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Judgment Against Wicked Kings

1 This is what theLordsays: “Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and proclaim this message there:

2 ‘Hear the word of theLordto you, king of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne—you, your officials and your people who come through these gates.

3 This is what theLordsays: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hand of the oppressor the one who has been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.

4 For if you are careful to carry out these commands, then kings who sit on David’s throne will come through the gates of this palace, riding in chariots and on horses, accompanied by their officials and their people.

5 But if you do not obey these commands, declares theLord, I swear by myself that this palace will become a ruin.’ ”

6 For this is what theLordsays about the palace of the king of Judah:

“Though you are like Gilead to me,

like the summit of Lebanon,

I will surely make you like a wasteland,

like towns not inhabited.

7 I will send destroyers against you,

each man with his weapons,

and they will cut up your fine cedar beams

and throw them into the fire.

8 “People from many nations will pass by this city and will ask one another, ‘Why has theLorddone such a thing to this great city?’

9 And the answer will be: ‘Because they have forsaken the covenant of theLordtheir God and have worshiped and served other gods.’ ”

10 Do not weep for the dead king or mourn his loss;

rather, weep bitterly for him who is exiled,

because he will never return

nor see his native land again.

11 For this is what theLordsays about Shallumson of Josiah, who succeeded his father as king of Judah but has gone from this place: “He will never return.

12 He will die in the place where they have led him captive; he will not see this land again.”

13 “Woe to him who builds his palace by unrighteousness,

his upper rooms by injustice,

making his own people work for nothing,

not paying them for their labor.

14 He says, ‘I will build myself a great palace

with spacious upper rooms.’

So he makes large windows in it,

panels it with cedar

and decorates it in red.

15 “Does it make you a king

to have more and more cedar?

Did not your father have food and drink?

He did what was right and just,

so all went well with him.

16 He defended the cause of the poor and needy,

and so all went well.

Is that not what it means to know me?”

declares theLord.

17 “But your eyes and your heart

are set only on dishonest gain,

on shedding innocent blood

and on oppression and extortion.”

18 Therefore this is what theLordsays about Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah:

“They will not mourn for him:

‘Alas, my brother! Alas, my sister!’

They will not mourn for him:

‘Alas, my master! Alas, his splendor!’

19 He will have the burial of a donkey—

dragged away and thrown

outside the gates of Jerusalem.”

20 “Go up to Lebanon and cry out,

let your voice be heard in Bashan,

cry out from Abarim,

for all your allies are crushed.

21 I warned you when you felt secure,

but you said, ‘I will not listen!’

This has been your way from your youth;

you have not obeyed me.

22 The wind will drive all your shepherds away,

and your allies will go into exile.

Then you will be ashamed and disgraced

because of all your wickedness.

23 You who live in ‘Lebanon,’

who are nestled in cedar buildings,

how you will groan when pangs come upon you,

pain like that of a woman in labor!

24 “As surely as I live,” declares theLord, “even if you, Jehoiachinson of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off.

25 I will deliver you into the hands of those who want to kill you, those you fear—Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and the Babylonians.

26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die.

27 You will never come back to the land you long to return to.”

28 Is this man Jehoiachin a despised, broken pot,

an object no one wants?

Why will he and his children be hurled out,

cast into a land they do not know?

29 O land, land, land,

hear the word of theLord!

30 This is what theLordsays:

“Record this man as if childless,

a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,

for none of his offspring will prosper,

none will sit on the throne of David

or rule anymore in Judah.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/22-a4a0a388b2821ac83c6cdddcc21891b2.mp3?version_id=111—

The Righteous Branch

1 “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasture!” declares theLord.

2 Therefore this is what theLord, the God of Israel, says to the shepherds who tend my people: “Because you have scattered my flock and driven them away and have not bestowed care on them, I will bestow punishment on you for the evil you have done,” declares theLord.

3 “I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them and will bring them back to their pasture, where they will be fruitful and increase in number.

4 I will place shepherds over them who will tend them, and they will no longer be afraid or terrified, nor will any be missing,” declares theLord.

5 “The days are coming,” declares theLord,

“when I will raise up for Davida righteous Branch,

a King who will reign wisely

and do what is just and right in the land.

6 In his days Judah will be saved

and Israel will live in safety.

This is the name by which he will be called:

TheLordOur Righteous Savior.

7 “So then, the days are coming,” declares theLord, “when people will no longer say, ‘As surely as theLordlives, who brought the Israelites up out of Egypt,’

8 but they will say, ‘As surely as theLordlives, who brought the descendants of Israel up out of the land of the north and out of all the countries where he had banished them.’ Then they will live in their own land.”

Lying Prophets

9 Concerning the prophets:

My heart is broken within me;

all my bones tremble.

I am like a drunken man,

like a strong man overcome by wine,

because of theLord

and his holy words.

10 The land is full of adulterers;

because of the cursethe land lies parched

and the pastures in the wilderness are withered.

The prophets follow an evil course

and use their power unjustly.

11 “Both prophet and priest are godless;

even in my temple I find their wickedness,”

declares theLord.

12 “Therefore their path will become slippery;

they will be banished to darkness

and there they will fall.

I will bring disaster on them

in the year they are punished,”

declares theLord.

13 “Among the prophets of Samaria

I saw this repulsive thing:

They prophesied by Baal

and led my people Israel astray.

14 And among the prophets of Jerusalem

I have seen something horrible:

They commit adultery and live a lie.

They strengthen the hands of evildoers,

so that not one of them turns from their wickedness.

They are all like Sodom to me;

the people of Jerusalem are like Gomorrah.”

15 Therefore this is what theLordAlmighty says concerning the prophets:

“I will make them eat bitter food

and drink poisoned water,

because from the prophets of Jerusalem

ungodliness has spread throughout the land.”

16 This is what theLordAlmighty says:

“Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you;

they fill you with false hopes.

They speak visions from their own minds,

not from the mouth of theLord.

17 They keep saying to those who despise me,

‘TheLordsays: You will have peace.’

And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts

they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’

18 But which of them has stood in the council of theLord

to see or to hear his word?

Who has listened and heard his word?

19 See, the storm of theLord

will burst out in wrath,

a whirlwind swirling down

on the heads of the wicked.

20 The anger of theLordwill not turn back

until he fully accomplishes

the purposes of his heart.

In days to come

you will understand it clearly.

21 I did not send 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,

they would have proclaimed my words to my people

and would have turned them from their evil ways

and from their evil deeds.

23 “Am I only a God nearby,”

declares theLord,

“and not a God far away?

24 Who can hide in secret places

so that I cannot see them?”

declares theLord.

“Do not I fill heaven and earth?”

declares theLord.

25 “I have heard what the prophets say who prophesy lies in my name. They say, ‘I had a dream! I had a dream!’

26 How long will this continue in the hearts of these lying prophets, who prophesy the delusions of their own minds?

27 They think the dreams they tell one another will make my people forget my name, just as their ancestors forgot my name through Baal worship.

28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount the dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. For what has straw to do with grain?” declares theLord.

29 “Is not my word like fire,” declares theLord, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

30 “Therefore,” declares theLord, “I am against the prophets who steal from one another words supposedly from me.

31 Yes,” declares theLord, “I am against the prophets who wag their own tongues and yet declare, ‘TheLorddeclares.’

32 Indeed, I am against those who prophesy false dreams,” declares theLord. “They tell them and lead my people astray with their reckless lies, yet I did not send or appoint them. They do not benefit these people in the least,” declares theLord.

False Prophecy

33 “When these people, or a prophet or a priest, ask you, ‘What is the message from theLord?’ say to them, ‘What message? I will forsake you, declares theLord.’

34 If a prophet or a priest or anyone else claims, ‘This is a message from theLord,’ I will punish them and their household.

35 This is what each of you keeps saying to your friends and other Israelites: ‘What is theLord’s answer?’ or ‘What has theLordspoken?’

36 But you must not mention ‘a message from theLord’ again, because each one’s word becomes their own message. So you distort the words of the living God, theLordAlmighty, our God.

37 This is what you keep saying to a prophet: ‘What is theLord’s answer to you?’ or ‘What has theLordspoken?’

38 Although you claim, ‘This is a message from theLord,’ this is what theLordsays: You used the words, ‘This is a message from theLord,’ even though I told you that you must not claim, ‘This is a message from theLord.’

39 Therefore, I will surely forget you and cast you out of my presence along with the city I gave to you and your ancestors.

40 I will bring on you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/23-6420b40cb3d6a6d1a63f83086654b582.mp3?version_id=111—

Two Baskets of Figs

1 After Jehoiachinson 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, theLordshowed me two baskets of figs placed in front of the temple of theLord.

2 One basket had very good figs, like those that ripen early; the other basket had very bad figs, so bad they could not be eaten.

3 Then theLordasked me, “What do you see, 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 theLordcame to me:

5 “This is what theLord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Like these good figs, I regard as good the exiles from Judah, whom I sent away from this place to the land of the Babylonians.

6 My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them.

7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am theLord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

8 “ ‘But like the bad figs, which are so bad they cannot be eaten,’ says theLord, ‘so will I deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials and the survivors from Jerusalem, whether they remain in this land or live in Egypt.

9 I will make them abhorrent and an offense to all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach and a byword, a curseand an object of ridicule, wherever I banish them.

10 I will send the sword, famine and plague against them until they are destroyed from the land I gave to them and their ancestors.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/24-a84623c447369f0c21905d64f3d1ef25.mp3?version_id=111—

Seventy Years of Captivity

1 The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, which was the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon.

2 So Jeremiah the prophet said to all the people of Judah and to all those living in Jerusalem:

3 For twenty-three years—from the thirteenth year of Josiah son of Amon king of Judah until this very day—the word of theLordhas come to me and I have spoken to you again and again, but you have not listened.

4 And though theLordhas sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention.

5 They said, “Turn now, each of you, from your evil ways and your evil practices, and you can stay in the land theLordgave to you and your ancestors for ever and ever.

6 Do not follow other gods 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 theLord, “and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves.”

8 Therefore theLordAlmighty says this: “Because you have not listened to my words,

9 I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon,” declares theLord, “and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. I will completely destroythem and make them an object of horror and scorn, and an everlasting ruin.

10 I will banish from them the sounds of joy and gladness, the voices of bride and bridegroom, the sound of millstones and the light of the lamp.

11 This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

12 “But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians,for their guilt,” declares theLord, “and will make it desolate forever.

13 I will bring on that land all the things I have spoken against it, all that are written in this book and prophesied by Jeremiah against all the nations.

14 They themselves will be enslaved by many nations and great kings; I will repay them according to their deeds and the work of their hands.”

The Cup of God’s Wrath

15 This is what theLord, the God of Israel, said to me: “Take from my hand this cup filled with the wine of my wrath and make all the nations to whom I send you drink it.

16 When they drink it, they will stagger and go mad because of the sword I will send among them.”

17 So I took the cup from theLord’s hand and made all the nations to whom he sent me drink it:

18 Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, its kings and officials, to make them a ruin and an object of horror and scorn, a curse—as they are today;

19 Pharaoh king of Egypt, his attendants, his officials and all his people,

20 and all the foreign people there; all the kings of Uz; all the kings of the Philistines (those of Ashkelon, Gaza, Ekron, and the people left at Ashdod);

21 Edom, Moab and Ammon;

22 all the kings of Tyre and Sidon; the kings of the coastlands across the sea;

23 Dedan, Tema, Buz and all who are in distant places;

24 all the kings of Arabia and all the kings of the foreign people who live in the wilderness;

25 all the kings of Zimri, Elam and Media;

26 and all the kings of the north, near and far, one after the other—all the kingdoms on the face of the earth. And after all of them, the king of Sheshakwill drink it too.

27 “Then tell them, ‘This is what theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: Drink, get drunk and vomit, and fall to rise no more because of the sword I will send among you.’

28 But if they refuse to take the cup from your hand and drink, tell them, ‘This is what theLordAlmighty says: You must drink it!

29 See, I am beginning to bring disaster on the city that bears my Name, and will you indeed go unpunished? You will not go unpunished, for I am calling down a sword on all who live on the earth, declares theLordAlmighty.’

30 “Now prophesy all these words against them and say to them:

“ ‘TheLordwill roar from on high;

he will thunder from his holy dwelling

and roar mightily against his land.

He will shout like those who tread the grapes,

shout against all who live on the earth.

31 The tumult will resound to the ends of the earth,

for theLordwill bring charges against the nations;

he will bring judgment on all mankind

and put the wicked to the sword,’ ”

declares theLord.

32 This is what theLordAlmighty says:

“Look! Disaster is spreading

from nation to nation;

a mighty storm is rising

from the ends of the earth.”

33 At that time those slain by theLordwill be everywhere—from one end of the earth to the other. They will not be mourned or gathered up or buried, but will be like dung lying on the ground.

34 Weep and wail, you shepherds;

roll in the dust, you leaders of the flock.

For your time to be slaughtered has come;

you will fall like the best of the rams.

35 The shepherds will have nowhere to flee,

the leaders of the flock no place to escape.

36 Hear the cry of the shepherds,

the wailing of the leaders of the flock,

for theLordis destroying their pasture.

37 The peaceful meadows will be laid waste

because of the fierce anger of theLord.

38 Like a lion he will leave his lair,

and their land will become desolate

because of the swordof the oppressor

and because of theLord’s fierce anger.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/25-c198b6d7214b6ff901a783bda2445531.mp3?version_id=111—

Jeremiah Threatened With Death

1 Early in the reign of Jehoiakim son of Josiah king of Judah, this word came from theLord:

2 “This is what theLordsays: Stand in the courtyard of theLord’s house and speak to all the people of the towns of Judah who come to worship in the house of theLord. Tell them everything I command you; do not omit a word.

3 Perhaps they will listen and each will turn from their evil ways. Then I will relent and not inflict on them the disaster I was planning because of the evil they have done.

4 Say to them, ‘This is what theLordsays: If you do not listen to me and follow my law, 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),

6 then I will make this house like Shiloh and this city a curseamong all the nations of the earth.’ ”

7 The priests, the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speak these words in the house of theLord.

8 But as soon as Jeremiah finished telling all the people everything theLordhad commanded him to say, the priests, the prophets and all the people seized him and said, “You must die!

9 Why do you prophesy in theLord’s name that this house will be like Shiloh and this city will be desolate and deserted?” And all the people crowded around Jeremiah in the house of theLord.

10 When the officials of Judah heard about these things, they went up from the royal palace to the house of theLordand took their places at the entrance of the New Gate of theLord’s house.

11 Then the priests and the prophets said to the officials and all the people, “This man should be sentenced to death because he has prophesied against this city. You have heard it with your own ears!”

12 Then Jeremiah said to all the officials and all the people: “TheLordsent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the things you have heard.

13 Now reform your ways and your actions and obey theLordyour God. Then theLordwill relent and not bring the disaster he has pronounced against you.

14 As for me, I am in your hands; 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 on yourselves and on this city and on those who live in it, for in truth theLordhas sent me to you to speak all these words in your hearing.”

16 Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and the prophets, “This man should not be sentenced to death! He has spoken to us in the name of theLordour God.”

17 Some of the elders of the land stepped forward and said to the entire assembly of people,

18 “Micah of Moresheth prophesied in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. He told all the people of Judah, ‘This is what theLordAlmighty says:

“ ‘Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,

the temple hill a mound overgrown with thickets.’

19 “Did Hezekiah king of Judah or anyone else in Judah put him to death? Did not Hezekiah fear theLordand seek his favor? And did not theLordrelent, so that he did not bring the disaster he pronounced against them? We are about to bring a terrible disaster on ourselves!”

20 (Now Uriah son of Shemaiah from Kiriath Jearim was another man who prophesied in the name of theLord; he prophesied the same things against this city and this land as Jeremiah did.

21 When King Jehoiakim and all his officers and officials heard his words, the king was determined to put him to death. But Uriah heard of it and fled in fear to Egypt.

22 King Jehoiakim, however, sent Elnathan 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 and his body thrown into the burial place of the common people.)

24 Furthermore, Ahikam son of Shaphan supported Jeremiah, and so he was not handed over to the people to be put to death.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/26-a8f579e7c9c007b89fd5508a7d56ba6c.mp3?version_id=111—

Judah to Serve Nebuchadnezzar

1 Early in the reign of Zedekiahson of Josiah king of Judah, this word came to Jeremiah from theLord:

2 This is what theLordsaid to me: “Make a yoke out of straps and crossbars and put it on your neck.

3 Then send word to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre and Sidon 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 theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: “Tell this to your masters:

5 With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please.

6 Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; I will make even the wild animals subject to him.

7 All nations will serve him and his son and his grandson until the time for his land comes; then many nations and great kings will subjugate 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 that nation with the sword, famine and plague, declares theLord, until I destroy it by his hand.

9 So do not listen to your prophets, your diviners, your interpreters of dreams, your mediums or your sorcerers who tell you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.’

10 They prophesy lies to you that will only serve to remove 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 of the king of Babylon and serve him, I will let that nation remain in its own land to till it and to live there, declares theLord.” ’ ”

12 I gave the same message to Zedekiah king of Judah. I said, “Bow your neck under the yoke of the king of Babylon; serve him and his people, and you will live.

13 Why will you and your people die by the sword, famine and plague with which theLordhas threatened any nation that will not serve the king of Babylon?

14 Do not listen to the words of the prophets who say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon,’ for they are prophesying lies to you.

15 ‘I have not sent them,’ declares theLord. ‘They are prophesying lies in my name. Therefore, I will banish you and you will perish, both you and the prophets who prophesy to you.’ ”

16 Then I said to the priests and all these people, “This is what theLordsays: Do not listen to the prophets who say, ‘Very soon now the articles from theLord’s house will be brought back from Babylon.’ They are prophesying lies to you.

17 Do not listen to them. Serve the king of Babylon, and you will live. Why should this city become a ruin?

18 If they are prophets and have the word of theLord, let them plead with theLordAlmighty that the articles remaining in the house of theLordand in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem not be taken to Babylon.

19 For this is what theLordAlmighty says about the pillars, the bronze Sea, the movable stands and the other articles that are left in this city,

20 which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon did not take away when he carried Jehoiachinson 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 theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says about the things that are left in the house of theLordand in the palace of the king of Judah and in Jerusalem:

22 ‘They will be taken to Babylon and there they will remain until the day I come for them,’ declares theLord. ‘Then I will bring them back and restore them to this place.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/27-e5ff220d8c0582d5c5848106bd7b602a.mp3?version_id=111—

The False Prophet Hananiah

1 In the fifth month of that same year, the fourth year, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, the prophet Hananiah son of Azzur, who was from Gibeon, said to me in the house of theLordin the presence of the priests and all the people:

2 “This is what theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: ‘I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

3 Within two years I will bring back to this place all the articles of theLord’s house that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon removed from here and took to Babylon.

4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiachinson of Jehoiakim king of Judah and all the other exiles from Judah who went to Babylon,’ declares theLord, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’ ”

5 Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah before the priests and all the people who were standing in the house of theLord.

6 He said, “Amen! May theLorddo so! May theLordfulfill the words you have prophesied by bringing the articles of theLord’s house and all the exiles back to this place from Babylon.

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 against many countries and great kingdoms.

9 But the prophet who prophesies peace will be recognized as one truly sent by theLordonly if his prediction comes true.”

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it,

11 and he said before all the people, “This is what theLordsays: ‘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 theLordcame to Jeremiah:

13 “Go and tell Hananiah, ‘This is what theLordsays: You have broken a wooden yoke, but in its place you will get a yoke of iron.

14 This is what theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations to make them serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.’ ”

15 Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! TheLordhas not sent you, yet you have persuaded this nation to trust in lies.

16 Therefore this is what theLordsays: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. This very year you are going to die, because you have preached rebellion against theLord.’ ”

17 In the seventh month of that same year, Hananiah the prophet died.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/28-1775bc9a60611d83ce31db718d7fa816.mp3?version_id=111—

A Letter to the Exiles

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 Jehoiachinand the queen mother, 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 theLordAlmighty, 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 theLordfor it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”

8 Yes, this is what theLordAlmighty, 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 theLord.

10 This is what theLordsays: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.

11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares theLord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12 Then you will call on 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 theLord, “and will bring you back from captivity.I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares theLord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

15 You may say, “TheLordhas raised up prophets for us in Babylon,”

16 but this is what theLordsays 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 theLordAlmighty says: “I will send the sword, famine and plague against them and I will make them like 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, a curseand an object of horror, of scorn and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them.

19 For they have not listened to my words,” declares theLord, “words that I sent to them again and again by my servants the prophets. And you exiles have not listened either,” declares theLord.

20 Therefore, hear the word of theLord, all you exiles whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.

21 This is what theLordAlmighty, 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 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 theLordtreat 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 they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know it and am a witness to it,” declares theLord.

Message to Shemaiah

24 Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite,

25 “This is what theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah,

26 ‘TheLordhas appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of theLord; you should put any maniac 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 theLordcame to Jeremiah:

31 “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what theLordsays about Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies,

32 this is what theLordsays: 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 theLord, because he has preached rebellion against me.’ ”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/29-7ba6a0f9c6dca4f308a278b36b4a3940.mp3?version_id=111—

Restoration of Israel

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from theLord:

2 “This is what theLord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.

3 The days are coming,’ declares theLord, ‘when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivityand restore them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says theLord.”

4 These are the words theLordspoke concerning Israel and Judah:

5 “This is what theLordsays:

“ ‘Cries of fear 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,

every face turned deathly pale?

7 How awful that day will be!

No other will be like it.

It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,

but he will be saved out of it.

8 “ ‘In that day,’ declares theLordAlmighty,

‘I will break the yoke off their necks

and will tear off their bonds;

no longer will foreigners enslave them.

9 Instead, they will serve theLordtheir God

and David their king,

whom I will raise up for them.

10 “ ‘So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant;

do not be dismayed, Israel,’

declares theLord.

‘I will surely save you out of a distant place,

your descendants from the land of their exile.

Jacob will again have peace and security,

and no one will make him afraid.

11 I am with you and will save you,’

declares theLord.

‘Though I completely destroy all the nations

among which I scatter you,

I will not completely destroy you.

I will discipline you but only in due measure;

I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’

12 “This is what theLordsays:

“ ‘Your wound is incurable,

your injury beyond healing.

13 There is no one to plead your cause,

no remedy for your sore,

no healing for you.

14 All your allies have forgotten you;

they care nothing for you.

I have struck you as an enemy would

and punished you as would the cruel,

because your guilt is so great

and your sins so many.

15 Why do you cry out over your wound,

your pain that has no cure?

Because of your great guilt and many sins

I have done these things to you.

16 “ ‘But all who devour you will be devoured;

all your enemies will go into exile.

Those who plunder you will be plundered;

all who make spoil of you I will despoil.

17 But I will restore you to health

and heal your wounds,’

declares theLord,

‘because you are called an outcast,

Zion for whom no one cares.’

18 “This is what theLordsays:

“ ‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents

and have compassion on his dwellings;

the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,

and the palace will stand in its proper place.

19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving

and the sound of rejoicing.

I will add to their numbers,

and they will not be decreased;

I will bring them honor,

and they will not be disdained.

20 Their children will be as in days of old,

and their community will be established before me;

I will punish all who oppress them.

21 Their leader will be one of their own;

their ruler will arise from among them.

I will bring him near and he will come close to me—

for who is he who will devote himself

to be close to me?’

declares theLord.

22 “ ‘So you will be my people,

and I will be your God.’ ”

23 See, the storm of theLord

will burst out in wrath,

a driving wind swirling down

on the heads of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of theLordwill not turn back

until he fully accomplishes

the purposes of his heart.

In days to come

you will understand this.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/30-431ac61442bbe5befb10211b817eb6f8.mp3?version_id=111—

1 “At that time,” declares theLord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

2 This is what theLordsays:

“The people who survive the sword

will find favor in the wilderness;

I will come to give rest to Israel.”

3 TheLordappeared to us in the past,saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

4 I will build you up again,

and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt.

Again you will take up your timbrels

and go out to dance with the joyful.

5 Again you will plant vineyards

on the hills of Samaria;

the farmers will plant them

and enjoy their fruit.

6 There will be a day when watchmen cry out

on the hills of Ephraim,

‘Come, let us go up to Zion,

to theLordour God.’ ”

7 This is what theLordsays:

“Sing with joy for Jacob;

shout for the foremost of the nations.

Make your praises heard, and say,

‘Lord, save your people,

the remnant of Israel.’

8 See, I will bring them from the land of the north

and gather them from the ends of the earth.

Among them will be the blind and the lame,

expectant mothers and women in labor;

a great throng will return.

9 They will come with weeping;

they will pray as I bring them back.

I will lead them beside streams of water

on a level path where they will not stumble,

because I am Israel’s father,

and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

10 “Hear the word of theLord, you nations;

proclaim it in distant coastlands:

‘He who scattered Israel will gather them

and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’

11 For theLordwill deliver Jacob

and redeem them from the hand of those stronger than they.

12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;

they will rejoice in the bounty of theLord—

the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,

the young of the flocks and herds.

They will be like a well-watered garden,

and they will sorrow no more.

13 Then young women will dance and be glad,

young men and old as well.

I will turn their mourning into gladness;

I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.

14 I will satisfy the priests with abundance,

and my people will be filled with my bounty,”

declares theLord.

15 This is what theLordsays:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,

mourning and great weeping,

Rachel weeping for her children

and refusing to be comforted,

because they are no more.”

16 This is what theLordsays:

“Restrain your voice from weeping

and your eyes from tears,

for your work will be rewarded,”

declares theLord.

“They will return from the land of the enemy.

17 So there is hope for your descendants,”

declares theLord.

“Your children will return to their own land.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:

‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf,

and I have been disciplined.

Restore me, and I will return,

because you are theLordmy God.

19 After I strayed,

I repented;

after I came to understand,

I beat my breast.

I was ashamed and humiliated

because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,

the child in whom I delight?

Though I often speak against him,

I still remember him.

Therefore my heart yearns for him;

I have great compassion for him,”

declares theLord.

21 “Set up road signs;

put up guideposts.

Take note of the highway,

the road that you take.

Return, Virgin Israel,

return to your towns.

22 How long will you wander,

unfaithful Daughter Israel?

TheLordwill create a new thing on earth—

the woman will return tothe man.”

23 This is what theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘TheLordbless you, you prosperous city, you sacred mountain.’

24 People will live together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.

25 I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

26 At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

27 “The days are coming,” declares theLord, “when I will plant the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals.

28 Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares theLord.

29 “In those days people will no longer say,

‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,

and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin; whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

31 “The days are coming,” declares theLord,

“when I will make a new covenant

with the people of Israel

and with the people of Judah.

32 It will not be like the covenant

I made with their ancestors

when I took them by the hand

to lead them out of Egypt,

because they broke my covenant,

though I was a husband tothem,”

declares theLord.

33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel

after that time,” declares theLord.

“I will put my law in their minds

and write it on their hearts.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,

or say to one another, ‘Know theLord,’

because they will all know me,

from the least of them to the greatest,”

declares theLord.

“For I will forgive their wickedness

and will remember their sins no more.”

35 This is what theLordsays,

he who appoints the sun

to shine by day,

who decrees the moon and stars

to shine by night,

who stirs up the sea

so that its waves roar—

theLordAlmighty is his name:

36 “Only if these decrees vanish from my sight,”

declares theLord,

“will Israel ever cease

being a nation before me.”

37 This is what theLordsays:

“Only if the heavens above can be measured

and the foundations of the earth below be searched out

will I reject all the descendants of Israel

because of all they have done,”

declares theLord.

38 “The days are coming,” declares theLord, “when this city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.

39 The measuring line will stretch from there straight to the hill of Gareb and then turn to Goah.

40 The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to theLord. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/3/32k/JER/31-503a187efd2ad20a037dd39df896f55f.mp3?version_id=111—