²¹ This fulfilled the word of the Lord through Jeremiah^(A) and the land enjoyed its Sabbath rest all the days of the desolation^(B) until 70 years were fulfilled.

The Decree of Cyrus

1 In^(A) the first year of Cyrus king of Persia,^[a] the word of the Lord spoken through Jeremiah was fulfilled.^(B) The Lord put it into the mind^(C) of King Cyrus to issue a proclamation throughout his entire kingdom and to put it in writing:

¹¹ This whole land will become a desolate ruin, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years.^{(A) 12} When the 70 years are completed, I will punish the king of Babylon and that nation’—this is the Lord’s declaration—‘the land of the Chaldeans, for their guilt, and I will make it a ruin forever.^(B)

⁵ “Ask all the people of the land and the priests: When you fasted and lamented in the fifth and in the seventh months for these 70 years, did you really fast for Me?^(A)