,{H6635} the God{H430} of Israel,{H3478} saying,{H559} Because thou hast sent{H7971} letters{H5612} in thine own name{H8034} unto all the people{H5971} that are at Jerusalem,{H3389} and to Zephaniah{H6846} the son{H1121} of Maaseiah,{H4641} the priest,{H3548} and to all the priests,{H3548} saying,{H559}

Jehovah{H3068} hath made{H5414} thee priest{H3548} in the stead of Jehoiada{H3077} the priest,{H3548} that there may be officers{H6496} in the house{H1004} of Jehovah,{H3068} for every man{H376} that is mad,{H7696} and maketh himself a prophet,{H5012} that thou shouldest put{H5414} him in the stocks{H6729} and in shackles.{H4115}

Now therefore, why hast thou not rebuked{H1605} Jeremiah{H3414} of Anathoth,{H6069} who maketh himself a prophet{H5012} to you,

forasmuch as he hath sent{H7971} unto us in Babylon,{H894} saying,{H559} [The]{H1931} [captivity] is long:{H752} build{H1129} ye houses,{H1004} and dwell{H3427} in them; and plant{H5193} gardens,{H1593} and eat{H398} the fruit{H6529} of them?

And Zephaniah{H6846} the priest{H3548} read{H7121} this letter{H5612} in the ears{H241} of Jeremiah{H3414} the prophet.{H5030}

Then came the word{H1697} of Jehovah{H3068} unto Jeremiah,{H3414} saying,{H559}

Send{H7971} to all them of the captivity,{H1473} saying,{H559} Thus saith{H559} Jehovah{H3068} concerning Shemaiah{H8098} the Nehelamite:{H5161} Because that Shemaiah{H8098} hath prophesied{H5012} unto you, and I sent{H7971} him not, and he hath caused you to trust{H982} in a lie;{H8267}

therefore thus saith{H559} Jehovah,{H3068} Behold, I will punish{H6485} Shemaiah{H8098} the Nehelamite,{H5161} and his seed;{H2233} he shall not have a man{H376} to dwell{H3427} among{H8432} this people,{H5971} neither shall he behold{H7200} the good{H2896} that I will do{H6213} unto my people,{H5971} saith{H5002} Jehovah,{H3068} because he hath spoken{H1696} rebellion{H5627} against Jehovah.{H3068}