⁴ This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried^(A) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵ “Build^(B) 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.^{(C) 7} Also, seek^(D) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray^(E) 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^(F) and diviners among you deceive^(G) you. Do not listen to the dreams^(H) you encourage them to have.^{(I) 9} They are prophesying lies^(J) to you in my name. I have not sent^(K) them,” declares the Lord.

¹⁰ This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years^(L) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you^(M) and fulfill my good promise^(N) to bring you back^(O) to this place. ¹¹ For I know the plans^(P) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper^(Q) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.^{(R) 12} Then you will call^(S) on me and come and pray^(T) to me, and I will listen^(U) to you. ¹³ You will seek^(V) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.^{(W) 14} I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back^(X) from captivity.^[a] 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.”^(Y)

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^(Z) against them and I will make them like figs^(AA) that are so bad they cannot be eaten. ¹⁸ I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent^(AB) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse^[b](AC) and an object of horror,^(AD) of scorn^(AE) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. ¹⁹ For they have not listened to my words,”^(AF) declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again^(AG) by my servants the prophets.^(AH) 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^(AI) away from Jerusalem to Babylon.