The word{H1697} that came to Jeremiah{H3414} from the LORD{H3068}, after{H310} that Nebuzaradan{H5018} the captain{H7227} of the guard{H2876} had let him go{H7971}{(H8763)} from Ramah{H7414}, when he had taken{H3947}{(H8800)} him being bound{H631}{(H8803)} in chains{H246} among{H8432} all that were carried away captive{H1546} of Jerusalem{H3389} and Judah{H3063}, which were carried away captive{H1540}{(H8716)} unto Babylon{H894}.

And the captain{H7227} of the guard{H2876} took{H3947}{(H8799)} Jeremiah{H3414}, and said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, The LORD{H3068} thy God{H430} hath pronounced{H1696}{(H8765)} this evil{H7451} upon this place{H4725}.

Now the LORD{H3068} hath brought{H935}{(H8686)} it, and done{H6213}{(H8799)} according as he hath said{H1696}{(H8765)}: because ye have sinned{H2398}{(H8804)} against the LORD{H3068}, and have not obeyed{H8085}{(H8804)} his voice{H6963}, therefore this thing{H1697} is come upon you.

And now, behold, I loose{H6605}{(H8765)} thee this day{H3117} from the chains{H246} which were upon thine hand{H3027}. If it seem good{H2896}{H5869} unto thee to come{H935}{(H8800)} with me into Babylon{H894}, come{H935}{(H8798)}; and I will look well{H7760}{(H8799)}{H5869} unto thee: but if it seem ill{H7489}{(H8804)}{H5869} unto thee to come{H935}{(H8800)} with me into Babylon{H894}, forbear{H2308}{(H8798)}: behold{H7200}{(H8798)}, all the land{H776} is before{H6440} thee: whither it seemeth{H413} good{H2896} and convenient{H3477}{H5869} for thee to go{H3212}{(H8800)}, thither go{H3212}{(H8798)}.

Now while he was not yet gone back{H7725}{(H8799)}, he said, Go back{H7725}{(H8798)} also to Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} the son{H1121} of Shaphan{H8227}, whom the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} hath made governor{H6485}{(H8689)} over the cities{H5892} of Judah{H3063}, and dwell{H3427}{(H8798)} with him among{H8432} the people{H5971}: or go{H3212}{(H8798)} wheresoever it seemeth convenient{H3477}{H5869} unto thee to go{H3212}{(H8800)}. So the captain{H7227} of the guard{H2876} gave{H5414}{(H8799)} him victuals{H737} and a reward{H4864}, and let him go{H7971}{(H8762)}.

Then went{H935}{(H8799)} Jeremiah{H3414} unto Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} to Mizpah{H4708}; and dwelt{H3427}{(H8799)} with him among{H8432} the people{H5971} that were left{H7604}{(H8737)} in the land{H776}.

Now when all the captains{H8269} of the forces{H2428} which were in the fields{H7704}, even they and their men{H582}, heard{H8085}{(H8799)} that the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} had made Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} governor{H6485}{(H8689)} in the land{H776}, and had committed{H6485}{(H8689)} unto him men{H582}, and women{H802}, and children{H2945}, and of the poor{H1803} of the land{H776}, of them that were not carried away captive{H1540}{(H8717)} to Babylon{H894};

Then they came{H935}{(H8799)} to Gedaliah{H1436} to Mizpah{H4708}, even Ishmael{H3458} the son{H1121} of Nethaniah{H5418}, and Johanan{H3110} and Jonathan{H3129} the sons{H1121} of Kareah{H7143}, and Seraiah{H8304} the son{H1121} of Tanhumeth{H8576}, and the sons{H1121} of Ephai{H5778} the Netophathite{H5200}, and Jezaniah{H3153} the son{H1121} of a Maachathite{H4602}, they and their men{H582}.

And Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} the son{H1121} of Shaphan{H8227} sware{H7650}{(H8735)} unto them and to their men{H582}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Fear{H3372}{(H8799)} not to serve{H5647}{(H8800)} the Chaldeans{H3778}: dwell in{H3427}{(H8798)} the land{H776}, and serve{H5647}{(H8798)} the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894}, and it shall be well{H3190}{(H8799)} with you.

As for me, behold, I will dwell{H3427}{(H8802)} at Mizpah{H4709} to serve{H5975}{(H8800)}{H6440} the Chaldeans{H3778}, which will come{H935}{(H8799)} unto us: but ye, gather{H622}{(H8798)} ye wine{H3196}, and summer fruits{H7019}, and oil{H8081}, and put{H7760}{(H8798)} them in your vessels{H3627}, and dwell{H3427}{(H8798)} in your cities{H5892} that ye have taken{H8610}{(H8804)}.

Likewise when all the Jews{H3064} that were in Moab{H4124}, and among the Ammonites{H5983}, and in Edom{H123}, and that were in all the countries{H776}, heard{H8085}{(H8804)} that the king{H4428} of Babylon{H894} had left{H5414}{(H8804)} a remnant{H7611} of Judah{H3063}, and that he had set{H6485}{(H8689)} over them Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} the son{H1121} of Shaphan{H8227};

Even all the Jews{H3064} returned out{H7725}{(H8799)} of all places{H4725} whither they were driven{H5080}{(H8738)}, and came{H935}{(H8799)} to the land{H776} of Judah{H3063}, to Gedaliah{H1436}, unto Mizpah{H4708}, and gathered{H622}{(H8799)} wine{H3196} and summer fruits{H7019} very{H3966} much{H7235}{(H8687)}.

Moreover Johanan{H3110} the son{H1121} of Kareah{H7143}, and all the captains{H8269} of the forces{H2428} that were in the fields{H7704}, came{H935}{(H8804)} to Gedaliah{H1436} to Mizpah{H4708},

And said{H559}{(H8799)} unto him, Dost thou certainly{H3045}{(H8800)} know{H3045}{(H8799)} that Baalis{H1185} the king{H4428} of the Ammonites{H1121}{H5983} hath sent{H7971}{(H8804)} Ishmael{H3458} the son{H1121} of Nethaniah{H5418} to slay{H5221}{(H8687)}{H5315} thee? But Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} believed{H539}{(H8689)} them not.

Then Johanan{H3110} the son{H1121} of Kareah{H7143} spake{H559}{(H8804)} to Gedaliah{H1436} in Mizpah{H4709} secretly{H5643}, saying{H559}{(H8800)}, Let me go{H3212}{(H8799)}, I pray thee, and I will slay{H5221}{(H8686)} Ishmael{H3458} the son{H1121} of Nethaniah{H5418}, and no man{H376} shall know{H3045}{(H8799)} it: wherefore should he slay{H5221}{(H8686)}{H5315} thee, that all the Jews{H3064} which are gathered{H6908}{(H8737)} unto thee should be scattered{H6327}{(H8738)}, and the remnant{H7611} in Judah{H3063} perish{H6}{(H8804)}?

But Gedaliah{H1436} the son{H1121} of Ahikam{H296} said{H559}{(H8799)} unto Johanan{H3110} the son{H1121} of Kareah{H7143}, Thou shalt not do{H6213}{(H8799)} this thing{H1697}: for thou speakest{H1696}{(H8802)} falsely{H8267} of Ishmael{H3458}.