⁴ This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: ⁵ “Build houses and live in them.^(A) Plant gardens and eat their produce. ⁶ Find wives for yourselves, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease.^{(B) 7} Pursue the well-being^[a] of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf,^(C) for when it thrives, you will thrive.”

Instructions on Prayer

2 First of all, then, I urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone, ² for kings and all those who are in authority,^(A) so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness^(B) and dignity.^{(C) 3} This is good, and it pleases God our Savior,^{(D) 4} who wants everyone^(E) to be saved^(F) and to come to the knowledge of the truth.^(G)

⁵ For there is one God^(H) and one mediator^(I) between God and mankind, the man^(J) Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all,^(K) a testimony at the proper time.