|
|
|
|
1. These are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the man of God sent from Jerusalem to the leaders, the religious leaders, the men of God, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken away from Jerusalem to Babylon.
|
1. Now these H428 are the words H1697 of the letter H5612 that H834 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 sent H7971 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 unto H413 the residue H3499 of the elders H2205 which were carried away captives H1473 , and to H413 the priests H3548 , and to H413 the prophets H5030 , and to H413 all H3605 the people H5971 whom H834 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 had carried away captive H1540 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 to Babylon H894 ;
|
|
2. (This was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the king's servants, the rulers of Judah and Jerusalem, and the able workmen had left Jerusalem.)
|
2. (After that H310 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 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 ;)
|
|
3. The letter was sent with Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said,
|
3. By the hand H3027 of Elasah H501 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 , and Gemariah H1587 the son H1121 of Hilkiah H2518 , ( whom H834 Zedekiah H6667 king H4428 of Judah H3063 sent H7971 unto Babylon H894 to H413 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 ) saying H559 ,
|
|
4. "This is what the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says to all of His people who have been sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:
|
4. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 , unto all H3605 that are carried away captives H1473 , whom H834 I have caused to be carried away H1540 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 unto Babylon H894 ;
|
|
5. 'Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit.
|
5. Build H1129 ye houses H1004 , and dwell H3427 in them ; and plant H5193 gardens H1593 , and eat H398 H853 the fruit H6529 of them;
|
|
6. Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters. And take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may give birth to sons and daughters. Become many there, and do not let your number become less.
|
6. 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 H376 , that they may bear H3205 sons H1121 and daughters H1323 ; that ye may be increased H7235 there H8033 , and not H408 diminished H4591 .
|
|
7. Work for the well-being of the city where I have sent you to and pray to the Lord for this. For if it is well with the city you live in, it will be well with you.'
|
7. And seek H1875 H853 the peace H7965 of the city H5892 whither H834 H8033 I have caused you to be carried away captives H1540 , and pray H6419 unto H413 the LORD H3068 for H1157 it: for H3588 in the peace H7965 thereof shall ye have H1961 peace H7965 .
|
|
8. For the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, 'Do not let the people among you who tell what is going to happen in the future and those who use their secret ways fool you. Do not listen to their dreams.
|
8. For H3588 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 ; Let not H408 your prophets H5030 and your diviners H7080 , that H834 be in the midst H7130 of you, deceive H5377 you, neither H408 hearken H8085 to H413 your dreams H2472 which H834 ye H859 cause to be dreamed H2492 .
|
|
9. For they speak false words to you in My name. I have not sent them,' says the Lord.
|
9. For H3588 they H1992 prophesy H5012 falsely H8267 unto you in my name H8034 : I have not H3808 sent H7971 them, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
|
|
10. "For the Lord says, 'When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My promise to you. I will bring you back to this place.
|
10. For H3588 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , That H3588 after H6310 seventy H7657 years H8141 be accomplished H4390 at Babylon H894 I will visit H6485 you , and perform H6965 H853 my good H2896 word H1697 toward H5921 you , in causing you to return H7725 H853 to H413 this H2088 place H4725 .
|
|
11. For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, 'plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.
|
11. For H3588 I H595 know H3045 H853 the thoughts H4284 that H834 I H595 think H2803 toward H5921 you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , thoughts H4284 of peace H7965 , and not H3808 of evil H7451 , to give H5414 you an expected H8615 end H319 .
|
|
12. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.
|
12. Then shall ye call upon H7121 me , and ye shall go H1980 and pray H6419 unto H413 me , and I will hearken H8085 unto H413 you.
|
|
13. You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.
|
13. And ye shall seek H1245 me , and find H4672 me , when H3588 ye shall search for H1875 me with all H3605 your heart H3824 .
|
|
14. I will be found by you,' says the Lord. 'And I will bring you back and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have made you go,' says the Lord. 'I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you away.'
|
14. And I will be found H4672 of you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 : and I will turn away H7725 H853 your captivity H7622 , and I will gather H6908 you from all H4480 H3605 the nations H1471 , and from all H4480 H3605 the places H4725 whither H834 H8033 I have driven H5080 you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 ; and I will bring you again H7725 H853 into H413 the place H4725 whence H834 H4480 H8033 I caused you to be carried away captive H1540 .
|
|
15. "You have said that the Lord has given men who speak for Him in Babylon.
|
15. Because H3588 ye have said H559 , The LORD H3068 hath raised us up H6965 prophets H5030 in Babylon H894 ;
|
|
16. This is what the Lord says about the king who sits on the throne of David, and about all the people who live in this city, your brothers who were not taken with you to Babylon.
|
16. Know that H3588 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of H413 the king H4428 that sitteth H3427 upon H413 the throne H3678 of David H1732 , and of H413 all H3605 the people H5971 that dwelleth H3427 in this H2063 city H5892 , and of your brethren H251 that H834 are not H3808 gone forth H3318 with H854 you into captivity H1473 ;
|
|
17. The Lord of All says, 'I am sending the sword, hunger, and disease upon them. I will make them like bad figs which are so bad they cannot be eaten.
|
17. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 ; Behold H2009 , I will send H7971 upon them H853 the sword H2719 , H853 the famine H7458 , and the pestilence H1698 , and will make H5414 them like vile H8182 figs H8384 , that H834 cannot H3808 be eaten H398 , they are so evil H4480 H7455 .
|
|
18. I will go after them with the sword, hunger, and disease, and will make them a cause of trouble to all the nations of the earth. They will be a curse, an object of much shame and hate among all the nations where I have made them go.
|
18. And I will persecute H7291 H310 them with the sword H2719 , with the famine H7458 , and with the pestilence H1698 , and will deliver H5414 them to be removed H2189 to all H3605 the kingdoms H4467 of the earth H776 , to be a curse H423 , and an astonishment H8047 , and a hissing H8322 , and a reproach H2781 , among all H3605 the nations H1471 whither H834 H8033 I have driven H5080 them:
|
|
19. This is because they have not listened to My words,' says the Lord, 'which I sent to them again and again by My servants who spoke for Me. And you did not listen,' says the Lord.
|
19. Because H8478 H834 they have not H3808 hearkened H8085 to H413 my words H1697 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , which H834 I sent H7971 unto H413 them by H853 my servants H5650 the prophets H5030 , rising up early H7925 and sending H7971 them ; but ye would not H3808 hear H8085 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
|
|
20. So hear the Word of the Lord, all you people who have been sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.
|
20. Hear H8085 ye H859 therefore the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 , all H3605 ye of the captivity H1473 , whom H834 I have sent H7971 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 to Babylon H894 :
|
|
21. "This is what the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says about Ahab the son of Kolaiah and about Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who are speaking false words to you in My name: 'See, I will give them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And he will kill them in front of your eyes.
|
21. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 , of H413 Ahab H256 the son H1121 of Kolaiah H6964 , and of H413 Zedekiah H6667 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 , which prophesy H5012 a lie H8267 unto you in my name H8034 ; Behold H2009 , I will deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 ; and he shall slay H5221 them before your eyes H5869 ;
|
|
22. Because of them a curse will be used by all the people who are from Judah but are in Babylon: "May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned in the fire."
|
22. And of H4480 them shall be taken up H3947 a curse H7045 by all H3605 the captivity H1546 of Judah H3063 which H834 are in Babylon H894 , saying H559 , The LORD H3068 make H7760 thee like Zedekiah H6667 and like Ahab H256 , whom H834 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 roasted H7033 in the fire H784 ;
|
|
23. This is because they have done what is foolish in Israel. They have done sex sins with their neighbors' wives. And they have spoken false words in My name, which I did not tell them to speak. I am He Who knows, and I see what they have done,' says the Lord."
|
23. Because H3282 H834 they have committed H6213 villainy H5039 in Israel H3478 , and have committed adultery H5003 with H854 their neighbors H7453 ' wives H802 , and have spoken H1696 lying H8267 words H1697 in my name H8034 , which H834 I have not H3808 commanded H6680 them ; even I H595 know H3045 , and am a witness H5707 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
|
|
24. And say to Shemaiah the Nehelamite,
|
24. Thus shalt thou also speak H559 to H413 Shemaiah H8098 the Nehelamite H5161 , saying H559 ,
|
|
25. "This is what the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says: 'You have sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the religious leader, and to all the religious leaders. You said to Zephaniah,
|
25. Thus H3541 speaketh H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 , saying H559 , Because H3282 H834 thou H859 hast sent H7971 letters H5612 in thy name H8034 unto H413 all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 are at Jerusalem H3389 , and to H413 Zephaniah H6846 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 the priest H3548 , and to H413 all H3605 the priests H3548 , saying H559 ,
|
|
26. "The Lord has made you the religious leader over the house of the Lord instead of Jehoiada. You are to take every crazy man who says he speaks in God's name and put him in chains with iron around his neck.
|
26. The LORD H3068 hath made H5414 thee priest H3548 in the stead of H8478 Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 , that ye should be H1961 officers H6496 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , for every H3605 man H376 that is mad H7696 , and maketh himself a prophet H5012 , that thou shouldest put H5414 him in H413 prison H4115 , and in H413 the stocks H6729 .
|
|
27. So why have you not spoken sharp words to Jeremiah of Anathoth who is speaking to you in God's name?
|
27. Now H6258 therefore why H4100 hast thou not H3808 reproved H1605 Jeremiah H3414 of Anathoth H6069 , which maketh himself a prophet H5012 to you?
|
|
28. For he has sent word to us in Babylon, saying, 'You will be held there for a long time. So build houses and live in them. And plant gardens and eat their fruit.' " ' "
|
28. For H3588 therefore H5921 H3651 he sent H7971 unto H413 us in Babylon H894 , saying H559 , This H1931 captivity is long H752 : build H1129 ye houses H1004 , and dwell H3427 in them ; and plant H5193 gardens H1593 , and eat H398 H853 the fruit H6529 of them.
|
|
29. Zephaniah the religious leader read this letter to Jeremiah the man of God.
|
29. And Zephaniah H6846 the priest H3548 read H7121 H853 this H2088 letter H5612 in the ears H241 of Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 .
|
|
30. Then the Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,
|
30. Then came H1961 the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , saying H559 ,
|
|
31. "Send word to all My people held in Babylon, saying, 'This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Shemaiah has spoken to you in My name, but I did not send him. He has made you trust in a lie.'
|
31. Send H7971 to H5921 all H3605 them of the captivity H1473 , saying H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 concerning H413 Shemaiah H8098 the Nehelamite H5161 ; Because H3283 H834 that Shemaiah H8098 hath prophesied H5012 unto you , and I H589 sent H7971 him not H3808 , and he caused you to trust H982 H853 in H5921 a lie H8267 :
|
|
32. So the Lord says, 'I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his children after him. He will not have anyone living among these people. And he will not see the good that I am about to do to My people,' says the Lord, 'because he has spoken against Me.' "
|
32. Therefore H3651 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 ; Behold H2009 , I will punish H6485 H5921 Shemaiah H8098 the Nehelamite H5161 , and his seed H2233 : he shall not H3808 have H1961 a man H376 to dwell H3427 among H8432 this H2088 people H5971 ; neither H3808 shall he behold H7200 the good H2896 that H834 I H589 will do H6213 for my people H5971 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 ; because H3588 he hath taught H1696 rebellion H5627 against H5921 the LORD H3068 .
|