Bible in 90 Days
Lying Prophets
9 Concerning the prophets:
My heart(A) is broken within me;
all my bones tremble.(B)
I am like a drunken man,
like a strong man overcome by wine,
because of the Lord
and his holy words.(C)
10 The land is full of adulterers;(D)
because of the curse[a](E) the land lies parched
and the pastures(F) in the wilderness are withered.(G)
The prophets follow an evil course
and use their power unjustly.
11 “Both prophet and priest are godless;(H)
even in my temple(I) I find their wickedness,”
declares the Lord.
12 “Therefore their path will become slippery;(J)
they will be banished to darkness
and there they will fall.
I will bring disaster on them
in the year they are punished,(K)”
declares the Lord.
13 “Among the prophets of Samaria
I saw this repulsive thing:
They prophesied by Baal(L)
and led my people Israel astray.(M)
14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem
I have seen something horrible:(N)
They commit adultery and live a lie.(O)
They strengthen the hands of evildoers,(P)
so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.(Q)
They are all like Sodom(R) to me;
the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”(S)
15 Therefore this is what the Lord Almighty says concerning the prophets:
“I will make them eat bitter food
and drink poisoned water,(T)
because from the prophets of Jerusalem
ungodliness(U) has spread throughout the land.”
16 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Do not listen(V) to what the prophets are prophesying to you;
they fill you with false hopes.
They speak visions(W) from their own minds,
not from the mouth(X) of the Lord.
17 They keep saying(Y) to those who despise me,
‘The Lord says: You will have peace.’(Z)
And to all who follow the stubbornness(AA) of their hearts
they say, ‘No harm(AB) will come to you.’
18 But which of them has stood in the council(AC) of the Lord
to see or to hear his word?
Who has listened and heard his word?
19 See, the storm(AD) of the Lord
will burst out in wrath,
a whirlwind(AE) swirling down
on the heads of the wicked.
20 The anger(AF) of the Lord will not turn back(AG)
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand it clearly.
21 I did not send(AH) these prophets,
yet they have run with their message;
I did not speak to them,
yet they have prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council,(AI)
they would have proclaimed(AJ) my words to my people
and would have turned(AK) them from their evil ways
and from their evil deeds.(AL)
23 “Am I only a God nearby,(AM)”
declares the Lord,
“and not a God far away?
24 Who can hide(AN) in secret places
so that I cannot see them?”
declares the Lord.
“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”(AO)
declares the Lord.
25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies(AP) in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream!(AQ) I had a dream!’ 26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions(AR) of their own minds?(AS) 27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget(AT) my name, just as their ancestors forgot(AU) my name through Baal worship.(AV) 28 Let the prophet who has a dream(AW) recount the dream, but let the one who has my word(AX) speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares the Lord. 29 “Is not my word like fire,”(AY) declares the Lord, “and like a hammer(AZ) that breaks a rock in pieces?
30 “Therefore,” declares the Lord, “I am against(BA) the prophets(BB) who steal from one another words supposedly from me. 31 Yes,” declares the Lord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘The Lord declares.’(BC) 32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,(BD)” declares the Lord. “They tell them and lead my people astray(BE) with their reckless lies,(BF) yet I did not send(BG) or appoint them. They do not benefit(BH) these people in the least,” declares the Lord.
False Prophecy
33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message(BI) from the Lord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake(BJ) you, declares the Lord.’ 34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message(BK) from the Lord,’ I will punish(BL) them and their household. 35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’(BM) or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 36 But you must not mention ‘a message from the Lord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort(BN) the words of the living God,(BO) the Lord Almighty, our God. 37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is the Lord’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has the Lord spoken?’ 38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ this is what the Lord says: You used the words, ‘This is a message from the Lord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from the Lord.’ 39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast(BP) you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors. 40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace(BQ)—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”
Two Baskets of Figs
24 After Jehoiachin[b](BR) son of Jehoiakim king of Judah and the officials, the skilled workers and the artisans of Judah were carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs(BS) placed in front of the temple of the Lord. 2 One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early;(BT) the other basket had very bad(BU) figs, so bad they could not be eaten.
3 Then the Lord asked me, “What do you see,(BV) Jeremiah?”
“Figs,” I answered. “The good ones are very good, but the bad ones are so bad they cannot be eaten.”
4 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 5 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent(BW) away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.[c] 6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back(BX) to this land. I will build(BY) them up and not tear them down; I will plant(BZ) them and not uproot them. 7 I will give them a heart to know(CA) me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people,(CB) and I will be their God, for they will return(CC) to me with all their heart.(CD)
8 “‘But like the bad(CE) figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says the Lord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah(CF) king of Judah, his officials(CG) and the survivors(CH) from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.(CI) 9 I will make them abhorrent(CJ) and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword,(CK) a curse[d](CL) and an object of ridicule, wherever I banish(CM) them. 10 I will send the sword,(CN) famine(CO) and plague(CP) against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.(CQ)’”
Seventy Years of Captivity
25 The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim(CR) son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar(CS) king of Babylon. 2 So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah(CT) and to all those living in Jerusalem: 3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah(CU) son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of the Lord has come to me and I have spoken to you again and again,(CV) but you have not listened.(CW)
4 And though the Lord has sent all his servants the prophets(CX) to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.(CY) 5 They said, “Turn(CZ) now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land(DA) the Lord gave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever. 6 Do not follow other gods(DB) to serve and worship them; do not arouse my anger with what your hands have made. Then I will not harm you.”
7 “But you did not listen to me,” declares the Lord, “and you have aroused(DC) my anger with what your hands have made,(DD) and you have brought harm(DE) to yourselves.”
8 Therefore the Lord Almighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words, 9 I will summon(DF) all the peoples of the north(DG) and my servant(DH) Nebuchadnezzar(DI) king of Babylon,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroy[e](DJ) them and make them an object of horror and scorn,(DK) and an everlasting ruin.(DL) 10 I will banish from them the sounds(DM) of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom,(DN) the sound of millstones(DO) and the light of the lamp.(DP) 11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland,(DQ) and these nations will serve(DR) the king of Babylon seventy years.(DS)
12 “But when the seventy years(DT) are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon(DU) and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,[f] for their guilt,” declares the Lord, “and will make it desolate(DV) forever. 13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written(DW) in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations. 14 They themselves will be enslaved(DX) by many nations(DY) and great kings; I will repay(DZ) them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”
The Cup of God’s Wrath
15 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup(EA) filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send(EB) you drink it. 16 When they drink(EC) it, they will stagger(ED) and go mad(EE) because of the sword(EF) I will send among them.”
17 So I took the cup from the Lord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent(EG) me drink it: 18 Jerusalem(EH) and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin(EI) and an object of horror and scorn,(EJ) a curse[g](EK)—as they are today;(EL) 19 Pharaoh king(EM) of Egypt,(EN) his attendants, his officials and all his people, 20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz;(EO) all the kings of the Philistines(EP) (those of Ashkelon,(EQ) Gaza,(ER) Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod); 21 Edom,(ES) Moab(ET) and Ammon;(EU) 22 all the kings of Tyre(EV) and Sidon;(EW) the kings of the coastlands(EX) across the sea; 23 Dedan,(EY) Tema,(EZ) Buz(FA) and all who are in distant places[h];(FB) 24 all the kings of Arabia(FC) and all the kings of the foreign people(FD) who live in the wilderness; 25 all the kings of Zimri,(FE) Elam(FF) and Media;(FG) 26 and all the kings of the north,(FH) near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms(FI) on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshak[i](FJ) will drink it too.
27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk(FK) and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword(FL) I will send among you.’ 28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink(FM), tell them, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: You must drink it! 29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster(FN) on the city that bears my Name,(FO) and will you indeed go unpunished?(FP) You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword(FQ) on all(FR) who live on the earth,(FS) declares the Lord Almighty.’
30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:
“‘The Lord will roar(FT) from on high;
he will thunder(FU) from his holy dwelling(FV)
and roar mightily against his land.
He will shout like those who tread(FW) the grapes,
shout against all who live on the earth.
31 The tumult(FX) will resound to the ends of the earth,
for the Lord will bring charges(FY) against the nations;
he will bring judgment(FZ) on all(GA) mankind
and put the wicked to the sword,(GB)’”
declares the Lord.
32 This is what the Lord Almighty says:
“Look! Disaster(GC) is spreading
from nation to nation;(GD)
a mighty storm(GE) is rising
from the ends of the earth.”(GF)
33 At that time those slain(GG) by the Lord will be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered(GH) up or buried,(GI) but will be like dung lying on the ground.
34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;(GJ)
roll(GK) in the dust, you leaders of the flock.
For your time to be slaughtered(GL) has come;
you will fall like the best of the rams.[j](GM)
35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,
the leaders of the flock no place to escape.(GN)
36 Hear the cry(GO) of the shepherds,(GP)
the wailing of the leaders of the flock,
for the Lord is destroying their pasture.
37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste
because of the fierce anger of the Lord.
38 Like a lion(GQ) he will leave his lair,
and their land will become desolate(GR)
because of the sword[k] of the oppressor(GS)
and because of the Lord’s fierce anger.(GT)
Jeremiah Threatened With Death
26 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim(GU) son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard(GV) 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.(GW) Tell(GX) them everything I command you; do not omit(GY) a word. 3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn(GZ) from their evil ways. Then I will relent(HA) 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(HB) to me and follow my law,(HC) 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(HD)), 6 then I will make this house like Shiloh(HE) and this city a curse[l](HF) 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(HG) him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized(HH) him and said, “You must die!(HI) 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?”(HJ) And all the people crowded(HK) around Jeremiah in the house of the Lord.
10 When the officials(HL) 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(HM) 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(HN) because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”(HO)
12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials(HP) and all the people: “The Lord sent me to prophesy(HQ) against this house and this city all the things you have heard.(HR) 13 Now reform(HS) your ways and your actions and obey(HT) the Lord your God. Then the Lord will relent(HU) and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you. 14 As for me, I am in your hands;(HV) 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(HW) 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(HX) in your hearing.”
16 Then the officials(HY) and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death!(HZ) 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(IA) 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(IB) will be plowed like a field,
Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,(IC)
the temple hill(ID) a mound overgrown with thickets.’[m](IE)
19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah(IF) fear the Lord and seek(IG) his favor? And did not the Lord relent,(IH) so that he did not bring the disaster(II) he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster(IJ) on ourselves!”
20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim(IK) 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(IL) and all his officers and officials(IM) heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death.(IN) But Uriah heard of it and fled(IO) in fear to Egypt. 22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan(IP) 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(IQ) and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)(IR)
24 Furthermore, Ahikam(IS) 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[n](IT) 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(IU) out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck. 3 Then send(IV) word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon,(IW) Tyre and Sidon(IX) 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(IY) I made(IZ) the earth and its people and the animals(JA) that are on it, and I give(JB) it to anyone I please. 6 Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant(JC) Nebuchadnezzar(JD) king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.(JE) 7 All nations will serve(JF) him and his son and his grandson until the time(JG) for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate(JH) 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(JI) that nation with the sword,(JJ) famine(JK) and plague,(JL) declares the Lord, until I destroy it by his hand. 9 So do not listen to your prophets,(JM) your diviners,(JN) your interpreters of dreams,(JO) your mediums(JP) or your sorcerers(JQ) who tell you, ‘You will not serve(JR) the king of Babylon.’ 10 They prophesy lies(JS) to you that will only serve to remove(JT) 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(JU) of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live(JV) there, declares the Lord.”’”
12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke(JW) of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.(JX) 13 Why will you and your people die(JY) by the sword, famine and plague(JZ) with which the Lord has threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon? 14 Do not listen(KA) to the words of the prophets(KB) who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies(KC) to you. 15 ‘I have not sent(KD) them,’ declares the Lord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name.(KE) Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish,(KF) 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(KG) from the Lord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Do not listen(KH) to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live.(KI) Why should this city become a ruin? 18 If they are prophets and have the word of the Lord, let them plead(KJ) 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,(KK) the movable stands and the other articles(KL) that are left in this city, 20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried(KM) Jehoiachin[o](KN) 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(KO) to Babylon and there they will remain until the day(KP) I come for them,’ declares the Lord. ‘Then I will bring(KQ) 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(KR) king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon,(KS) 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(KT) of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles(KU) 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[p](KV) 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.’”(KW)
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.(KX) 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(KY) 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.(KZ)”
10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke(LA) off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it, 11 and he said(LB) 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(LC) on the necks of all these nations to make them serve(LD) Nebuchadnezzar(LE) king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.(LF)’”
15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent(LG) you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.(LH) 16 Therefore this is what the Lord says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth.(LI) This very year you are going to die,(LJ) because you have preached rebellion(LK) against the Lord.’”
17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.(LL)
A Letter to the Exiles
29 This is the text of the letter(LM) 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.(LN) 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin[q](LO) and the queen mother,(LP) 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(LQ) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build(LR) 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.(LS) 7 Also, seek(LT) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray(LU) 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(LV) and diviners among you deceive(LW) you. Do not listen to the dreams(LX) you encourage them to have.(LY) 9 They are prophesying lies(LZ) to you in my name. I have not sent(MA) them,” declares the Lord.
10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years(MB) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you(MC) and fulfill my good promise(MD) to bring you back(ME) to this place. 11 For I know the plans(MF) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(MG) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(MH) 12 Then you will call(MI) on me and come and pray(MJ) to me, and I will listen(MK) to you. 13 You will seek(ML) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(MM) 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back(MN) from captivity.[r] 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.”(MO)
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(MP) against them and I will make them like figs(MQ) that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent(MR) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse[s](MS) and an object of horror,(MT) of scorn(MU) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,”(MV) declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again(MW) by my servants the prophets.(MX) 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(MY) 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(MZ) 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(NA) in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery(NB) with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know(NC) it and am a witness(ND) 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(NE) 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(NF) who acts like a prophet into the stocks(NG) 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(NH) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.(NI) Therefore build(NJ) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”
29 Zephaniah(NK) 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(NL) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send(NM) 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.(NN) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good(NO) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion(NP) against me.’”
Restoration of Israel
30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write(NQ) in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3 The days(NR) are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring(NS) my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[t] and restore(NT) them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”
4 These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 5 “This is what the Lord says:
“‘Cries of fear(NU) are heard—
terror, not peace.
6 Ask and see:
Can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,(NV)
every face turned deathly pale?(NW)
7 How awful that day(NX) will be!
No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble(NY) for Jacob,
but he will be saved(NZ) out of it.
8 “‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
‘I will break the yoke(OA) off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;(OB)
no longer will foreigners enslave them.(OC)
9 Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
and David(OD) their king,(OE)
whom I will raise up for them.
10 “‘So do not be afraid,(OF) Jacob my servant;(OG)
do not be dismayed, Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save(OH) you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,(OI)
and no one will make him afraid.(OJ)
11 I am with you(OK) and will save you,’
declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy(OL) you.
I will discipline(OM) you but only in due measure;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’(ON)
12 “This is what the Lord says:
“‘Your wound(OO) is incurable,
your injury beyond healing.(OP)
13 There is no one to plead your cause,(OQ)
no remedy for your sore,
no healing(OR) for you.
14 All your allies(OS) have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy(OT) would
and punished you as would the cruel,(OU)
because your guilt is so great
and your sins(OV) so many.
15 Why do you cry out over your wound,
your pain that has no cure?(OW)
Because of your great guilt and many sins
I have done these things to you.(OX)
16 “‘But all who devour(OY) you will be devoured;
all your enemies will go into exile.(OZ)
Those who plunder(PA) you will be plundered;
all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
17 But I will restore you to health
and heal(PB) your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,(PC)
Zion for whom no one cares.’(PD)
18 “This is what the Lord says:
“‘I will restore the fortunes(PE) of Jacob’s tents(PF)
and have compassion(PG) on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt(PH) on her ruins,
and the palace will stand in its proper place.
19 From them will come songs(PI) of thanksgiving(PJ)
and the sound of rejoicing.(PK)
I will add to their numbers,(PL)
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,(PM)
and they will not be disdained.
20 Their children(PN) will be as in days of old,
and their community will be established(PO) before me;
I will punish(PP) all who oppress them.
21 Their leader(PQ) will be one of their own;
their ruler will arise from among them.(PR)
I will bring him near(PS) and he will come close to me—
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?’
declares the Lord.
22 “‘So you will be my people,(PT)
and I will be your God.(PU)’”
23 See, the storm(PV) of the Lord
will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger(PW) of the Lord will not turn back(PX)
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand(PY) this.
31 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God(PZ) of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”
2 This is what the Lord says:
“The people who survive the sword
will find favor(QA) in the wilderness;
I will come to give rest(QB) to Israel.”
3 The Lord appeared to us in the past,[u] saying:
“I have loved(QC) you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn(QD) you with unfailing kindness.
4 I will build you up again,
and you, Virgin(QE) Israel, will be rebuilt.(QF)
Again you will take up your timbrels(QG)
and go out to dance(QH) with the joyful.(QI)
5 Again you will plant(QJ) vineyards
on the hills of Samaria;(QK)
the farmers will plant them
and enjoy their fruit.(QL)
6 There will be a day when watchmen(QM) cry out
on the hills of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Zion,
to the Lord our God.’”(QN)
7 This is what the Lord says:
“Sing(QO) with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost(QP) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
‘Lord, save(QQ) your people,
the remnant(QR) of Israel.’
8 See, I will bring them from the land of the north(QS)
and gather(QT) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind(QU) and the lame,(QV)
expectant mothers and women in labor;
a great throng will return.
9 They will come with weeping;(QW)
they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead(QX) them beside streams of water(QY)
on a level(QZ) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,(RA)
and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
10 “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
proclaim it in distant coastlands:(RB)
‘He who scattered(RC) Israel will gather(RD) them
and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’(RE)
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
and redeem(RF) them from the hand of those stronger(RG) than they.
12 They will come and shout for joy(RH) on the heights(RI) of Zion;
they will rejoice in the bounty(RJ) of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,(RK)
the young of the flocks(RL) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,(RM)
and they will sorrow(RN) no more.
13 Then young women will dance and be glad,
young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning(RO) into gladness;
I will give them comfort(RP) and joy(RQ) instead of sorrow.
14 I will satisfy(RR) the priests(RS) with abundance,
and my people will be filled with my bounty,(RT)”
declares the Lord.
15 This is what the Lord says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,(RU)
mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,(RV)
because they are no more.”(RW)
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Restrain your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,(RX)
for your work will be rewarded,(RY)”
declares the Lord.
“They will return(RZ) from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope(SA) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
“Your children(SB) will return to their own land.
18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
‘You disciplined(SC) me like an unruly calf,(SD)
and I have been disciplined.
Restore(SE) me, and I will return,
because you are the Lord my God.
19 After I strayed,(SF)
I repented;
after I came to understand,
I beat(SG) my breast.
I was ashamed(SH) and humiliated
because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’(SI)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
the child(SJ) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
I still remember(SK) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
I have great compassion(SL) for him,”
declares the Lord.
21 “Set up road signs;
put up guideposts.(SM)
Take note of the highway,(SN)
the road that you take.
Return,(SO) Virgin(SP) Israel,
return to your towns.
22 How long will you wander,(SQ)
unfaithful(SR) Daughter Israel?
The Lord will create a new thing(SS) on earth—
the woman will return to[v](ST) the man.”
23 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,[w](SU) the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless(SV) you, you prosperous city,(SW) you sacred mountain.’(SX) 24 People will live(SY) together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.(SZ) 25 I will refresh the weary(TA) and satisfy the faint.”(TB)
26 At this I awoke(TC) and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.
27 “The days are coming,”(TD) declares the Lord, “when I will plant(TE) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched(TF) over them to uproot(TG) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,(TH) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”(TI) declares the Lord. 29 “In those days people will no longer say,
30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;(TL) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.
31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant(TM)
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant(TN)
I made with their ancestors(TO)
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,(TP)
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband(TQ) to[x] them,[y]”
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds(TR)
and write it on their hearts.(TS)
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.(TT)
34 No longer will they teach(TU) their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know(TV) me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive(TW) their wickedness
and will remember their sins(TX) no more.”
35 This is what the Lord says,
he who appoints(TY) the sun
to shine by day,
who decrees the moon and stars
to shine by night,(TZ)
who stirs up the sea(UA)
so that its waves roar(UB)—
the Lord Almighty is his name:(UC)
36 “Only if these decrees(UD) vanish from my sight,”
declares the Lord,
“will Israel(UE) ever cease
being a nation before me.”
37 This is what the Lord says:
“Only if the heavens above can be measured(UF)
and the foundations of the earth below be searched out
will I reject(UG) all the descendants of Israel
because of all they have done,”
declares the Lord.
38 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when this city will be rebuilt(UH) for me from the Tower of Hananel(UI) to the Corner Gate.(UJ) 39 The measuring line(UK) will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley(UL) where dead bodies(UM) and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley(UN) on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate,(UO) will be holy(UP) to the Lord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”
Jeremiah Buys a Field
32 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth(UQ) year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth(UR) year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging(US) Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined(UT) in the courtyard of the guard(UU) in the royal palace of Judah.
3 Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy(UV) as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture(UW) it. 4 Zedekiah(UX) king of Judah will not escape(UY) the Babylonians[z](UZ) but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. 5 He will take(VA) Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him,(VB) declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”(VC)
6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth,(VD) because as nearest relative it is your right and duty(VE) to buy it.’
8 “Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field(VF) at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’
“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; 9 so I bought the field(VG) at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels[aa] of silver.(VH) 10 I signed and sealed the deed,(VI) had it witnessed,(VJ) and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11 I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— 12 and I gave this deed to Baruch(VK) son of Neriah,(VL) the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.
13 “In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: 14 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed(VM) and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. 15 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’(VN)
16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch(VO) son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:
17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord,(VP) you have made the heavens and the earth(VQ) by your great power and outstretched arm.(VR) Nothing is too hard(VS) for you. 18 You show love(VT) to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps(VU) of their children(VV) after them. Great and mighty God,(VW) whose name is the Lord Almighty,(VX) 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.(VY) Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind;(VZ) you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.(WA) 20 You performed signs and wonders(WB) in Egypt(WC) and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown(WD) that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand(WE) and an outstretched arm(WF) and with great terror.(WG) 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.(WH) 23 They came in and took possession(WI) of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law;(WJ) they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster(WK) on them.
24 “See how the siege ramps(WL) are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague,(WM) the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said(WN) has happened,(WO) as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field(WP) with silver and have the transaction witnessed.(WQ)’”
26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.(WR) Is anything too hard for me?(WS) 28 Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar(WT) king of Babylon, who will capture it.(WU) 29 The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down,(WV) along with the houses(WW) where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings(WX) to other gods.(WY)
30 “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth;(WZ) indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger(XA) with what their hands have made,(XB) declares the Lord. 31 From the day it was built until now, this city(XC) has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove(XD) it from my sight. 32 The people of Israel and Judah have provoked(XE) me by all the evil(XF) they have done—they, their kings and officials,(XG) their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. 33 They turned their backs(XH) to me and not their faces; though I taught(XI) them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline.(XJ) 34 They set up their vile images(XK) in the house that bears my Name(XL) and defiled(XM) it. 35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom(XN) to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek,(XO) though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind(XP)—that they should do such a detestable(XQ) thing and so make Judah sin.(XR)
36 “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague(XS) it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely gather(XT) them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger(XU) and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety.(XV) 38 They will be my people,(XW) and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness(XX) of heart and action, so that they will always fear(XY) me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant(XZ) with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire(YA) them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me.(YB) 41 I will rejoice(YC) in doing them good(YD) and will assuredly plant(YE) them in this land with all my heart and soul.(YF)
42 “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity(YG) on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised(YH) them. 43 Once more fields will be bought(YI) in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate(YJ) waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ 44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds(YK) will be signed, sealed and witnessed(YL) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,(YM) because I will restore(YN) their fortunes,[ab] declares the Lord.”
Promise of Restoration
33 While Jeremiah was still confined(YO) in the courtyard(YP) of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time:(YQ) 2 “This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth,(YR) the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name:(YS) 3 ‘Call(YT) to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable(YU) things you do not know.’ 4 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege(YV) ramps(YW) and the sword 5 in the fight with the Babylonians[ac]: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath.(YX) I will hide my face(YY) from this city because of all its wickedness.
6 “‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal(YZ) my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace(ZA) and security. 7 I will bring Judah(ZB) and Israel back from captivity[ad](ZC) and will rebuild(ZD) them as they were before.(ZE) 8 I will cleanse(ZF) them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive(ZG) all their sins of rebellion against me. 9 Then this city will bring me renown,(ZH) joy, praise(ZI) and honor(ZJ) before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble(ZK) at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.’
10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, “It is a desolate waste, without people or animals.”(ZL) Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted,(ZM) inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more 11 the sounds of joy and gladness,(ZN) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings(ZO) to the house of the Lord, saying,
For I will restore the fortunes(ZR) of the land as they were before,(ZS)’ says the Lord.
12 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate(ZT) and without people or animals(ZU)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.(ZV) 13 In the towns of the hill(ZW) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,(ZX) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand(ZY) of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.
14 “‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise(ZZ) I made to the people of Israel and Judah.
15 “‘In those days and at that time
I will make a righteous(AAA) Branch(AAB) sprout from David’s line;(AAC)
he will do what is just and right in the land.
16 In those days Judah will be saved(AAD)
and Jerusalem will live in safety.(AAE)
This is the name by which it[ae] will be called:(AAF)
The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’(AAG)
17 For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail(AAH) to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel, 18 nor will the Levitical(AAI) priests(AAJ) ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.(AAK)’”
19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day(AAL) and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time,(AAM) 21 then my covenant(AAN) with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites(AAO) who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.(AAP) 22 I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless(AAQ) as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.’”
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