Now these are the words{H1697} of the letter{H5612} that Jeremiah{H3414} the prophet{H5030} sent{H7971}{(H8804)} from Jerusalem{H3389} unto the residue{H3499} of the elders{H2205} which were carried away captives{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}{(H8689)} from Jerusalem{H3389} to Babylon{H894};

(After{H310} that Jeconiah{H3204} the king{H4428}, and the queen{H1377}, and the eunuchs{H5631}, the princes{H8269} of Judah{H3063} and Jerusalem{H3389}, and the carpenters{H2796}, and the smiths{H4525}, were departed{H3318}{(H8800)} 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}{(H8804)} unto Babylon{H894} to Nebuchadnezzar{H5019} king{H4428} of Babylon{H894}) saying{H559}{(H8800)},

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}, the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, unto all that are carried away captives{H1473}, whom I have caused to be carried away{H1540}{(H8689)} from Jerusalem{H3389} unto Babylon{H894};

Build{H1129}{(H8798)} ye houses{H1004}, and dwell{H3427}{(H8798)} in them; and plant{H5193}{(H8798)} gardens{H1593}, and eat{H398}{(H8798)} the fruit{H6529} of them;

Take{H3947}{(H8798)} ye wives{H802}, and beget{H3205}{(H8685)} sons{H1121} and daughters{H1323}; and take{H3947}{(H8798)} wives{H802} for your sons{H1121}, and give{H5414}{(H8798)} your daughters{H1323} to husbands{H582}, that they may bear{H3205}{(H8799)} sons{H1121} and daughters{H1121}; that ye may be increased{H7235}{(H8798)} there, and not diminished{H4591}{(H8799)}.

And seek{H1875}{(H8798)} the peace{H7965} of the city{H5892} whither I have caused you to be carried away captives{H1540}{(H8689)}, and pray{H6419}{(H8690)} unto the LORD{H3068} for it: for in the peace{H7965} thereof shall ye have peace{H7965}.

For thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}, the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}; Let not your prophets{H5030} and your diviners{H7080}{(H8802)}, that be in the midst{H7130} of you, deceive{H5377}{(H8686)} you, neither hearken{H8085}{(H8799)} to your dreams{H2472} which ye cause to be dreamed{H2492}{(H8688)}.

For they prophesy{H5012}{(H8737)} falsely{H8267} unto you in my name{H8034}: I have not sent{H7971}{(H8804)} them, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}.

For thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}, That after{H6310} seventy{H7657} years{H8141} be accomplished{H4390}{(H8800)} at Babylon{H894} I will visit{H6485}{(H8799)} you, and perform{H6965}{(H8689)} my good{H2896} word{H1697} toward you, in causing you to return{H7725}{(H8687)} to this place{H4725}.

For I know{H3045}{(H8804)} the thoughts{H4284} that I think{H2803}{(H8802)} toward you, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}, thoughts{H4284} of peace{H7965}, and not of evil{H7451}, to give{H5414}{(H8800)} you an expected{H8615} end{H319}.

Then shall ye call{H7121}{(H8804)} upon me, and ye shall go{H1980}{(H8804)} and pray{H6419}{(H8694)} unto me, and I will hearken{H8085}{(H8804)} unto you.

And ye shall seek{H1245}{(H8765)} me, and find{H4672}{(H8804)} me, when ye shall search{H1875}{(H8799)} for me with all your heart{H3824}.

And I will be found{H4672}{(H8738)} of you, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}: and I will turn away{H7725}{(H8804)} your captivity{H7622}{(H8675)}{H7622}, and I will gather{H6908}{(H8765)} you from all the nations{H1471}, and from all the places{H4725} whither I have driven{H5080}{(H8689)} you, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}; and I will bring you again{H7725}{(H8689)} into the place{H4725} whence I caused you to be carried away captive{H1540}{(H8689)}.

Because ye have said{H559}{(H8804)}, The LORD{H3068} hath raised us up{H6965}{(H8689)} prophets{H5030} in Babylon{H894};

Know that thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of the king{H4428} that sitteth{H3427}{(H8802)} upon the throne{H3678} of David{H1732}, and of all the people{H5971} that dwelleth{H3427}{(H8802)} in this city{H5892}, and of your brethren{H251} that are not gone forth{H3318}{(H8804)} with you into captivity{H1473};

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}; Behold, I will send{H7971}{(H8764)} upon them the sword{H2719}, the famine{H7458}, and the pestilence{H1698}, and will make{H5414}{(H8804)} them like vile{H8182} figs{H8384}, that cannot be eaten{H398}{(H8735)}, they are so evil{H7455}.

And I will persecute{H7291}{(H8804)} them{H310} with the sword{H2719}, with the famine{H7458}, and with the pestilence{H1698}, and will deliver{H5414}{(H8804)} them to be removed{H2189}{(H8675)}{H2113} to all the kingdoms{H4467} of the earth{H776}, to be a curse{H423}, and an astonishment{H8047}, and an hissing{H8322}, and a reproach{H2781}, among all the nations{H1471} whither I have driven{H5080}{(H8689)} them:

Because they have not hearkened{H8085}{(H8804)} to my words{H1697}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}, which I sent{H7971}{(H8804)} unto them by my servants{H5650} the prophets{H5030}, rising up early{H7925}{(H8687)} and sending{H7971}{(H8800)} them; but ye would not hear{H8085}{(H8804)}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}.

Hear{H8085}{(H8798)} ye therefore the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068}, all ye of the captivity{H1473}, whom I have sent{H7971}{(H8765)} from Jerusalem{H3389} to Babylon{H894}:

Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}, the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, of Ahab{H256} the son{H1121} of Kolaiah{H6964}, and of Zedekiah{H6667} the son{H1121} of Maaseiah{H4641}, which prophesy{H5012}{(H8737)} a lie{H8267} unto you in my name{H8034}; Behold, I will deliver{H5414}{(H8802)} them into the hand{H3027} of Nebuchadrezzar{H5019} king{H4428} of Babylon{H894}; and he shall slay{H5221}{(H8689)} them before your eyes{H5869};

And of them shall be taken up{H3947}{(H8795)} a curse{H7045} by all the captivity{H1546} of Judah{H3063} which are in Babylon{H894}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, The LORD{H3068} make{H7760}{(H8799)} thee like Zedekiah{H6667} and like Ahab{H256}, whom the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} roasted{H7033}{(H8804)} in the fire{H784};

Because they have committed{H6213}{(H8804)} villany{H5039} in Israel{H3478}, and have committed{H6213}{(H8804)} adultery{H5003}{(H8762)} with their neighbours{H7453}' wives{H802}, and have spoken{H1696}{(H8762)} lying{H8267} words{H1697} in my name{H8034}, which I have not commanded{H6680}{(H8765)} them; even I know{H3045}{(H8802)}, and am a witness{H5707}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}.

Thus shalt thou also speak{H559}{(H8799)} to Shemaiah{H8098} the Nehelamite{H5161}, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

Thus speaketh{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} of hosts{H6635}, the God{H430} of Israel{H3478}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Because thou hast sent{H7971}{(H8804)} letters{H5612} in thy 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}{(H8800)},

The LORD{H3068} hath made{H5414}{(H8804)} thee priest{H3548} in the stead of Jehoiada{H3077} the priest{H3548}, that ye should be officers{H6496} in the house{H1004} of the LORD{H3068}, for every man{H376} that is mad{H7696}{(H8794)}, and maketh himself a prophet{H5012}{(H8693)}, that thou shouldest put{H5414}{(H8804)} him in prison{H4115}, and in the stocks{H6729}.

Now therefore why hast thou not reproved{H1605}{(H8804)} Jeremiah{H3414} of Anathoth{H6069}, which maketh himself a prophet{H5012}{(H8693)} to you?

For therefore he sent{H7971}{(H8804)} unto us in Babylon{H894}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, This{H1931} captivity is long{H752}: build{H1129}{(H8798)} ye houses{H1004}, and dwell{H3427}{(H8798)} in them; and plant{H5193}{(H8798)} gardens{H1593}, and eat{H398}{(H8798)} the fruit{H6529} of them.

And Zephaniah{H6846} the priest{H3548} read{H7121}{(H8799)} this letter{H5612} in the ears{H241} of Jeremiah{H3414} the prophet{H5030}.

Then came the word{H1697} of the LORD{H3068} unto Jeremiah{H3414}, saying{H559}{(H8800)},

Send{H7971}{(H8798)} to all them of the captivity{H1473}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068} concerning Shemaiah{H8098} the Nehelamite{H5161}; Because that Shemaiah{H8098} hath prophesied{H5012}{(H8738)} unto you, and I sent{H7971}{(H8804)} him not, and he caused you to trust{H982}{(H8686)} in a lie{H8267}:

Therefore thus saith{H559}{(H8804)} the LORD{H3068}; Behold, I will punish{H6485}{(H8802)} Shemaiah{H8098} the Nehelamite{H5161}, and his seed{H2233}: he shall not have a man{H376} to dwell{H3427}{(H8802)} among{H8432} this people{H5971}; neither shall he behold{H7200}{(H8799)} the good{H2896} that I will do{H6213}{(H8802)} for my people{H5971}, saith{H5002}{(H8803)} the LORD{H3068}; because he hath taught{H1696}{(H8765)} rebellion{H5627} against the LORD{H3068}.