Jeremiah Remains in Judah

40 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord (A)after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from (B)Ramah, when he took him (C)bound in chains along with all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, (D)“The Lord your God pronounced this disaster against this place. The Lord has brought it about, and has done as he said. (E)Because you sinned against the Lord and did not obey his voice, this thing has come upon you. Now, behold, I release you today from (F)the chains on your hands. (G)If it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will look after you well, (H)but if it seems wrong to you to come with me to Babylon, do not come. (I)See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think it good and right to go. If you remain,[a] then return to (J)Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, (K)whom the king of Babylon appointed governor of the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever you think it right to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a present, and let him go.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 40:5 Syriac; the meaning of the Hebrew phrase is uncertain

Jeremiah Chooses to Remain in Judah

40 This is[a] the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had released him from Ramah, when he was bound in chains, along with all the exiles from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken into exile in Babylon.

The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and told him, “The Lord your God has predicted this disaster on this place. And now the Lord has brought it about and has done just as he said. Because you people sinned against the Lord and didn’t obey him, this has happened to you. Now, look, I’ve freed you today from the chains that were on your hands. If you want[b] to come with me to Babylon, come, and I’ll look after you. But if you don’t want[c] to come with me to Babylon, don’t.[d] Look, the whole land lies before you, so go wherever it seems good and right for you to go.”

When he still did not respond, Nebuzaradan said,[e] “Return to Ahikam’s son Gedaliah, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and remain with him among the people—or go wherever it seems right for you to go.” Then the captain of the guard gave him an allowance of food and a gift and sent him off.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 40:1 The Heb. lacks This is
  2. Jeremiah 40:4 Lit. it is good in your eyes
  3. Jeremiah 40:4 Lit. it is bad in your eyes
  4. Jeremiah 40:4 Lit. stop!
  5. Jeremiah 40:5 The Heb. lacks Nebuzaradan said