<h3>A Letter to the Exiles</h3>29 This is the text of the letter 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. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin and the queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen 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 <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build 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. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes, this is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the <smallCap>Lord.</smallCap> 10 This is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” 15 You may say, “The <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,” 16 but this is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your countrymen who did not go with you into exile— 17 yes, this is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like poor figs that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth and an object of cursing and horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,” declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the <smallCap>Lord.</smallCap> 20 Therefore, hear the word of the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> all you exiles whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 This is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies to you in my name: “I will hand them over to 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: ‘The <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and in my name have spoken lies, which I did not tell them to do. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares the <smallCap>Lord.</smallCap> <h3>Message to Shemaiah</h3> 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 Zephaniah son of Maaseiah the priest, 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 madman who acts like a prophet into the stocks 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 to us in Babylon: It will be a long time. Therefore build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’” 29 Zephaniah 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 the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has led you to believe a lie, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion against me.’”

Jeremiah 29:1

This is the text of the letter<cr>1</cr> 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.<cr>2</cr>

(This was after King Jehoiachin<ft>1</ft><cr>1</cr> and the queen mother,<cr>2</cr> the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.)

Jeremiah 29:2

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:<pb/>

Jeremiah 29:3

This is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried<cr>1</cr> into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:

Jeremiah 29:4

“Build<cr>1</cr> houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.

Jeremiah 29:5

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.<cr>1</cr>

Jeremiah 29:6

Also, seek<cr>1</cr> the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray<cr>2</cr> to the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

Jeremiah 29:7

Yes, this is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets<cr>1</cr> and diviners among you deceive<cr>2</cr> you. Do not listen to the dreams<cr>3</cr> you encourage them to have.<cr>4</cr>

Jeremiah 29:8

They are prophesying lies<cr>1</cr> to you in my name. I have not sent<cr>2</cr> them,” declares the <smallCap>Lord.</smallCap><pb/>

Jeremiah 29:9

This is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> says: “When seventy years<cr>1</cr> are completed for Babylon, I will come to you<cr>2</cr> and fulfill my gracious promise<cr>3</cr> to bring you back<cr>4</cr> to this place.

Jeremiah 29:10

For I know the plans<cr>1</cr> I have for you,” declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “plans to prosper<cr>2</cr> you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.<cr>3</cr>

Jeremiah 29:11

Then you will call<cr>1</cr> upon me and come and pray<cr>2</cr> to me, and I will listen<cr>3</cr> to you.

Jeremiah 29:12

You will seek<cr>1</cr> me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.<cr>2</cr>

Jeremiah 29:13

I will be found by you,” declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “and will bring you back<cr>1</cr> from captivity.<ft>1</ft> I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”<cr>2</cr><pb/>

Jeremiah 29:14

You may say, “The <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,”

Jeremiah 29:15

but this is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> says about the king who sits on David’s throne and all the people who remain in this city, your countrymen who did not go with you into exile—

Jeremiah 29:16

yes, this is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague<cr>1</cr> against them and I will make them like poor figs<cr>2</cr> that are so bad they cannot be eaten.

Jeremiah 29:17

I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent<cr>1</cr> to all the kingdoms of the earth and an object of cursing<cr>2</cr> and horror,<cr>3</cr> of scorn<cr>4</cr> and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.

Jeremiah 29:18

For they have not listened to my words,”<cr>1</cr> declares the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> “words that I sent to them again and again<cr>2</cr> by my servants the prophets.<cr>3</cr> And you exiles have not listened either,” declares the <smallCap>Lord.</smallCap><pb/>

Jeremiah 29:19

Therefore, hear the word of the <smallCap>Lord,</smallCap> all you exiles whom I have sent<cr>1</cr> away from Jerusalem to Babylon.

Jeremiah 29:20

This is what the <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> Almighty, the God of Israel, says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying lies<cr>1</cr> to you in my name: “I will hand them over to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and he will put them to death before your very eyes.

Jeremiah 29:21

Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘The <smallCap>Lord</smallCap> treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned<cr>1</cr> in the fire.’

Jeremiah 29:22

For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery<cr>1</cr> with their neighbors’ wives and in my name have spoken lies, which I did not tell them to do. I know<cr>2</cr> it and am a witness<cr>3</cr> to it,” declares the <smallCap>Lord.</smallCap>

Jeremiah 29:23

Jeremiah 29:24

“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 Zephaniah<cr>1</cr> son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah,

Jeremiah 29:25

‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any madman<cr>1</cr> who acts like a prophet into the stocks<cr>2</cr> and neck-irons.

Jeremiah 29:26

So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you?

Jeremiah 29:27

He has sent this message<cr>1</cr> to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.<cr>2</cr> Therefore build<cr>3</cr> houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”

Jeremiah 29:28

Zephaniah<cr>1</cr> the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah 29:29

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

Jeremiah 29:30

“Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah<cr>1</cr> the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send<cr>2</cr> him, and has led you to believe a lie,

Jeremiah 29:31

this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.<cr>1</cr> He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good<cr>2</cr> things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion<cr>3</cr> against me.’”

Jeremiah 29:32

 1 This is the text of the letter  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.  2 (This was after King Jehoiachin   and the queen mother,  the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen 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  into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build  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.  7 Also, seek  the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray  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  and diviners among you deceive  you. Do not listen to the dreams  you encourage them to have.  9 They are prophesying lies  to you in my name. I have not sent  them,” declares the Lord.  10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years  are completed for Babylon, I will come to you  and fulfill my gracious promise  to bring you back  to this place. 11 For I know the plans  I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper  you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  12 Then you will call  upon me and come and pray  to me, and I will listen  to you. 13 You will seek  me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back  from captivity.  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.”   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 countrymen 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  against them and I will make them like poor figs  that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent  to all the kingdoms of the earth and an object of cursing  and horror,  of scorn  and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,”  declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again  by my servants the prophets.  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  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  to you in my name: “I will hand them over to 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: ‘The Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned  in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery  with their neighbors’ wives and in my name have spoken lies, which I did not tell them to do. I know  it and am a witness  to it,” declares the Lord. 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 Zephaniah  son of Maaseiah the priest, 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 madman  who acts like a prophet into the stocks  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  to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.  Therefore build  houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’” 29 Zephaniah  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  the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send  him, and has led you to believe a lie, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.  He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good  things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion  against me.’”

From Wikipedia: 

The New International Version (NIV) is an English translation of the Bible first published in 1978 by Biblica (formerly the International Bible Society). The NIV was published to meet the need for a modern translation done by Bible scholars using the earliest, highest quality manuscripts available. Of equal importance was that the Bible be expressed in broadly understood modern English.

The NIV is published by Zondervan in the United States and Hodder & Stoughton in the UK. The NIV was updated in 1984 and has become one of the most popular and best-selling modern translations.

NIV1984

OT: Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia; additional sources;
NT: UBS Greek New Testament; Novum Testamentum Graece; additional sources;

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