¹⁴ “That’s not true!” Jeremiah said. “I am not deserting to the Babylonians.” But Irijah would not listen to him; instead, he arrested^(A) Jeremiah and brought him to the officials.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(A) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(B) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(C) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(D)

⁴ But today I am freeing^(A) you from the chains^(B) on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don’t come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please.”^{(C) 5} However, before Jeremiah turned to go,^[a] Nebuzaradan added, “Go back to Gedaliah^(D) son of Ahikam,^(E) the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed^(F) over the towns^(G) of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please.”^(H)

Then the commander gave him provisions and a present^(I) and let him go. ⁶ So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah^(J) and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.

Psalm 52^[a]

For the director of music. A maskil^[b] of David. When Doeg the Edomite^(A) had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”

¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ,^(A) you are blessed,^(B) for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.^(C)

¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience,^(A) so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.^(B)

²³ “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy,^(D) because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their ancestors treated the prophets.^(E)