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59 This is the order Jeremiah the prophet gave to Seraiah son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, when he went to King Zedekiah of Judah in Babylon during the fourth year of his reign.[a] (Seraiah was a quartermaster.)[b] 60 Jeremiah recorded[c] on one scroll all the judgments[d] that would come upon Babylon—all these prophecies[e] written about Babylon. 61 Then Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “When you arrive in Babylon, make sure[f] you read aloud all these prophecies.[g] 62 Then say, ‘O Lord, you have announced that you will destroy this place so that no people or animals live in it any longer. Certainly it will lie desolate forever!’ 63 When you finish reading this scroll aloud, tie a stone to it and throw it into the middle of the Euphrates River.[h] 64 Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and never rise again because of the disaster I am ready to bring upon her; they will grow faint.’”

The prophecies of Jeremiah end here.[i]

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 51:59 sn This would be 582 b.c.
  2. Jeremiah 51:59 tn Heb “an officer of rest.”
  3. Jeremiah 51:60 tn Or “wrote.”
  4. Jeremiah 51:60 tn Or “disaster”; or “calamity.”
  5. Jeremiah 51:60 tn Heb “words” (or “things”).
  6. Jeremiah 51:61 tn Heb “see [that].”
  7. Jeremiah 51:61 tn Heb “words” (or “things”).
  8. Jeremiah 51:63 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text but has been supplied for clarity.
  9. Jeremiah 51:64 sn The final chapter of the book of Jeremiah does not mention Jeremiah or record any of his prophecies.

Jeremiah’s Message Sent to Babylon

59 The prophet Jeremiah gave this message to Seraiah son of Neriah and grandson of Mahseiah, a staff officer, when Seraiah went to Babylon with King Zedekiah of Judah. This was during the fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign.[a] 60 Jeremiah had recorded on a scroll all the terrible disasters that would soon come upon Babylon—all the words written here. 61 He said to Seraiah, “When you get to Babylon, read aloud everything on this scroll. 62 Then say, ‘Lord, you have said that you will destroy Babylon so that neither people nor animals will remain here. She will lie empty and abandoned forever.’ 63 When you have finished reading the scroll, tie it to a stone and throw it into the Euphrates River. 64 Then say, ‘In this same way Babylon and her people will sink, never again to rise, because of the disasters I will bring upon her.’”

This is the end of Jeremiah’s messages.

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Footnotes

  1. 51:59 The fourth year of Zedekiah’s reign was 593 B.c.