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26 ¶ Lè sa a, Jojakim, pitit Jozyas la, te fèk moute wa nan peyi Jida. Seyè a pale ak Jeremi ankò.

Men sa Seyè a di l': -Ale kanpe nan lakou tanp lan. Ou pral di tou sa mwen te ba ou lòd di sou moun ki soti nan tout lavil peyi Jida yo pou vin adore nan Kay Seyè a. Pa wete anyen.

Ou pa janm konnen, yo ka koute ou, yo ka pran desizyon yonn apre lòt pou yo kite move jan y'ap viv la. Mwen fè lide voye malè sou yo pou tou sa yo te fè ki mal. Men, si yo koute ou, m'a chanje lide.

Konsa, w'a di yo: Men mesaj Seyè a bay: Koute m', swiv lòd mwen mete devan nou.

Louvri zòrèy nou tande mesaj pwofèt yo, sèvitè m' yo. Se mwen menm ki pa janm sispann voye yo ban nou, men nou pa vle koute yo.

Si nou pa koute yo, m'ap kraze tanp sa a menm jan mwen te detwi kote yo te mete apa pou mwen lavil Silo a. Nan tout lòt nasyon ki sou latè, y'a pran non lavil sa a pou bay madichon.

¶ Prèt yo, pwofèt yo ansanm ak tout moun ki te la yo tande Jeremi ap bay mesaj sa a nan lakou Tanp lan.

Fini Jeremi fin bay mesaj Seyè a te ba li lòd bay pèp la, prèt yo, pwofèt yo ansanm ak tout moun ki te la yo mete men sou li. Yo pran rele: -Se pou yo touye ou pou sa ou sot di la a!

Poukisa ou pran non Seyè a pou ou di li pral kraze tanp sa a menm jan li te detwi kote yo te mete apa pou li lavil Silo a, li pral fè lavil la tounen mazi, san pesonn ladan l'? Tout pèp la sanble bò kot Jeremi nan Tanp Seyè a.

10 Lè chèf Jida yo vin konnen sa ki t'ap pase, yo kite palè wa a, yo kouri al nan tanp lan, y' al chita nan plas yo bò Pòtay Nèf la.

11 Prèt yo ak pwofèt yo pale ak chèf yo ansanm ak pèp la, yo di: -Nonm sa a merite pou yo touye l' paske li pale lavil Jerizalèm lan mal. Nou tout la a, nou tande l' ak pwòp zòrèy nou.

12 Lè sa a, Jeremi pale ak tout gwo chèf yo ansanm ak pèp la. Li di: -Se Seyè a ki voye m' pou m' fè nou konnen tou sa nou sot tande m' di la a sou Tanp lan ak sou lavil la.

13 Koulye a, se pou nou chanje jan n'ap viv la, sispann fè sa ki mal. Koute sa Seyè a, Bondye nou an, ap di nou. Lè sa a, l'a chanje lide, li p'ap voye malè li te di l'ap voye sou nou an.

14 Mwen menm, mwen nan men nou. Fè sa nou vle avè m', sa nou kwè nou dwe fè a.

15 Tansèlman, si nou touye m', konnen se lanmò yon inonsan n'ap gen ni sou konsyans nou, ni sou konsyans moun ki rete nan lavil la. Paske, sa m'ap di nou la a, se vre wi, se Seyè a menm ki voye m' pou m' fè nou tande tout pawòl sa yo.

16 ¶ Lè sa a, gwo chèf yo ak tout pèp la pale ak prèt yo ansanm ak pwofèt yo. Yo di yo: -Pa gen anyen la a pou n' touye nonm sa a. Paske se nan non Seyè a, Bondye nou an, li pale ak nou.

17 Apre sa, kèk chèf fanmi kanpe epi yo di moun ki te sanble yo:

18 -Sou rèy Ezekyas, wa peyi Jida a, pwofèt Miche, moun lavil Morechèt la, te bay tout pèp peyi Jida a mesaj sa a: Men sa Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a di: N'ap lakòz peyi Siyon an pral tankou yon jaden y'ap raboure. Jerizalèm ap tounen yon mazi. Gwo rakbwa pral kouvri tout mòn kote tanp lan ye a.

19 Lè sa a, èske wa Ezekyas ak pèp peyi Jida a te fè touye pwofèt Miche? Non, yo fè wè jan yo te gen krentif Seyè a, yo mande l' pou l' gen pitye pou yo. Se konsa Seyè a chanje lide, li pa voye malè li te di l'ap voye sou yo a. Koulye a, nou soti pou nou rale yon gwo malè sou nou si nou fè nonm sa a anyen.

20 Te gen yon lòt nonm yo te rele Ouri ki t'ap pale nan non Bondye. Se te pitit Chemaya, moun lavil Kiriyat Jearim. Li menm tou, tankou Jeremi, li t'ap pale nan non Bondye sou lavil Jerizalèm ak sou peyi Jida.

21 Lè wa Jojakim, gad li yo ansanm ak tout chèf li yo tande sa li t'ap di, wa a t'ap chache yon jan pou touye li. Ouri vin konn sa, li pè, li kouri al kache nan peyi Lejip.

22 Se konsa, wa Jojakim voye Elnatan, pitit Akbò, ansanm ak kèk lòt gason nan peyi Lejip al chache msye.

23 Yo pran Ouri nan peyi Lejip, yo mennen l' bay wa a. Wa a fè yo touye l'. Lèfini, yo jete kadav li nan gwo fòs endijan yo.

24 Men, Akikam, pitit Chafan an, t'ap pwoteje Jeremi. Se konsa li pa t' kite yo lage Jeremi nan men pèp la pou yo te touye l'.

27 ¶ Sedesyas, pitit Jozyas la, te gen katran depi li fèk moute wa nan peyi Jida, lè Seyè a pale ak Jeremi ankò.

Seyè a di l' konsa: -Pran kòd ak bwa yo sèvi pou fè jouk bèf. Mete yo sou zepòl ou.

Lèfini, w'a voye yo bay wa peyi Edon, wa peyi Moab, wa peyi Amon, wa peyi Tir ak wa peyi Sidon. W'a renmèt yo nan men delege wa sa yo ki te vin wè wa Sedesyas lavil Jerizalèm.

W'a ba yo chak yon misyon pou mèt yo. W'a di yo men mesaj Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, ba yo pou mèt yo:

-Se mwen menm avèk gwo kouraj mwen epi ak fòs ponyèt mwen ki fè latè ansanm ak tout moun ak tout bèt k'ap viv sou latè. Mwen pran yo bay moun mwen vle.

Se konsa, mwen lage tout peyi nou yo nan men Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn, sèvitè m' lan. Mwen ba li ata bèt nan bwa yo pou yo soumèt devan l'.

Tout nasyon yo va sèvi l'. Y'a sèvi pitit li ak pitit pitit li jouk lè a va rive pou lòt nasyon ki pi fò pase l' yo, lòt wa ki pi gran pase l' yo va fè peyi pa l' la sèvi yo tou.

Men si yon nasyon osinon yon wa ak tout pèp li derefize soumèt devan Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn lan, si yonn ladan yo refize bese tèt devan otorite li pou obeyi l', m'ap voye lagè, grangou, move maladi sou nasyon sa a pou pini l' jouk m'a fè Nèbikadneza fini nèt ak li.

Pa koute pwofèt nou yo, ni divinò nou yo, ni ankenn lòt moun ki pretann yo konnen sa ki pral rive nou, paske yo fè rèv pou nou, osinon paske yo ka li sa k'ap pase nan syèl la ou ankò paske yo konn fè maji. Yo tout ap plede di nou p'ap janm sèvi wa Babilòn lan.

10 Se manti y'ap ban nou. Si nou koute yo, y'ap depòte nou byen lwen peyi nou an. Se mwen menm k'ap mete nou deyò. Lèfini, nou tout pral mouri.

11 Men, si yon nasyon asepte bese tèt li devan otorite wa Babilòn lan pou sèvi l', m'a kite l' nan peyi l', l'a travay latè, l'a rete lakay li. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa.

12 ¶ Mwen pale ak Sedesyas, wa Jida a, mwen di l' menm bagay la tou: -Ou menm ansanm ak pèp la, se pou nou bese tèt devan otorite wa Babilòn lan. Se pou nou sèvi ni li ni pèp li a, konsa n'a viv.

13 Pa gen rezon pou nou mouri, ou menm ak tout pèp ou a, nan lagè, nan grangou, anba move maladi. Paske se sa Seyè a te di ki gen pou rive tout nasyon ki va derefize soumèt devan wa Babilòn lan.

14 Gen yon bann pwofèt k'ap plede di nou p'ap janm sèvi wa Babilòn lan. Pa koute yo. Se manti y'ap bay.

15 Se Seyè a menm ki di se pa li menm ki voye yo. Yo pran non l' pou ban nou manti. Si nou koute yo, m'ap mete nou deyò, m'ap fè nou mouri, ni nou ni pwofèt k'ap ban nou manti yo.

16 Apre sa, mwen pale ak prèt yo ansanm ak pèp la, mwen di yo: -Men mesaj Seyè a bay. Pa koute pwofèt yo k'ap plede di nou yo pral pote tounen soti lavil Babilòn tout bagay yo te pran nan tanp lan. Se manti y'ap bay.

17 Pa koute yo. Soumèt devan wa Babilòn lan, konsa n'a viv. Pa gen rezon pou nou fè lavil Jerizalèm lan tounen mazi.

18 Si yo se pwofèt tout bon, si yo resevwa yon mesaj nan men Seyè a tout bon vre, enben, se pou y' al mande Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a pou li pa kite yo pran rès bon bagay ki nan Tanp lan, ak rès bon bagay ki lakay wa peyi Jida a ak nan lavil Jerizalèm lan pou pote yo ale lavil Babilòn.

19 Seyè a t'ap pale sou gwo poto kwiv yo, sou gwo basen lan ansanm ak pye l' yo, sou tout lòt richès ki te nan lavil la toujou.

20 Se bagay sa yo Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn lan, te kite lavil Jerizalèm lè li t'ap depòte Jekonya, pitit Jojakim, wa peyi Jida a, lavil Babilòn, ansanm ak grannèg peyi Jida yo ak grannèg lavil Jerizalèm yo.

21 Wi, men sa Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, te di sou rès bon bagay ki te nan kay Seyè a, nan kay wa Jida a ak nan lavil Jerizalèm:

22 Y'ap pote yo ale lavil Babilòn. Y'ap rete la jouk lè m'a vin pran yo pou m' fè yo tounen nan plas yo. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa.

28 ¶ Nan menm lanne a, nan katriyèm lanne rèy Sedesyas, wa peyi Jida a, nan senkyèm mwa a, pwofèt Ananya, pitit Azou, moun lavil Gabawon, vin pale avè m' nan tanp Seyè a. Devan tout prèt yo ansanm ak pèp la, li di mwen:

-Men mesaj Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, bay: Mwen kraze pouvwa wa Babilòn lan.

Nan dezan, jou pou jou, m'ap pote tout bagay ki te nan tanp Seyè a tounen nan plas yo. Wi, tou sa wa Nèbikadneza te pran nan tanp lan pou l' te pote ale lavil Babilòn, m'ap fè yo tounen nan plas yo.

M'ap fè Jekonya, pitit Jojakim, wa peyi Jida a, ansanm ak tout moun peyi Jida yo te depòte lavil Babilòn yo tounen isit. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa. Wi, mwen pral kraze pouvwa wa Babilòn ki t'ap peze nou an.

Lè sa a, devan tout prèt yo ansanm ak foul moun ki te nan kay Seyè a, pwofèt Jeremi reponn pwofèt Ananya.

Li di konsa: -Dakò! Se pou Seyè a fè sa vre! Se pou li fè sa ou di a rive vre, pou l' fè tout bagay ki te nan Tanp Seyè a ansanm ak moun yo te depòte yo tounen soti lavil Babilòn.

Tansèlman, koute byen sa m'ap di ou, ou menm ansanm ak pèp la:

Pwofèt ki te vini anvan m' yo ak anvan ou tou te fè konnen lagè, grangou ak move maladi pral tonbe sou anpil gwo peyi, sou anpil gran wa ak tout pèp yo.

Men, lè yon pwofèt di tout bagay pral mache byen, se lè sa li di ki gen pou rive a rive vre y'a rekonèt se Seyè a ki te voye l'.

10 ¶ Lè sa a, pwofèt Ananya pran jouk bèf ki te sou zepòl Jeremi an, li kraze l' an miyèt moso.

11 Apre sa, li pran pale ankò devan tout pèp la. Li di konsa: -Men mesaj Seyè a: Nan dezan, jou pou jou, se konsa mwen pral kraze pouvwa Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn lan. Mwen pral kraze jouk bèf li te mete sou zepòl tout nasyon yo. Apre sa, pwofèt Jeremi al fè wout li.

12 Kèk tan apre pwofèt Ananya te kraze jouk bèf ki te sou zepòl pwofèt Jeremi an, Seyè a pale ak Jeremi, li di l' konsa:

13 -Ale pale ak Ananya. W'a di l' men sa Seyè a voye di ou: Ou te kraze yon jouk bèf fèt an bwa. Ou pral ranplase l' ak yon jouk bèf fèt an fè.

14 Paske men sa Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la di: M'ap mete yon jouk fè sou zepòl tout nasyon sa yo pou yo sèvi Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn lan. Ata bèt nan bwa va soumèt devan l'.

15 Apre sa, pwofèt Jeremi di pwofèt Ananya konsa: -Koute byen, Ananya! Se pa Seyè a ki te voye ou di sa, tande. Ou twonpe konfyans pèp la.

16 Se sa ki fè men sa Seyè a di: Li pral disparèt ou sou latè. Anvan lanne an bout, w'ap mouri, paske ou pouse pèp la pou l' te kenbe tèt ak Seyè a!

17 Menm lanne an vre, nan setyèm mwa a, pwofèt Ananya mouri.

29 ¶ Pwofèt Jeremi rete lavil Jerizalèm li voye yon lèt bay tout moun Nèbikadneza te depòte soti lavil Jerizalèm ale lavil Babilòn, ki vle di bay chèf fanmi, prèt, pwofèt ak tout rès pèp lavil Jerizalèm wa a te fè depòte.

Se te apre yo te fin pran wa Jekonya, manman li, gwo zotobre nan palè a, chèf peyi Jida ak chèf lavil Jerizalèm yo, atizan yo, bòs fòjon yo pou depòte yo.

Jeremi renmèt lèt la nan men de moun Sedesyas, wa peyi Jida a, t'ap voye bò kote Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn lan. Se te Elasa, pitit Chafan ak Gemarya, pitit Ilkija. Jeremi voye di yo nan lèt la:

-Men mesaj Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, voye pou tout moun li te fè yo pran lavil Jerizalèm pou depòte jouk lavil Babilòn.

Nou mèt bati kay pou nou rete, nou mèt plante jaden pou nou manje.

Marye, fè pitit. Marye pitit gason nou yo, marye pitit fi nou yo pou yo ka fè pitit. Kote nou ye laba a, peple. Pa kite nou fin mouri.

Travay pou fè peyi kote Seyè a fè yo depòte nou an wè zafè l' mache byen. Lapriyè Seyè a pou yo. Paske, si sa bon pou yo la bon pou nou tou.

¶ Wi, men avètisman Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, voye ban nou: Pa kite pwofèt ki nan mitan nou yo ak divinò yo ban nou manti! Pa koute moun k'ap rakonte rèv yo fè.

Se pou yo ka twonpe nou pi byen kifè yo pran non m' mete devan. Se pa mwen ki voye yo. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa.

10 Seyè a di ankò: Lè lavil Babilòn lan va rive sou swasanndizan depi li kanpe a, m'a vin vizite nou, m'a fè kichòy pou nou. M'a kenbe bèl pwomès mwen te fè nou an, m'a fè nou tounen lakay nou ankò.

11 Se mwen ki konnen sa m' gen nan tèt mwen pou nou. Se mwen menm Seyè a k'ap pale. Se byen nou mwen ta vle wè, pa malè nou. Mwen ta vle denmen nou jwenn sa n'ap tann lan.

12 Lè sa a, n'a rele m', n'a vin lapriyè nan pye m', m'a reponn nou.

13 N'a chache m', n'a jwenn mwen paske n'a chache m' ak tout kè nou.

14 Wi, m'a kite nou jwenn mwen. Se mwen menm ki di sa. M'a fè peyi nou an kanpe ankò. M'ap pase men m' ranmase nou nan tout peyi toupatou kote m' te gaye nou yo. M'ap mennen nou tounen kote m' te pran nou pou m' te depòte nou an. Se mwen menm Seyè a ki di sa.

15 ¶ Seyè a voye di nou sa paske nou pretann di li voye pwofèt ban nou lavil Babilòn.

16 Enben, men sa Seyè a di sou wa ki chita sou fotèy wa David la, sou pèp lavil Jerizalèm la, ki vle di rès fanmi yo pa t' depòte ansanm ak nou yo.

17 Wi. Men sa Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a di: Mwen pral voye lagè, grangou ak move maladi sou yo. M'ap fè yo tounen tankou vye fig pouri moun pa ka manje.

18 M'ap rete la dèyè yo ak lagè, grangou, move maladi. Tout nasyon sou latè pral sezi lè y'a wè sa ki rive yo. Nan tout peyi kote mwen pral gaye yo, moun pral fè sezisman, y'ap mete men nan tèt lè y'a wè yo. Y'a pran non yo pou sèvi jouman, pou bay moun madichon.

19 Tou sa va rive yo paske yo pa t' vle koute sa m' t'ap di yo. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa. Malgre mwen pa t' sispann voye pwofèt yo, sèvitè m' yo, ba yo, yo pa janm vle koute.

20 Men, nou menm Seyè a te pran lavil Jerizalèm pou l' depòte lavil Babilòn, manyè koute sa Seyè a ap di nou!

21 Men mesaj Seyè ki gen tout pouvwa a, Bondye pèp Izrayèl la, bay sou Akab, pitit Kolaja, ansanm ak Sedesyas, pitit Maseja, ki t'ap pran non Seyè a pou bay manti. Mwen pral lage yo nan men Nèbikadneza, wa Babilòn lan, ki pral fè touye yo la devan nou tout.

22 Apre sa, lè moun peyi Jida yo te depòte lavil Babilòn yo va bezwen bay moun madichon y'a sèvi ak non mesye sa yo. Y'a di: Se pou Seyè a fè ou sa l' te fè Sedesyas ansanm ak Akab wa Babilòn lan te fè boule tou vivan.

23 Se sa k'ap rive yo, paske yo te yon gwo wont pou pèp Izrayèl la. Yo fè adiltè ak madanm jwif parèy yo, lèfini y'ap pran non mwen pou bay manti, pou bay mesaj mwen pa t' mete nan bouch yo. Mwen konnen sa yo fè, mwen te wè yo ak je m'. Se Seyè a menm ki di sa.

24 ¶ Seyè a te bay pwofèt Jeremi yon mesaj pou Chemaja, moun Nekelam,

25 paske Chemaja te pran reskonsablite voye yon lèt bay yon prèt yo te rele Sefanya, pitit Maseja, pou tout lòt prèt yo ansanm ak tout moun lavil Jerizalèm yo. Chemaja te voye di yo:

26 -Seyè a te fè ou prèt nan plas Jeojada pou veye sa k'ap pase nan tanp lan. Se devwa ou pou ou pran tout moun fou k'ap pran pòz pwofèt yo pou mete yo nan chenn ak yon kolye fè nan kou yo.

27 Poukisa ou pa fè anyen ak Jeremi, nonm Anatòt la, k'ap pran pòz pwofèt li nan mitan pèp la?

28 Men koulye a li ekri nou isit lavil Babilòn, li voye di nou n'ap rete lontan nan sitiyasyon sa a. Nou mèt bati kay pou nou rete, nou mèt plante jaden pou nou ka manje.

29 Sefanya, prèt la, te li lèt la bay pwofèt Jeremi.

30 Lè sa a, Seyè a bay Jeremi lòd sa a:

31 -Voye mesaj sa a bay tout moun yo depòte lavil Babilòn yo. Men sa Seyè a di sou Chemaja, moun Nekelam. Chemaja pran pòz pwofèt li, men se pa mwen ki voye l'. Li fè nou bwè yon bann manti.

32 Se poutèt sa, mwen menm Seyè a, mwen pral pini Chemaya ansanm ak tout kòt fanmi li. Mwen p'ap kite yon moun nan fanmi li vivan nan mitan nou pou wè bèl bagay mwen pral fè pou pèp mwen an, paske li te moute tèt pèp la kont Bondye, Seyè a.

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(A) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: “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. 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. 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, 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)), then I will make this house like Shiloh(K) and this city a curse[a](L) among all the nations of the earth.’”

The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of the Lord. 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) 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: This is what the Lord said to me: “Make a yoke(BA) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. 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. 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: 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. 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) 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.

“‘“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. 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: “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke(CZ) of the king of Babylon. 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. 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)

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. 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) Nevertheless, listen to what I have to say in your hearing and in the hearing of all the people: From early times the prophets who preceded you and me have prophesied war, disaster and plague(DE) against many countries and great kingdoms. 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) (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.) 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:

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried(DW) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build(DX) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 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) 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.” 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) 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

  1. Jeremiah 26:6 That is, its name will be used in cursing (see 29:22); or, others will see that it is cursed.
  2. Jeremiah 26:18 Micah 3:12
  3. 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.)
  4. Jeremiah 27:20 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  5. Jeremiah 28:4 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  6. Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  7. Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes
  8. Jeremiah 29:18 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see verse 22); or, others will see that they are cursed.