⁴ “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: ^5 (A)Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. ⁶ Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. ⁷ But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and ^(B)pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.

³⁰ He lived there two whole years at his own expense,^[a] and ^(A)welcomed all who came to him, ^31 (B)proclaiming ^(C)the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ ^(D)with all boldness and ^(E)without hindrance.