Jeremiah 40:1-5

Evangelical Heritage Version

Jeremiah Is Set Free

40 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had released him at Ramah. Jeremiah had been captured and bound in chains with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile in Babylon. ² When the captain of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, “The Lord your God pronounced this disaster on this place, ³ and the Lord has brought it about and has done what he said he would do. This took place because you people^[a] sinned against the Lord and did not obey him. ⁴ But now, today, I am removing the chains from your wrists. If you wish, come with me to Babylon. I will take care of you. But if this does not seem good to you, then don’t come. The whole land is before you. If there is a place that seems good and right to you, go there.” ⁵ But before Jeremiah turned away, he added, “Or you can go to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan. The king of Babylon has made him governor over the cities of Judah. You can live with him among the people. Go wherever it seems right for you to go.”

Then the commander of the guard gave him a gift and some food and released him.