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1. Jeremiah sent a letter to the captives in Babylon. He sent it to the elders, the priests, the prophets, and all the other people who Nebuchadnezzar had taken from Jerusalem to Babylon.
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1. Now these H428 are the words H1697 of the letter H5612 that H834 Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 sent H7971 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 unto H413 the residue H3499 of the elders H2205 which were carried away captives H1473 , and to H413 the priests H3548 , and to H413 the prophets H5030 , and to H413 all H3605 the people H5971 whom H834 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 had carried away captive H1540 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 to Babylon H894 ;
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2. (This letter was sent after King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the carpenters, and the metal workers had been taken from Jerusalem.)
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2. (After that H310 Jeconiah H3204 the king H4428 , and the queen H1377 , and the eunuchs H5631 , the princes H8269 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem H3389 , and the carpenters H2796 , and the smiths H4525 , were departed H3318 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 ;)
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3. King Zedekiah of Judah sent Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah to King Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah gave them the letter to take to Babylon. This is what the letter said:
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3. By the hand H3027 of Elasah H501 the son H1121 of Shaphan H8227 , and Gemariah H1587 the son H1121 of Hilkiah H2518 , ( whom H834 Zedekiah H6667 king H4428 of Judah H3063 sent H7971 unto Babylon H894 to H413 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 ) saying H559 ,
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4. This is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God of the people of Israel, says to all the people he sent into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon:
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4. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 , unto all H3605 that are carried away captives H1473 , whom H834 I have caused to be carried away H1540 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 unto Babylon H894 ;
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5. "Build houses and live in them. Settle in the land. Plant gardens and eat the food you grow.
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5. Build H1129 ye houses H1004 , and dwell H3427 in them ; and plant H5193 gardens H1593 , and eat H398 H853 the fruit H6529 of them;
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6. Get married and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons, and let your daughters be married. Do this so that they also may have sons and daughters. Have many children and grow in number in Babylon. Don't become fewer in number.
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6. Take H3947 ye wives H802 , and beget H3205 sons H1121 and daughters H1323 ; and take H3947 wives H802 for your sons H1121 , and give H5414 your daughters H1323 to husbands H376 , that they may bear H3205 sons H1121 and daughters H1323 ; that ye may be increased H7235 there H8033 , and not H408 diminished H4591 .
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7. Also do good things for the city I sent you to. Pray to the Lord for the city you are living in, because if there is peace in that city, you will have peace also."
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7. And seek H1875 H853 the peace H7965 of the city H5892 whither H834 H8033 I have caused you to be carried away captives H1540 , and pray H6419 unto H413 the LORD H3068 for H1157 it: for H3588 in the peace H7965 thereof shall ye have H1961 peace H7965 .
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8. The Lord All- Powerful, the God of the people of Israel, says, "Don't let your prophets and those who practice magic fool you. Don't listen to the dreams they have.
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8. For H3588 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 ; Let not H408 your prophets H5030 and your diviners H7080 , that H834 be in the midst H7130 of you, deceive H5377 you, neither H408 hearken H8085 to H413 your dreams H2472 which H834 ye H859 cause to be dreamed H2492 .
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9. They are telling lies, and they are saying that their message is from me. But I didn't send it." This message is from the Lord.
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9. For H3588 they H1992 prophesy H5012 falsely H8267 unto you in my name H8034 : I have not H3808 sent H7971 them, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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10. This is what the Lord says: "Babylon will be powerful for 70 years. After that time, I will come to you people who are living in Babylon. I will keep my good promise to bring you back to Jerusalem.
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10. For H3588 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 , That H3588 after H6310 seventy H7657 years H8141 be accomplished H4390 at Babylon H894 I will visit H6485 you , and perform H6965 H853 my good H2896 word H1697 toward H5921 you , in causing you to return H7725 H853 to H413 this H2088 place H4725 .
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11. I say this because I know the plans that I have for you." This message is from the Lord. "I have good plans for you. I don't plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future.
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11. For H3588 I H595 know H3045 H853 the thoughts H4284 that H834 I H595 think H2803 toward H5921 you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , thoughts H4284 of peace H7965 , and not H3808 of evil H7451 , to give H5414 you an expected H8615 end H319 .
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12. Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
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12. Then shall ye call upon H7121 me , and ye shall go H1980 and pray H6419 unto H413 me , and I will hearken H8085 unto H413 you.
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13. You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.
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13. And ye shall seek H1245 me , and find H4672 me , when H3588 ye shall search for H1875 me with all H3605 your heart H3824 .
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14. I will let you find me." This message is from the Lord. "And I will bring you back from your captivity. I forced you to leave this place. But I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have sent you," says the Lord, "and I will bring you back to this place."
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14. And I will be found H4672 of you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 : and I will turn away H7725 H853 your captivity H7622 , and I will gather H6908 you from all H4480 H3605 the nations H1471 , and from all H4480 H3605 the places H4725 whither H834 H8033 I have driven H5080 you, saith H5002 the LORD H3068 ; and I will bring you again H7725 H853 into H413 the place H4725 whence H834 H4480 H8033 I caused you to be carried away captive H1540 .
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15. You people might say, "But the Lord has given us prophets here in Babylon."
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15. Because H3588 ye have said H559 , The LORD H3068 hath raised us up H6965 prophets H5030 in Babylon H894 ;
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16. But this is what the Lord says about your relatives who were not carried away to Babylon. I am talking about the king who is sitting on David's throne now and all the other people who are still in the city of Jerusalem.
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16. Know that H3588 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of H413 the king H4428 that sitteth H3427 upon H413 the throne H3678 of David H1732 , and of H413 all H3605 the people H5971 that dwelleth H3427 in this H2063 city H5892 , and of your brethren H251 that H834 are not H3808 gone forth H3318 with H854 you into captivity H1473 ;
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17. The Lord All-Powerful says, "I will soon send the sword, hunger, and terrible sicknesses against those who are still in Jerusalem. And I will make them the same as bad figs that are too rotten to eat.
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17. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 ; Behold H2009 , I will send H7971 upon them H853 the sword H2719 , H853 the famine H7458 , and the pestilence H1698 , and will make H5414 them like vile H8182 figs H8384 , that H834 cannot H3808 be eaten H398 , they are so evil H4480 H7455 .
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18. I will chase those who are still in Jerusalem with the sword, with hunger, and terrible sicknesses. And I will make it so that all the kingdoms of the earth will be frightened at what has happened to those people. They will be destroyed. People will whistle with amazement when they hear what happened. And people will use them as an example when they ask for bad things to happen to people. People will insult them wherever I force them to go.
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18. And I will persecute H7291 H310 them with the sword H2719 , with the famine H7458 , and with the pestilence H1698 , and will deliver H5414 them to be removed H2189 to all H3605 the kingdoms H4467 of the earth H776 , to be a curse H423 , and an astonishment H8047 , and a hissing H8322 , and a reproach H2781 , among all H3605 the nations H1471 whither H834 H8033 I have driven H5080 them:
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19. I will make all these things happen because the people of Jerusalem have not listened to my message." This message is from the Lord. "I sent my message to them again and again. I used my servants, the prophets, to give my messages to them, but they didn't listen." This message is from the Lord.
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19. Because H8478 H834 they have not H3808 hearkened H8085 to H413 my words H1697 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 , which H834 I sent H7971 unto H413 them by H853 my servants H5650 the prophets H5030 , rising up early H7925 and sending H7971 them ; but ye would not H3808 hear H8085 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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20. "You people are captives. I forced you to leave Jerusalem and go to Babylon. So listen to the message from the Lord."
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20. Hear H8085 ye H859 therefore the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 , all H3605 ye of the captivity H1473 , whom H834 I have sent H7971 from Jerusalem H4480 H3389 to Babylon H894 :
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21. This is what the Lord All-Powerful says about Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son of Maaseiah: "These two men have been telling you lies. They have said that their message is from me. I will give these two prophets to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. And he will kill these prophets in front of all you people who are captives in Babylon.
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21. Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 , of H413 Ahab H256 the son H1121 of Kolaiah H6964 , and of H413 Zedekiah H6667 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 , which prophesy H5012 a lie H8267 unto you in my name H8034 ; Behold H2009 , I will deliver H5414 them into the hand H3027 of Nebuchadnezzar H5019 king H4428 of Babylon H894 ; and he shall slay H5221 them before your eyes H5869 ;
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22. All the Jewish captives will use these men as examples when they ask for bad things to happen to other people. The captives will say: 'May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab. The king of Babylon burned those two in the fire!'
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22. And of H4480 them shall be taken up H3947 a curse H7045 by all H3605 the captivity H1546 of Judah H3063 which H834 are in Babylon H894 , saying H559 , The LORD H3068 make H7760 thee like Zedekiah H6667 and like Ahab H256 , whom H834 the king H4428 of Babylon H894 roasted H7033 in the fire H784 ;
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23. They did very bad things among the people of Israel. They committed the sin of adultery with their neighbors' wives. They also spoke lies and said those lies were a message from me, the Lord. I did not tell them to do that. I know what they have done. I am a witness." This message is from the Lord.
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23. Because H3282 H834 they have committed H6213 villainy H5039 in Israel H3478 , and have committed adultery H5003 with H854 their neighbors H7453 ' wives H802 , and have spoken H1696 lying H8267 words H1697 in my name H8034 , which H834 I have not H3808 commanded H6680 them ; even I H595 know H3045 , and am a witness H5707 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 .
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24. Also give a message to Shemaiah from the Nehelam family.
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24. Thus shalt thou also speak H559 to H413 Shemaiah H8098 the Nehelamite H5161 , saying H559 ,
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25. This is what the Lord All-Powerful, the God of Israel, says: "Shemaiah, you sent letters to all the people in Jerusalem and to the priest Zephaniah son of Maaseiah. You also sent letters to all the priests. You sent those letters in your own name and not by the authority of the Lord.
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25. Thus H3541 speaketh H559 the LORD H3068 of hosts H6635 , the God H430 of Israel H3478 , saying H559 , Because H3282 H834 thou H859 hast sent H7971 letters H5612 in thy name H8034 unto H413 all H3605 the people H5971 that H834 are at Jerusalem H3389 , and to H413 Zephaniah H6846 the son H1121 of Maaseiah H4641 the priest H3548 , and to H413 all H3605 the priests H3548 , saying H559 ,
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26. Shemaiah, this is what you said in your letter to Zephaniah: 'Zephaniah, the Lord has made you priest in place of Jehoiada. You are to be in charge of the Lord's Temple. You should arrest anyone who acts like a crazy person and acts like a prophet. You should put that person's feet between large blocks of wood and put neck irons on him.
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26. The LORD H3068 hath made H5414 thee priest H3548 in the stead of H8478 Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 , that ye should be H1961 officers H6496 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 , for every H3605 man H376 that is mad H7696 , and maketh himself a prophet H5012 , that thou shouldest put H5414 him in H413 prison H4115 , and in H413 the stocks H6729 .
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27. Now Jeremiah is acting like a prophet. So why have you not arrested him?
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27. Now H6258 therefore why H4100 hast thou not H3808 reproved H1605 Jeremiah H3414 of Anathoth H6069 , which maketh himself a prophet H5012 to you?
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28. Jeremiah has sent this message to us in Babylon: You people in Babylon will be there for a long time, so build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what you grow.'"
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28. For H3588 therefore H5921 H3651 he sent H7971 unto H413 us in Babylon H894 , saying H559 , This H1931 captivity is long H752 : build H1129 ye houses H1004 , and dwell H3427 in them ; and plant H5193 gardens H1593 , and eat H398 H853 the fruit H6529 of them.
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29. Zephaniah the priest read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet.
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29. And Zephaniah H6846 the priest H3548 read H7121 H853 this H2088 letter H5612 in the ears H241 of Jeremiah H3414 the prophet H5030 .
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30. Then the message from the Lord came to Jeremiah:
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30. Then came H1961 the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 unto H413 Jeremiah H3414 , saying H559 ,
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31. "Jeremiah, send this message to all the captives in Babylon: 'This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah, the man from the Nehelam family: Shemaiah has spoken to you, but I didn't send him. He has made you believe a lie.
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31. Send H7971 to H5921 all H3605 them of the captivity H1473 , saying H559 , Thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 concerning H413 Shemaiah H8098 the Nehelamite H5161 ; Because H3283 H834 that Shemaiah H8098 hath prophesied H5012 unto you , and I H589 sent H7971 him not H3808 , and he caused you to trust H982 H853 in H5921 a lie H8267 :
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32. Because Shemaiah has done that, this is what the Lord says: I will soon punish Shemaiah, the man from the Nehelam family. I will completely destroy his family, and he will not share in the good things I will do for my people.'" This message is from the Lord. "'I will punish Shemaiah because he has taught the people to turn against the Lord.'"
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32. Therefore H3651 thus H3541 saith H559 the LORD H3068 ; Behold H2009 , I will punish H6485 H5921 Shemaiah H8098 the Nehelamite H5161 , and his seed H2233 : he shall not H3808 have H1961 a man H376 to dwell H3427 among H8432 this H2088 people H5971 ; neither H3808 shall he behold H7200 the good H2896 that H834 I H589 will do H6213 for my people H5971 , saith H5002 the LORD H3068 ; because H3588 he hath taught H1696 rebellion H5627 against H5921 the LORD H3068 .
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