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Jeremiah 29-30
New King James Version
Jeremiah 29-30
New King James Version
Jeremiah’s Letter to the Captives
29 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder of the elders who were (A)carried away captive—to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This happened after (B)Jeconiah[a] the king, the (C)queen mother, the [b]eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.) 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of (D)Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying,
4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, (E)and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst (F)deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy (G)falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.
10 For thus says the Lord: After (H)seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to (I)return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will (J)call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will (K)listen to you. 13 And (L)you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me (M)with all your heart. 14 (N)I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; (O)I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
15 Because you have said, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon”— 16 (P)therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, concerning all the people who dwell in this city, and concerning your brethren who have not gone out with you into captivity— 17 thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like (Q)rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. 18 And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I (R)will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth—to be (S)a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 because they have not heeded My words, says the Lord, which (T)I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; neither would you heed, says the Lord. 20 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all you of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon.
21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a (U)lie to you in My name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes. 22 (V)And because of them a curse shall be taken up by all the captivity of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, (W)whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire”; 23 because (X)they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them. Indeed I (Y)know, and am a witness, says the Lord.
24 You shall also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, 25 Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, (Z)to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 “The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that there should be (AA)officers in the house of the Lord over every man who is (AB)demented and considers himself a prophet, that you should (AC)put him in prison and in the stocks. 27 Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who makes himself a prophet to you? 28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘This captivity is long; build houses and dwell in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit.’ ”
29 Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 31 Send to all those in captivity, saying, Thus says the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, (AD)and I have not sent him, and he has caused you to trust in a (AE)lie— 32 therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his [c]family: he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for My people, says the Lord, (AF)because he has taught rebellion against the Lord.
Restoration of Israel and Judah
30 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2 “Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel, saying: ‘Write in a book for yourself all the words that I have spoken to you. 3 For behold, the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘that (AG)I will bring back from captivity My people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. (AH)‘And I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ ”
4 Now these are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah.
5 “For thus says the Lord:
‘We have heard a voice of trembling,
Of [d]fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask now, and see,
Whether a [e]man is ever in [f]labor with child?
So why do I see every man with his hands on his loins
(AI)Like a woman in labor,
And all faces turned pale?
7 (AJ)Alas! For that day is great,
(AK)So that none is like it;
And it is the time of Jacob’s trouble,
But he shall be saved out of it.
8 ‘For it shall come to pass in that day,’
Says the Lord of hosts,
‘That I will break his yoke from your neck,
And will burst your bonds;
Foreigners shall no more enslave them.
9 But they shall serve the Lord their God,
And (AL)David their king,
Whom I will (AM)raise up for them.
10 ‘Therefore (AN)do not fear, O My servant Jacob,’ says the Lord,
‘Nor be dismayed, O Israel;
For behold, I will save you from afar,
And your seed (AO)from the land of their captivity.
Jacob shall return, have rest and be quiet,
And no one shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with (AP)you,’ says the Lord, ‘to save you;
(AQ)Though I make a full end of all nations where I have scattered you,
(AR)Yet I will not make a complete end of you.
But I will correct you (AS)in justice,
And will not let you go altogether unpunished.’
12 “For thus says the Lord:
(AT)‘Your affliction is incurable,
Your wound is severe.
13 There is no one to plead your cause,
That you may be bound up;
(AU)You have no healing medicines.
14 (AV)All your lovers have forgotten you;
They do not seek you;
For I have wounded you with the wound (AW)of an enemy,
With the chastisement (AX)of a cruel one,
For the multitude of your iniquities,
(AY)Because your sins have increased.
15 Why (AZ)do you cry about your affliction?
Your sorrow is incurable.
Because of the multitude of your iniquities,
Because your sins have increased,
I have done these things to you.
16 ‘Therefore all those who devour you (BA)shall be devoured;
And all your adversaries, every one of them, shall go into (BB)captivity;
Those who plunder you shall become (BC)plunder,
And all who prey upon you I will make a (BD)prey.
17 (BE)For I will restore health to you
And heal you of your wounds,’ says the Lord,
‘Because they called you an outcast saying:
“This is Zion;
No one seeks her.” ’
18 “Thus says the Lord:
‘Behold, I will bring back the captivity of Jacob’s tents,
And (BF)have mercy on his dwelling places;
The city shall be built upon its own [g]mound,
And the palace shall remain according to its own plan.
19 Then (BG)out of them shall proceed thanksgiving
And the voice of those who make merry;
(BH)I will multiply them, and they shall not diminish;
I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children also shall be (BI)as before,
And their congregation shall be established before Me;
And I will punish all who oppress them.
21 Their nobles shall be from among them,
(BJ)And their governor shall come from their midst;
Then I will (BK)cause him to draw near,
And he shall approach Me;
For who is this who pledged his heart to approach Me?’ says the Lord.
22 ‘You shall be (BL)My people,
And I will be your God.’ ”
23 Behold, the (BM)whirlwind of the Lord
Goes forth with fury,
A [h]continuing whirlwind;
It will fall violently on the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not return until He has done it,
And until He has performed the intents of His heart.
(BN)In the latter days you will consider it.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 29:2 Jehoiachin, 2 Kin. 24:12; 2 Chr. 36:10
- Jeremiah 29:2 Or officers
- Jeremiah 29:32 descendants, lit. seed
- Jeremiah 30:5 dread
- Jeremiah 30:6 Lit. male can give birth
- Jeremiah 30:6 childbirth
- Jeremiah 30:18 ruins
- Jeremiah 30:23 Or sweeping
Jeremiah 29-30
New International Version
Jeremiah 29-30
New International Version
A Letter to the Exiles
29 This is the text of the letter(A) that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.(B) 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin[a](C) and the queen mother,(D) the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried(E) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build(F) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.(G) 7 Also, seek(H) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray(I) to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets(J) and diviners among you deceive(K) you. Do not listen to the dreams(L) you encourage them to have.(M) 9 They are prophesying lies(N) to you in my name. I have not sent(O) them,” declares the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years(P) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you(Q) and fulfill my good promise(R) to bring you back(S) to this place. 11 For I know the plans(T) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(U) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(V) 12 Then you will call(W) on me and come and pray(X) to me, and I will listen(Y) to you. 13 You will seek(Z) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(AA) 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back(AB) from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”(AC)
15 You may say, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,” 16 but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile— 17 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague(AD) against them and I will make them like figs(AE) that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent(AF) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse[c](AG) and an object of horror,(AH) of scorn(AI) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,”(AJ) declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again(AK) by my servants the prophets.(AL) And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.
20 Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I have sent(AM) away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies(AN) to you in my name: “I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes. 22 Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned(AO) in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery(AP) with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know(AQ) it and am a witness(AR) to it,” declares the Lord.
Message to Shemaiah
24 Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 25 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah(AS) son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah, 26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any maniac(AT) who acts like a prophet into the stocks(AU) and neck-irons. 27 So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28 He has sent this message(AV) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.(AW) Therefore build(AX) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”
29 Zephaniah(AY) the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah(AZ) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send(BA) him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.(BB) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good(BC) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion(BD) against me.’”
Restoration of Israel
30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write(BE) in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3 The days(BF) are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring(BG) my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[d] and restore(BH) them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”
4 These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 5 “This is what the Lord says:
“‘Cries of fear(BI) are heard—
terror, not peace.
6 Ask and see:
Can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,(BJ)
every face turned deathly pale?(BK)
7 How awful that day(BL) will be!
No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble(BM) for Jacob,
but he will be saved(BN) out of it.
8 “‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
‘I will break the yoke(BO) off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;(BP)
no longer will foreigners enslave them.(BQ)
9 Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
and David(BR) their king,(BS)
whom I will raise up for them.
10 “‘So do not be afraid,(BT) Jacob my servant;(BU)
do not be dismayed, Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save(BV) you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,(BW)
and no one will make him afraid.(BX)
11 I am with you(BY) and will save you,’
declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy(BZ) you.
I will discipline(CA) you but only in due measure;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’(CB)
12 “This is what the Lord says:
“‘Your wound(CC) is incurable,
your injury beyond healing.(CD)
13 There is no one to plead your cause,(CE)
no remedy for your sore,
no healing(CF) for you.
14 All your allies(CG) have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy(CH) would
and punished you as would the cruel,(CI)
because your guilt is so great
and your sins(CJ) so many.
15 Why do you cry out over your wound,
your pain that has no cure?(CK)
Because of your great guilt and many sins
I have done these things to you.(CL)
16 “‘But all who devour(CM) you will be devoured;
all your enemies will go into exile.(CN)
Those who plunder(CO) you will be plundered;
all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
17 But I will restore you to health
and heal(CP) your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,(CQ)
Zion for whom no one cares.’(CR)
18 “This is what the Lord says:
“‘I will restore the fortunes(CS) of Jacob’s tents(CT)
and have compassion(CU) on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt(CV) on her ruins,
and the palace will stand in its proper place.
19 From them will come songs(CW) of thanksgiving(CX)
and the sound of rejoicing.(CY)
I will add to their numbers,(CZ)
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,(DA)
and they will not be disdained.
20 Their children(DB) will be as in days of old,
and their community will be established(DC) before me;
I will punish(DD) all who oppress them.
21 Their leader(DE) will be one of their own;
their ruler will arise from among them.(DF)
I will bring him near(DG) and he will come close to me—
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?’
declares the Lord.
22 “‘So you will be my people,(DH)
and I will be your God.(DI)’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
- Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes
- Jeremiah 29:18 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see verse 22); or, others will see that they are cursed.
- Jeremiah 30:3 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.