Jeremiah Stays in Judah

40 The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh after ^(A)Nebuzaradan captain of the bodyguard had released him from ^(B)Ramah, when he had taken him bound in ^(C)chains among all the exiles of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon. ² And the captain of the bodyguard had taken Jeremiah and said to him, “^(D)Yahweh your God promised this calamity against this place; ³ and Yahweh has brought it on and done just as He promised. Because you people ^(E)sinned against Yahweh and did not listen to His voice, therefore this thing has happened to you. ⁴ So now, behold, I am ^(F)freeing you today from the chains which are on your hands. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, come along, and I will set my eyes to look after you; but if it ^[a]is displeasing in your eyes to come with me to Babylon, ^[b]never mind. Look, the ^(G)whole land is before you; go wherever it seems good and right in your eyes to go.” ⁵ But as ^[c]Jeremiah had not yet set out to return, ^[d]he said, “Return then to ^(H)Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has ^(I)appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or else go anywhere that is right in your eyes to go.” So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ^(J)ration and a ^(K)gift and let him go.