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James 5:7-12
English Standard Version
James 5:7-12
English Standard Version
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,[a] until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives (A)the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. (B)Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord (C)is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, (D)so that you may not be judged; behold, (E)the Judge is standing (F)at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take (G)the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of (H)the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen (I)the purpose of the Lord, how (J)the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
12 But above all, my brothers, (K)do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
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James 5:7-12
New International Version
James 5:7-12
New International Version
Patience in Suffering
7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.(A) See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting(B) for the autumn and spring rains.(C) 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming(D) is near.(E) 9 Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters,(F) or you will be judged. The Judge(G) is standing at the door!(H)
10 Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets(I) who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 As you know, we count as blessed(J) those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance(K) and have seen what the Lord finally brought about.(L) The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.(M)
12 Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.(N)
Jeremiah 26-29
English Standard Version
Jeremiah 26-29
English Standard Version
Jeremiah Threatened with Death
26 (A)In the beginning of the reign of (B)Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 “Thus says the Lord: (C)Stand in the court of the Lord's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the Lord (D)all the words that I command you to speak to them; (E)do not hold back a word. 3 (F)It may be they will listen, and every one turn from his evil way, (G)that I may relent of the disaster that I intend to do to them (H)because of their evil deeds. 4 You shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord: (I)If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, 5 (J)and to listen to the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you (K)urgently, (L)though you have not listened, 6 then I will make this house (M)like Shiloh, and I will make this city (N)a curse for all the nations of the earth.’”
7 (O)The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the Lord. 8 And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the Lord had commanded him to speak to all the people, then (P)the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, “You shall die! 9 Why have you prophesied in the name of the Lord, saying, ‘This house shall be (Q)like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, (R)without inhabitant’?” And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10 When (S)the officials of Judah heard these things, they came up from the king's house to the house of the Lord and took their seat in the (T)entry of the New Gate of the house of the Lord. 11 Then (U)the priests and the prophets said to the officials and to all the people, (V)“This man deserves the sentence of death, because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your own ears.”
12 Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, “The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. 13 Now therefore (W)mend your ways and your deeds, (X)and obey the voice of the Lord your God, (Y)and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you. 14 (Z)But as for me, behold, I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. 15 Only know for certain that if you put me to death, (AA)you will bring innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the Lord sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears.”
Jeremiah Spared from Death
16 (AB)Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, (AC)“This man does not deserve the sentence of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.” 17 (AD)And certain of (AE)the elders of the land arose and spoke to all the assembled people, saying, 18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and said to all the people of Judah: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts,
(AF)“‘Zion shall be plowed as a field;
Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
and the mountain of the house a wooded height.’
19 Did Hezekiah king of Judah and all Judah put him to death? (AG)Did he not fear the Lord and entreat the favor of the Lord, (AH)and did not the Lord relent of the disaster that he had pronounced against them? (AI)But we are about to bring great disaster upon ourselves.”
20 There was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord, Uriah the son of Shemaiah from (AJ)Kiriath-jearim. He prophesied against this city and against this land in words like those of Jeremiah. 21 And when (AK)King Jehoiakim, with all his warriors and all the officials, heard his words, the king sought to put him to death. But when Uriah heard of it, he was afraid and fled and escaped to Egypt. 22 Then (AL)King Jehoiakim sent to Egypt certain men, (AM)Elnathan the son of (AN)Achbor and others with him, 23 and they took Uriah from Egypt and brought him to King Jehoiakim, (AO)who struck him down with the sword and dumped his dead body into the burial place of the common people.
24 But the hand of (AP)Ahikam the son of Shaphan was with Jeremiah so that he was not given over to the people to be put to death.
The Yoke of Nebuchadnezzar
27 In the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah[a] the son of Josiah, king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord. 2 Thus the Lord said to me: (AQ)“Make yourself straps and (AR)yoke-bars, and put them on your neck. 3 Send word[b] to the king of (AS)Edom, the king of (AT)Moab, the king of the sons of (AU)Ammon, the king of (AV)Tyre, and the king of Sidon by the hand of the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. 4 Give them this charge for their masters: ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: This is what you shall say to your masters: 5 “It is I who (AW)by my great power and my outstretched arm (AX)have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, (AY)and I give it to whomever it seems right to me. 6 (AZ)Now I have given all these lands into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, (BA)my servant, (BB)and I have given him also the beasts of the field to serve him. 7 (BC)All the nations shall serve him and (BD)his son and (BE)his grandson, (BF)until the time of his own land comes. (BG)Then many nations and great kings shall make him their slave.
8 “‘“But if any nation or kingdom will not serve this Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, (BH)and put its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon, I will punish that nation (BI)with the sword, with famine, and with pestilence, declares the Lord, until I have consumed it by his hand. 9 So (BJ)do not listen to your (BK)prophets, your diviners, your dreamers, your (BL)fortune-tellers, or your sorcerers, who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon.’ 10 (BM)For it is a lie that they are prophesying to you, with the result that you will be removed far from your land, and I will drive you out, and you will perish. 11 (BN)But any nation that will bring its neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will leave on its own land, to work it and dwell there, declares the Lord.”’”
12 To (BO)Zedekiah king of Judah I spoke in like manner: (BP)“Bring your necks under the yoke of the king of Babylon, and (BQ)serve him and his people and live. 13 (BR)Why will you and your people die (BS)by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, (BT)as the Lord has spoken concerning any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 (BU)Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are saying to you, ‘You shall not serve the king of Babylon,’ (BV)for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. 15 I have not sent them, declares the Lord, but (BW)they are prophesying falsely in my name, with the result that I will drive you out and you will perish, you and the prophets who are prophesying to you.”
16 Then I spoke to the priests and to all this people, saying, “Thus says the Lord: (BX)Do not listen to the words of your prophets who are prophesying to you, saying, (BY)‘Behold, the vessels of the Lord's house will now shortly be brought back from Babylon,’ (BZ)for it is a lie that they are prophesying to you. 17 (CA)Do not listen to them; (CB)serve the king of Babylon and live. Why should this city (CC)become a desolation? 18 If they are prophets, and if the word of the Lord is with them, then (CD)let them intercede with the Lord of hosts, (CE)that the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem may not go to Babylon. 19 (CF)For thus says the Lord of hosts concerning the pillars, the sea, the stands, and the rest of the vessels that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away, (CG)when he took into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, (CH)concerning the vessels that are left in the house of the Lord, in the house of the king of Judah, and in Jerusalem: 22 (CI)They shall be carried to Babylon (CJ)and remain there (CK)until the day when I visit them, declares the Lord. (CL)Then I will bring them back (CM)and restore them to this place.”
Hananiah the False Prophet
28 In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of (CN)Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananiah the son of (CO)Azzur, the prophet from (CP)Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the Lord, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying, 2 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: (CQ)I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3 (CR)Within (CS)two years I will bring back to this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place (CT)Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the exiles from Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord, (CU)for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.”
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to Hananiah the prophet in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord, 6 and the prophet Jeremiah said, (CV)“Amen! May the Lord do so; may the Lord make the words that you have prophesied come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the vessels of the house of the Lord, and all the exiles. 7 Yet hear now this word that I speak in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people. 8 (CW)The prophets who preceded you and me from ancient times prophesied war, famine, and pestilence against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 (CX)As for the prophet who prophesies peace, when the word of that prophet comes to pass, then it will be known that the Lord has truly sent the prophet.”
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the (CY)yoke-bars from the neck of Jeremiah the prophet and broke them. 11 And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, (CZ)“Thus says the Lord: (DA)Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of (DB)all the nations within two years.” But Jeremiah the prophet went his way.
12 Sometime after the prophet (DC)Hananiah had broken the yoke-bars from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Go, tell Hananiah, ‘Thus says the Lord: You have broken wooden bars, but you have made in their place bars of iron. 14 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: I have put upon the neck of all these nations (DD)an iron yoke to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, (DE)and they shall serve him, (DF)for I have given to him even the beasts of the field.’” 15 And Jeremiah the prophet said to the prophet Hananiah, “Listen, Hananiah, (DG)the Lord has not sent you, (DH)and you have made this people trust in a lie. 16 Therefore thus says the Lord: ‘Behold, I will remove you from the face of the earth. This year you shall die, (DI)because you have uttered rebellion against the Lord.’”
17 In that same year, in the seventh month, the prophet Hananiah died.
Jeremiah's Letter to the Exiles
29 These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to (DJ)the surviving elders of the exiles, and to (DK)the priests, (DL)the prophets, and (DM)all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after (DN)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 (DO)Shaphan and Gemariah the son of (DP)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 (DQ)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 (DR)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: (DS)Do not let your prophets and (DT)your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream,[c] 9 for (DU)it is a lie that they are prophesying to you in my name; (DV)I did not send them, declares the Lord.
10 “For thus says the Lord: (DW)When seventy years are completed for Babylon, (DX)I will visit you, (DY)and I will fulfill to you my promise (DZ)and bring you back to this place. 11 (EA)For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[d] and not for evil, (EB)to give you a future and a hope. 12 (EC)Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, (ED)and I will hear you. 13 (EE)You will seek me and find me, when you seek me (EF)with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, (EG)and I will restore your fortunes and (EH)gather you from all the nations and all the places (EI)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 (EJ)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 (EK)sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like (EL)vile figs that are so rotten they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with (EM)sword, famine, and pestilence, (EN)and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, (EO)to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations (EP)where I have driven them, 19 because they did not pay attention to my words, declares the Lord, (EQ)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 (ER)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, (ES)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 (ET)Because of them (EU)this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah in Babylon: “The Lord make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, (EV)whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” 23 because they have done an outrageous thing in Israel, (EW)they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and (EX)they have spoken in my name lying words that I did not command them. (EY)I am the one who knows, (EZ)and I am witness, declares the Lord.’”
Shemaiah's False Prophecy
24 To (FA)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 (FB)Zephaniah the son of (FC)Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26 ‘The Lord has made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, to have (FD)charge in the house of the Lord (FE)over every madman who prophesies, to put him in (FF)the stocks and neck irons. 27 Now why have you not rebuked Jeremiah (FG)of Anathoth who is prophesying to you? 28 For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, “Your exile will be long; (FH)build houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce.”’”
29 (FI)Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30 (FJ)Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send to all the exiles, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord concerning (FK)Shemaiah of Nehelam: Because (FL)Shemaiah had prophesied to you (FM)when I did not send him, and has made you trust in a lie, 32 therefore thus says the Lord: Behold, I will punish (FN)Shemaiah of Nehelam and his descendants. He shall not have anyone living among this people, (FO)and he shall not see the good that I will do to my people, declares the Lord, (FP)for he has spoken rebellion against the Lord.’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 27:1 Or Jehoiakim
- Jeremiah 27:3 Hebrew Send them
- Jeremiah 29:8 Hebrew your dreams, which you cause to dream
- Jeremiah 29:11 Or peace
Jeremiah 26-29
New International Version
Jeremiah 26-29
New International Version
Jeremiah Threatened With Death
26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(A) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard(B) of the Lord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of the Lord.(C) Tell(D) them everything I command you; do not omit(E) a word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn(F) from their evil ways. Then I will relent(G) and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done. 4 Say to them, ‘This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen(H) to me and follow my law,(I) which I have set before you, 5 and if you do not listen to the words of my servants the prophets, whom I have sent to you again and again (though you have not listened(J)), 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh(K) and this city a curse[a](L) among all the nations of the earth.’”
7 The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. 8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything the Lord had commanded(M) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(N) him and said, “You must die!(O) 9 Why do you prophesy in the Lord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?”(P) And all the people crowded(Q) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10 When the officials(R) of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of the Lord and took their places at the entrance of the New Gate(S) of the Lord’s house. 11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death(T) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(U)
12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(V) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(W) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(X) 13 Now reform(Y) your ways and your actions and obey(Z) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(AA) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(AB) do with me whatever you think is good and right. 15 Be assured, however, that if you put me to death, you will bring the guilt of innocent blood(AC) on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth the Lord has sent me to you to speak all these words(AD) in your hearing.”
16 Then the officials(AE) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(AF) He has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people, 18 “Micah(AG) of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“‘Zion(AH) will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(AI)
the temple hill(AJ) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[b](AK)
19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah(AL) fear the Lord and seek(AM) his favor? And did not the Lord relent,(AN) so that he did not bring the disaster(AO) he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster(AP) on ourselves!”
20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim(AQ) was another man who prophesied in the name of the Lord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did. 21 When King Jehoiakim(AR) and all his officers and officials(AS) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.(AT) But Uriah heard of it and fled(AU) in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan(AV) son of Akbor to Egypt, along with some other men. 23 They brought Uriah out of Egypt and took him to King Jehoiakim, who had him struck down with a sword(AW) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)(AX)
24 Furthermore, Ahikam(AY) son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.
Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar
27 Early in the reign of Zedekiah[c](AZ) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke(BA) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. 3 Then send(BB) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,(BC) Tyre and Sidon(BD) through the envoys who have come to Jerusalem to Zedekiah king of Judah. 4 Give them a message for their masters and say, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters: 5 With my great power and outstretched arm(BE) I made(BF) the earth and its people and the animals(BG) that are on it, and I give(BH) it to anyone I please. 6 Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant(BI) Nebuchadnezzar(BJ) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.(BK) 7 All nations will serve(BL) him and his son and his grandson until the time(BM) for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate(BN) him.
8 “‘“If, however, any nation or kingdom will not serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon or bow its neck under his yoke, I will punish(BO) that nation with the sword,(BP) famine(BQ) and plague,(BR) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. 9 So do not listen to your prophets,(BS) your diviners,(BT) your interpreters of dreams,(BU) your mediums(BV) or your sorcerers(BW) who tell you, ‘You will not serve(BX) the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies(BY) to you that will only serve to remove(BZ) you far from your lands; I will banish you and you will perish. 11 But if any nation will bow its neck under the yoke(CA) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live(CB) there, declares the Lord.”’”
12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke(CC) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.(CD) 13 Why will you and your people die(CE) by the sword, famine and plague(CF) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen(CG) to the words of the prophets(CH) who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies(CI) to you. 15 ‘I have not sent(CJ) them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.(CK) Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,(CL) both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’”
16 Then I said to the priests and all these people, “This is what the Lord says: Do not listen to the prophets who say, ‘Very soon now the articles(CM) from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Do not listen(CN) to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.(CO) Why should this city become a ruin? 18 If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead(CP) with the Lord Almighty that the articles remaining in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon. 19 For this is what the Lord Almighty says about the pillars, the bronze Sea,(CQ) the movable stands and the other articles(CR) that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried(CS) Jehoiachin[d](CT) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem— 21 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about the things that are left in the house of the Lord and in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem: 22 ‘They will be taken(CU) to Babylon and there they will remain until the day(CV) I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring(CW) them back and restore them to this place.’”
The False Prophet Hananiah
28 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah(CX) king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon,(CY) said to me in the house of the Lord in the presence of the priests and all the people: 2 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke(CZ) of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles(DA) of the Lord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachin[e](DB) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares the Lord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”(DC)
5 Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of the Lord. 6 He said, “Amen! May the Lord do so! May the Lord fulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of the Lord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.(DD) 7 Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: 8 From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague(DE) against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by the Lord only if his prediction comes true.(DF)”
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke(DG) off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, 11 and he said(DH) before all the people, “This is what the Lord says: ‘In the same way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.’” At this, the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
12 After the prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron. 14 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke(DI) on the necks of all these nations to make them serve(DJ) Nebuchadnezzar(DK) king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.(DL)’”
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent(DM) you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.(DN) 16 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth.(DO) This very year you are going to die,(DP) because you have preached rebellion(DQ) against the Lord.’”
17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.(DR)
A Letter to the Exiles
29 This is the text of the letter(DS) that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon.(DT) 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin[f](DU) and the queen mother,(DV) the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. It said:
4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried(DW) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build(DX) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease.(DY) 7 Also, seek(DZ) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray(EA) to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets(EB) and diviners among you deceive(EC) you. Do not listen to the dreams(ED) you encourage them to have.(EE) 9 They are prophesying lies(EF) to you in my name. I have not sent(EG) them,” declares the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years(EH) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you(EI) and fulfill my good promise(EJ) to bring you back(EK) to this place. 11 For I know the plans(EL) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(EM) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(EN) 12 Then you will call(EO) on me and come and pray(EP) to me, and I will listen(EQ) to you. 13 You will seek(ER) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(ES) 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back(ET) from captivity.[g] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”(EU)
15 You may say, “The Lord has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,” 16 but this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your fellow citizens who did not go with you into exile— 17 yes, this is what the Lord Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague(EV) against them and I will make them like figs(EW) that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent(EX) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse[h](EY) and an object of horror,(EZ) of scorn(FA) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,”(FB) declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again(FC) by my servants the prophets.(FD) And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the Lord.
20 Therefore, hear the word of the Lord, all you exiles whom I have sent(FE) away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies(FF) to you in my name: “I will deliver them into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes. 22 Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned(FG) in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery(FH) with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know(FI) it and am a witness(FJ) to it,” declares the Lord.
Message to Shemaiah
24 Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 25 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah(FK) son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah, 26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any maniac(FL) who acts like a prophet into the stocks(FM) and neck-irons. 27 So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28 He has sent this message(FN) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.(FO) Therefore build(FP) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”
29 Zephaniah(FQ) the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah(FR) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send(FS) him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.(FT) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good(FU) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion(FV) against me.’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
- Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12
- Jeremiah 27:1 A few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac (see also 27:3,12 and 28:1); most Hebrew manuscripts Jehoiakim (Most Septuagint manuscripts do not have this verse.)
- Jeremiah 27:20 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
- Jeremiah 28:4 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
- Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
- Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes
- Jeremiah 29:18 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see verse 22); or, others will see that they are cursed.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New International Version (NIV) 
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NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.