[1] These are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent from
Jerusalem to the elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets,
and all the people, whom Nebuchadnez'zar had taken into exile from
Jerusalem to Babylon. [2] This was after King Jeconi'ah, and the queen
mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and
the smiths had departed from Jerusalem. [3] The letter was sent by the hand
of Ela'sah the son of Shaphan and Gemari'ah the son of Hilki'ah, whom
Zedeki'ah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnez'zar king of Babylon.
It said: [4] "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the
exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: [5] Build
houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. [6] Take
wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your
daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply
there, and do not decrease. [7] But seek the welfare of the city where I
have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its
welfare you will find your welfare. [8] For thus says the LORD of hosts,
the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among
you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream, [9] for
it is a lie which they are prophesying to you in my name; I did not send
them, says the LORD. [10] "For thus says the LORD: When seventy years are
completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfil to you my
promise and bring you back to this place. [11] For I know the plans I have
for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a
future and a hope. [12] Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me,
and I will hear you. [13] You will seek me and find me; when you seek me
with all your heart, [14] I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will
restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the
places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back to
the place from which I sent you into exile. [15] "Because you have said,
`The LORD has raised up prophets for us in Babylon,'-- [16] Thus says the
LORD concerning the king who sits on the throne of David, and concerning
all the people who dwell in this city, your kinsmen who did not go out with
you into exile: [17] `Thus says the LORD of hosts, Behold, I am sending on
them sword, famine, and pestilence, and I will make them like vile figs
which are so bad they cannot be eaten. [18] I will pursue them with sword,
famine, and pestilence, and will make them a horror to all the kingdoms of
the earth, to be a curse, a terror, a hissing, and a reproach among all the
nations where I have driven them, [19] because they did not heed my words,
says the LORD, which I persistently sent to you by my servants the
prophets, but you would not listen, says the LORD.'-- [20] Hear the word of
the LORD, all you exiles whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon: [21]
`Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab the son of
Kola'iah and Zedeki'ah the son of Ma-asei'ah, who are prophesying a lie to
you in my name: Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of
Nebuchadrez'zar king of Babylon, and he shall slay them before your eyes.
[22] Because of them this curse shall be used by all the exiles from Judah
in Babylon: "The LORD make you like Zedeki'ah and Ahab, whom the king of
Babylon roasted in the fire," [23] because they have committed folly in
Israel, they have committed adultery with their neighbors' wives, and they
have spoken in my name lying words which I did not command them. I am the
one who knows, and I am witness, says the LORD.'" [24] To Shemai'ah of
Nehel'am you shall say: [25] "Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of
Israel: You have sent letters in your name to all the people who are in
Jerusalem, and to Zephani'ah the son of Ma-asei'ah the priest, and to all
the priests, saying, [26] `The LORD has made you priest instead of
Jehoi'ada the priest, to have charge in the house of the LORD over every
madman who prophesies, to put him in the stocks and collar. [27] Now why
have you not rebuked Jeremiah of An'athoth who is prophesying to you? [28]
For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, "Your exile will be long; build
houses and live in them, and plant gardens and eat their produce."'" [29]
Zephani'ah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the
prophet. [30] Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: [31] "Send to all
the exiles, saying, `Thus says the LORD concerning Shemai'ah of Nehel'am:
Because Shemai'ah has prophesied to you when I did not send him, and has
made you trust in a lie, [32] therefore thus says the LORD: Behold, I will
punish Shemai'ah of Nehel'am and his descendants; he shall not have any one
living among this people to see the good that I will do to my people, says
the LORD, for he has talked rebellion against the LORD.'"