Jeremiah 29
New King James Version
Jeremiah’s Letter to the Captives
29 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder of the elders who were (A)carried away captive—to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This happened after (B)Jeconiah[a] the king, the (C)queen mother, the [b]eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem.) 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of (D)Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, saying,
4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6 Take wives and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters—that you may be increased there, and not diminished. 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, (E)and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst (F)deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9 For they prophesy (G)falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the Lord.
10 For thus says the Lord: After (H)seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to (I)return to this place. 11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will (J)call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will (K)listen to you. 13 And (L)you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me (M)with all your heart. 14 (N)I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back from your captivity; (O)I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive.
15 Because you have said, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon”— 16 (P)therefore thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, concerning all the people who dwell in this city, and concerning your brethren who have not gone out with you into captivity— 17 thus says the Lord of hosts: Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like (Q)rotten figs that cannot be eaten, they are so bad. 18 And I will pursue them with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence; and I (R)will deliver them to trouble among all the kingdoms of the earth—to be (S)a curse, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 because they have not heeded My words, says the Lord, which (T)I sent to them by My servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; neither would you heed, says the Lord. 20 Therefore hear the word of the Lord, all you of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon.
21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a (U)lie to you in My name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes. 22 (V)And because of them a curse shall be taken up by all the captivity of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, (W)whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire”; 23 because (X)they have done disgraceful things in Israel, have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken lying words in My name, which I have not commanded them. Indeed I (Y)know, and am a witness, says the Lord.
24 You shall also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying, 25 Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, (Z)to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 “The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that there should be (AA)officers in the house of the Lord over every man who is (AB)demented and considers himself a prophet, that you should (AC)put him in prison and in the stocks. 27 Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who makes himself a prophet to you? 28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘This captivity is long; build houses and dwell in them, and plant gardens and eat their fruit.’ ”
29 Now Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying: 31 Send to all those in captivity, saying, Thus says the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, (AD)and I have not sent him, and he has caused you to trust in a (AE)lie— 32 therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his [c]family: he shall not have anyone to dwell among this people, nor shall he see the good that I will do for My people, says the Lord, (AF)because he has taught rebellion against the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 29:2 Jehoiachin, 2 Kin. 24:12; 2 Chr. 36:10
- Jeremiah 29:2 Or officers
- Jeremiah 29:32 descendants, lit. seed
Jeremiah 29
English Standard Version
Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles
29 These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to (A)the surviving elders of the exiles, and to (B)the priests, (C)the prophets, and (D)all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after (E)King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metal workers had departed from Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Elasah the son of (F)Shaphan and Gemariah the son of (G)Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. It said: 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 (H)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 (I)pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: (J)Do not let your prophets and (K)your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,[a] 9 for (L)it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; (M)I did not send them, declares the Lord.
10 “For thus says the Lord: (N)When seventy years are completed for Babylon, (O)I will visit you, (P)and I will fulfill to you my promise (Q)and bring you back to this place. 11 (R)For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[b] and not for evil, (S)to give you a future and a hope. 12 (T)Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, (U)and I will hear you. 13 (V)You will seek me and find me, when you seek me (W)with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, (X)and I will restore your fortunes and (Y)gather you from all the nations and all the places (Z)where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
15 “Because you have said, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,’ 16 thus says the Lord concerning (AA)the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile: 17 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, behold, I am sending on them (AB)sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like (AC)vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with (AD)sword, famine, and pestilence, (AE)and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, (AF)to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations (AG)where I have driven them, 19 because they did not pay attention to my words, declares the Lord, (AH)that I persistently sent to you by my servants the prophets, but you would not listen, declares the Lord.’ 20 Hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles (AI)whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 21 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, (AJ)who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he shall strike them down before your eyes. 22 (AK)Because of them (AL)this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, (AM)whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” 23 because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, (AN)they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and (AO)they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. (AP)I am the one who knows, (AQ)and I am witness, declares the Lord.’”
Shemaiah's False Prophecy
24 To (AR)Shemaiah of Nehelam you shall say: 25 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to (AS)Zephaniah the son of (AT)Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 ‘The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to have (AU)charge in the house of the Lord (AV)over every madman who prophesies, to put him in (AW)the stocks and neck irons. 27 Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah (AX)of Anathoth who is prophesying to you? 28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, “Your exile will be long; (AY)build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce.”’”
29 (AZ)Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 (BA)Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord concerning (BB)Shemaiah of Nehelam: Because (BC)Shemaiah had prophesied to you (BD)when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie, 32 therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish (BE)Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, (BF)and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the Lord, (BG)for he has spoken rebellion against the Lord.’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 29:8 Hebrew your dreams, which you cause to dream
- Jeremiah 29:11 Or peace
Jeremiah 29
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles
29 This is the text of the letter(A) that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the remaining exiled elders, the priests, the prophets, and all the people Nebuchadnezzar(B) had deported from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah,[a](C) the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had left Jerusalem. 3 He sent the letter with Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah,(D) whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. The letter stated:
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.(E) 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.(F) 7 Pursue the well-being[b] of the city to which I have deported you. Pray to the Lord on its behalf,(G) for when it thrives, you will thrive.’
8 For this is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘Don’t let your prophets who are among you(H) and your diviners deceive you,(I) and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them, 9 for they are prophesying falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them.’(J) This is the Lord’s declaration.
10 For this is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years for Babylon are complete,(K) I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you’(L) – this is the Lord’s declaration – ‘plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 You will call to me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.(M) 13 You will seek me(N) and find me when you search for me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you’ – this is the Lord’s declaration – ‘and I will restore your fortunes[c](O) and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you’ – this is the Lord’s declaration. ‘I will restore you to the place from which I deported you.’(P)
15 You have said, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon! ’ 16 But this is what the Lord says concerning the king sitting on David’s throne(Q) and concerning all the people living in this city – that is, concerning your brothers who did not go with you into exile. 17 This is what the Lord of Armies says: ‘I am about to send sword, famine, and plague against them,(R) and I will make them like rotten figs that are inedible because they are so bad. 18 I will pursue them with sword, famine, and plague. I will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth – a curse and a desolation, an object of scorn and a disgrace among all the nations(S) where I have banished them.(T) 19 I will do this because they have not listened to my words’ – this is the Lord’s declaration – ‘the words that I sent to them with my servants the prophets time and time again.[d](U) And you too have not listened.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.
20 Hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon.(V) 21 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and concerning Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, the ones prophesying a lie to you in my name:(W) ‘I am about to hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, and he will kill them before your very eyes. 22 Based on what happens to them, all the exiles of Judah who are in Babylon will create a curse(X) that says, “May the Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire! ”(Y) 23 because they have committed an outrage(Z) in Israel by committing adultery with their neighbours’ wives and have spoken in my name a lie, which I did not command them. I am he who knows, and I am a witness.’ This is the Lord’s declaration.
24 To Shemaiah the Nehelamite you are to say, 25 ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You[e] in your own name have sent out letters to all the people of Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah(AA) son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests, saying, 26 “The Lord has appointed you priest in place of the priest Jehoiada to be the chief officer(AB) in the temple of the Lord, responsible for every madman(AC) who acts like a prophet. You must confine him in the stocks(AD) and an iron collar. 27 So now, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth who has been acting like a prophet among you?(AE) 28 For he has sent word to us in Babylon, claiming, ‘The exile will be long. Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat their produce.’ ” ’(AF)
29 The priest Zephaniah read this letter in the hearing of the prophet Jeremiah.
A Message about Shemaiah
30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 ‘Send a message to all the exiles, saying, “This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and made you trust a lie,(AG) 32 this is what the Lord says: I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be even one of his descendants living among these people,(AH) nor will any ever see the good that I will bring to my people – this is the Lord’s declaration – for he has preached rebellion against the Lord.” ’(AI)
耶利米书 29
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
致信给被掳的人
29 1-2 耶哥尼雅王、太后、宫廷侍臣、犹大和耶路撒冷的官员、技工和工匠被尼布甲尼撒王掳到巴比伦后，耶利米先知从耶路撒冷寄信给被掳之人中幸存的长老、先知和众民。 3 犹大王西底迦派沙番的儿子以利亚萨和希勒迦的儿子基玛利把这封信送给巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒。以下是信的内容：
4 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华对所有从耶路撒冷被掳到巴比伦的人说： 5 “你们要建造房子住下来，要耕种田园，吃田中的出产。 6 你们要娶妻生子，也要给你们的儿女娶妻选夫，使他们生儿育女，你们好在那里人丁兴旺，不致人口减少。 7 你们要为所住的城市谋求福祉，向耶和华祷告，因为你们的福祉有赖于那城的福祉。” 8 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说：“不要被你们中间的先知和占卜者欺骗，不要听信他们做的梦。 9 他们以我的名义对你们说假预言，其实我并没有差遣他们。这是耶和华说的。”
10 耶和华说：“你们被掳到巴比伦七十年期满后，我就要眷顾你们，成就我充满恩典的应许，把你们带回这地方。 11 因为我知道我为你们安排的计划。我的计划不是要降祸给你们，而是要赐福给你们，使你们的未来充满希望。这是耶和华说的。 12 那时，你们必呼求我，向我祷告，我也必垂听。 13 你们寻求我，就必寻见。只要你们全心寻求我， 14 我必让你们寻见。这是耶和华说的。我必把你们从流放之地招聚起来，使你们回到故土。这是耶和华说的。
15 “你们说耶和华在巴比伦为你们选立了先知， 16 但论到坐在大卫宝座上的君王和这城里的百姓，就是没有与你们一同被掳的同胞， 17 万军之耶和华这样说，‘看啊，我必使战争、饥荒和瘟疫临到他们，使他们像烂得不能吃的无花果。 18 我要使他们饱受战争、饥荒和瘟疫之灾，使他们的遭遇令天下万国惊惧。在我流放他们去的地方，他们必受凌辱、嘲笑、讥讽和咒诅。 19 这都是因为他们不听我的话。这是耶和华说的。我曾屡次差遣我的仆人——众先知去警告他们，他们却不肯听。’这是耶和华说的。 20 因此，你们这些从耶路撒冷被掳到巴比伦的人啊！要听耶和华的话。 21 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说，‘哥赖雅的儿子亚哈和玛西雅的儿子西底迦以我的名义说假预言，我要把他们交在巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒的手中，让他当着你们的面处死他们。 22 被掳到巴比伦的犹大人咒诅人的时候会说，“愿耶和华使你的下场像被巴比伦王烧死的西底迦和亚哈一样！” 23 因为他们二人在以色列做了恶事，与他人的妻子通奸。我没有差派他们，他们却奉我的名说假预言。我知道他们的所作所为，我对这一切了如指掌。’这是耶和华说的。”
24 耶和华吩咐我对尼希兰人示玛雅说： 25 “以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说，你曾以自己的名义写信给住在耶路撒冷的众民、玛西雅的儿子西番雅祭司及其他祭司。你在信中对西番雅说， 26 ‘耶和华已立你为祭司代替耶何耶大，管理耶和华的殿，负责拘捕妄自发预言的狂人，给他们戴上铁链枷锁。 27 现在，亚拿突人耶利米在你们当中自称为先知，你为什么不斥责他呢？ 28 他甚至寄信给我们这些在巴比伦的人，说被掳的日子还很长久，要我们建房子住下来，耕种田园，吃田中的出产。’”
29 西番雅祭司就把示玛雅的信读给耶利米先知听。 30 耶和华对耶利米说： 31 “你派人送信给所有被掳的人，说，‘耶和华说祂没有差遣尼希兰人示玛雅，他却说预言，诱使你们听信谎言， 32 所以耶和华必惩罚他和他的后代，使他断子绝孙，看不到耶和华赐给祂子民的福祉，因为他说了悖逆耶和华的话。这是耶和华说的。’”
Jeremiah 29
Revised Standard Version
Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles in Babylon
29 These are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the elders[a] of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnez′zar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconi′ah, and the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths had departed from Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by the hand of Ela′sah the son of Shaphan and Gemari′ah the son of Hilki′ah, whom Zedeki′ah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnez′zar king of Babylon. It said: 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 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 pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. 8 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream,[b] 9 for it is a lie which they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send them, says the Lord.
10 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me; when you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
15 “Because you have said, ‘The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,’— 16 Thus says the Lord concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with you into exile: 17 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, Behold, I am sending on them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs which are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19 because they did not heed my words, says the Lord, which I persistently sent to you by my servants the prophets, but you would not listen, says the Lord.’— 20 Hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon: 21 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of Kolai′ah and Zedeki′ah the son of Ma-asei′ah, who are prophesying a lie to you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrez′zar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes. 22 Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedeki′ah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” 23 because they have committed folly in Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and they have spoken in my name lying words which I did not command them. I am the one who knows, and I am witness, says the Lord.’”
The Letter of Shemaiah
24 To Shemai′ah of Nehel′am you shall say: 25 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephani′ah the son of Ma-asei′ah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 ‘The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoi′ada the priest, to have charge in the house of the Lord over every madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and collar. 27 Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of An′athoth who is prophesying to you? 28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, “Your exile will be long; build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce.”’”
29 Zephani′ah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord concerning Shemai′ah of Nehel′am: Because Shemai′ah had prophesied to you when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie, 32 therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish Shemai′ah of Nehel′am and his descendants; he shall not have any one living among this people to see[c] the good that I will do to my people, says the Lord, for he has talked rebellion against the Lord.’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 29:1 Gk: Heb the rest of the elders
- Jeremiah 29:8 Cn: Heb your dreams which you cause to dream
- Jeremiah 29:32 Gk: Heb and he shall not see
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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