Jeremiah 29
1. Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent * from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive * from Jerusalem to Babylon;
2. (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters,and the smiths, were departed * from Jerusalem;)
3. By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent * unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon ) saying * ,
4. Thus saith * the LORD of hosts,the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away * from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
5. Build * ye houses, and dwell * in them; and plant * gardens, and eat * the fruit of them;
6. Take * ye wives, and beget * sons and daughters; and take * wives for your sons, and give * your daughters to husbands, that they may bear * sons and daughters; that ye may be increased * there, and not diminished * .
7. And seek * the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives * , and pray * unto the LORD for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
8. For thus saith * the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners * , that be in the midst of you, deceive * you, neither hearken * to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed * .
9. For they prophesy * falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent * them, saith * the LORD.
10. For thus saith * the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished * at Babylon I will visit * you, and perform * my good word toward you, in causing you to return * to this place.
11. For I know * the thoughts that I think * toward you, saith * the LORD,thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give * you an expected end.
12. Then shall ye call * upon me, and ye shall go * and pray * unto me, and I will hearken * unto you.
13. And ye shall seek * me, and find * me, when ye shall search * for me with all your heart.
14. And I will be found * of you, saith * the LORD: and I will turn away * your captivity * , and I will gather * you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven * you, saith * the LORD; and I will bring you again * into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive * .
15. Because ye have said * , The LORD hath raised us up * prophets in Babylon;
16. Know that thus saith * the LORD of the king that sitteth * upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth * in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth * with you into captivity;
17. Thus saith * the LORD of hosts;Behold, I will send * upon them the sword,the famine, and the pestilence, and will make * them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten * , they are so evil.
18. And I will persecute * them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver * them to be removed * to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven * them:
19. Because they have not hearkened * to my words, saith * the LORD, which I sent * unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early * and sending * them; but ye would not hear * , saith * the LORD.
20. Hear * ye therefore the word of the LORD, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent * from Jerusalem to Babylon:
21. Thus saith * the LORD of hosts,the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy * a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver * them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay * them before your eyes;
22. And of them shall be taken up * a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying * , The LORD make * thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab,whom the king of Babylon roasted * in the fire;
23. Because they have committed * villany in Israel, and have committed * adultery * with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken * lying words in my name, which I have not commanded * them; even I know * , and am a witness, saith * the LORD.
24. Thus shalt thou also speak * to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying * ,
25. Thus speaketh * the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, saying * , Because thou hast sent * letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests,saying * ,
26. The LORD hath made * thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the LORD, for every man that is mad * , and maketh himself a prophet * , that thou shouldest put * him in prison, and in the stocks.
27. Now therefore why hast thou not reproved * Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet * to you?
28. For therefore he sent * unto us in Babylon, saying * , This captivity is long: build * ye houses, and dwell * in them; and plant * gardens, and eat * the fruit of them.
29. And Zephaniah the priest read * this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
30. Then came the word of the LORD unto Jeremiah, saying * ,
31. Send * to all them of the captivity,saying * , Thus saith * the LORD concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied * unto you, and I sent * him not, and he caused you to trust * in a lie:
32. Therefore thus saith * the LORD; Behold, I will punish * Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell * among this people; neither shall he behold * the good that I will do * for my people, saith * the LORD; because he hath taught * rebellion against the LORD.
