Jeremiah 29

Thomson(i) 1 Now these are the words of the letter which Jeremias sent from Jerusalem to the elders of the captivity and to the priests and to the false prophets. 2 After the departure of king Jechonias and of the queen and the chamberlains and of every nobleman and prisoner of war and artificer from Jerusalem [I sent] to Babylon 3 by the hand of Eleason son of Saphan and of Gamarias son of Chelkias whom Sedekias king of Juda sent to the king of Babylon at Babylon, a letter for the captives addressed to all the people saying, 4 Thus said the Lord the God of Israel to the captivity whom I have exiled from Jerusalem, 5 "Build houses and dwell therein; and plant orchards and eat the fruits thereof; 6 and take wives and beget sons and daughters; take wives also for your sons and give your daughters in marriage; and multiply and be not diminished; 7 and study the peace of the country to which I have exiled you; and pray to the Lord for the people; for in their peace you will have peace 8 For thus said the Lord, 9 Let not the false prophets among you deceive you; nor let your diviners deceive you; nor hearken to your dreams which you dream. For they prophesy falsehood to you in my name, and I have not sent them. 10 For thus said the Lord, When seventy years shall be accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you and establish my words for you by bringing back your people to this place. 11 When I plan a purpose of peace and not evils against you, to grant you this, 13 then pray to me and I will hearken to you: 14 then seek me diligently and you shall find me. 15 Because you will seek me with your whole heart, therefore I will manifest myself to you." Because you said, The Lord hath raised up prophets for us in Babylon, 16 [Omitted] 17 [Omitted] 18 [Omitted] 19 [Omitted] 20 [omitted] 21 thus said the Lord against Achiab and against Sedekias, behold I deliver them into the hands of the king of Babylon and he will smite them before your eyes. 22 And among all the captives of Juda at Babylon; they shall from them use an execration saying, "The Lord deal with thee as he did with Sedekias, and as he did with Achiab whom the king of Babylon roasted with fire, 23 "because they have committed iniquity in Israel and have committed adultery with the wives of their fellow citizens, and have delivered as prophets a word in my name, which I did not give them in charge: I myself am witness saith the Lord. 24 And to Samaias the Ailamite thou shalt say, 25 I did not send thee: yet in my name he said to Sophonias son of Maasias, the priest, 26 "The Lord hath made thee priest in the room of Jodae the priest, to be a ruler in the house of the Lord, over every man who prophesieth, and over every man who divineth, that thou mayst commit him to prison, and confine him in a dungeon." 27 Now why have you reviled Jeremias of Anathoth who prophesied to you? 28 Was it not for this purpose that information was given that within this month he had sent to you to Babylon, saying, Your return is far off; build houses and dwell therein; plant orchards and eat the fruits thereof. 29 When Sophonias read this letter in the hearing of Jeremias, 30 a word of the Lord came to Jeremias saying, 31 Send to the captives, and say, Thus said the Lord, against Samaias the Ailamite, Because Samaias hath prophesied to you, and I did not send him, and he hath made you trust in falsehoods, 32 therefore thus said the Lord, Behold I will punish Samaias and his family, and there shall not be a man of them among you to see the good things which I will do for you. They shall not see them.