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Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles in Babylon

29 And these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remainder of the exiles,[a] and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had deported from Jerusalem to Babylon, after the going out of Jeconiah the king, and the queen mother, and the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, and the artisans,[b] and the smiths[c] from Jerusalem, by the hand of Elasah, the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah, the son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah, the king of Judah, sent to Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, to Babylon, saying,[d] “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles[e] whom I have deported from Jerusalem to Babylon, ‘Build houses and live in them,[f] and plant gardens and eat their fruit. Take wives and father sons and daughters, and take for your sons wives, and give your daughters to men that they may bear sons and daughters, and multiply there, and you must not be few. And seek the prosperity of the city where I have deported you, and pray on behalf of it to Yahweh, for in its prosperity you will have prosperity.’

For thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘Do not let your prophets who are in your midst, and your diviners, deceive you, and you must not listen to your dreams that you are causing them to dream. For they are prophesying falsely[g] to you in my name; I have not sent them,’ declares[h] Yahweh. 10 For thus says Yahweh, ‘As soon as the time has passed,[i] seventy years[j] for Babylon, I will attend to you, and I will fulfill my good word to you, to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans that I am planning concerning you,’ declares[k] Yahweh, ‘plans for prosperity and not for harm, to give to you a future and a hope. 12 Then when you call me, and you come and pray to me, then I will listen to you. 13 When you search for me, then you will find me, if you seek me with all your heart. 14 And I will let myself be found by you,’ declares[l] Yahweh, ‘and I will restore your fortunes,[m] and I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places to which I have driven you,’ declares[n] Yahweh, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from which I deported you.’

15 Because you have said, ‘Yahweh has raised up prophets for us in Babylon’— 16 for thus says Yahweh concerning the king who sits on the throne of David and concerning all the people who live in this city, your fellow kinsmen who did not go with you into the exile— 17 thus says Yahweh of hosts, ‘Look, I am going to send among them the sword, the famine, and the plague, and I will make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten because of their bad quality. 18 And I will pursue them with the sword, with the famine, and with the plague, and I will make them a terror to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse, and a horror, and an object of hissing, and a disgrace among all the nations to which I have driven them, 19 because they did not listen to my words,’ declares[o] Yahweh, ‘when I sent to them my servants the prophets, sending over and over again,[p] and they would not listen,’ declares[q] Yahweh.

20 And you, hear the word of Yahweh, all you exiles[r] whom I sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21 Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, concerning Ahab, the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah, the son of Maaseiah, who are prophesying to you in my name a lie, ‘Look, I am going to give them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, and he will strike them before your eyes. 22 And a curse will be taken up because of them by all the exiles[s] of Judah who are in Babylon, saying,[t] “May Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire,” 23 because they have done a disgraceful thing in Israel, and they have committed adultery with the wives of their neighbors, and they have spoken words[u] in my name, lies[v] that I have not commanded them, and I am he who knows, and I am a witness,’ declares[w] Yahweh.”

Shemaiah’s Letter to Zephaniah the Priest

24 And to Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall say, saying,[x] 25 “Thus says Yahweh of hosts, the God of Israel, saying,[y] ‘Because you yourself sent a letter[z] in your name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah, the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying,[aa] 26 “Yahweh made you priest instead of Jehoiada the priest, so that there are overseers in the house of Yahweh over any mad man who exhibits the behavior of a prophet, and you must put him into the stocks and into the neck iron, 27 and so then why have you not rebuked Jeremiah the Anathothite who exhibits the behavior of a prophet for you? 28 Because[ab] he has sent to us in Babylon, saying,[ac] ‘It will be a long time, build houses and live in them,[ad] and plant gardens and eat their fruit.’”’” 29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing[ae] of Jeremiah the prophet.

Jeremiah’s Response to Shemaiah’s Letter

30 And the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah, saying,[af] 31 “Send to all the exiles,[ag] saying,[ah] ‘Thus says Yahweh concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, though I have not sent him, and he has made you trust in a lie,” 32 therefore[ai] thus says Yahweh, “Look, I am going to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his offspring. There will not be for him a man who lives in the midst of this people, and he will not see the good that I am going to do to my people,” declares[aj] Yahweh, “For he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh.”’”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 29:1 Hebrew “exile”
  2. Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew “artisan”
  3. Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew “smith”
  4. Jeremiah 29:3 Literally “to say”
  5. Jeremiah 29:4 Hebrew “exile”
  6. Jeremiah 29:5 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  7. Jeremiah 29:9 Literally “in a lie”
  8. Jeremiah 29:9 Literally “a declaration of”
  9. Jeremiah 29:10 Literally “When to the mouth of being full”
  10. Jeremiah 29:10 Hebrew “year”
  11. Jeremiah 29:11 Literally “a declaration of”
  12. Jeremiah 29:14 Literally “a declaration of”
  13. Jeremiah 29:14 Hebrew “fortune”
  14. Jeremiah 29:14 Literally “a declaration of”
  15. Jeremiah 29:19 Literally “a declaration of”
  16. Jeremiah 29:19 Literally “doing early and sending”
  17. Jeremiah 29:19 Literally “a declaration of”
  18. Jeremiah 29:20 Hebrew “exile”
  19. Jeremiah 29:22 Hebrew “exile”
  20. Jeremiah 29:22 Literally “to say”
  21. Jeremiah 29:23 Hebrew “word”
  22. Jeremiah 29:23 Hebrew “lie”
  23. Jeremiah 29:23 Literally “a declaration of”
  24. Jeremiah 29:24 Literally “to say”
  25. Jeremiah 29:25 Literally “to say”
  26. Jeremiah 29:25 Hebrew “letters”
  27. Jeremiah 29:25 Literally “to say”
  28. Jeremiah 29:28 Literally “Seeing that unto thus”
  29. Jeremiah 29:28 Literally “to say”
  30. Jeremiah 29:28 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  31. Jeremiah 29:29 Literally “ears”
  32. Jeremiah 29:30 Literally “to say”
  33. Jeremiah 29:31 Hebrew “exile”
  34. Jeremiah 29:31 Literally “to say”
  35. Jeremiah 29:32 Literally “to thus”
  36. Jeremiah 29:32 Literally “a declaration of”

Carta a los desterrados

29 Estas son las palabras de la carta que el profeta Jeremías envió desde Jerusalén(A) al resto de los ancianos del destierro, a los sacerdotes, a los profetas y a todo el pueblo que Nabucodonosor había llevado al destierro de Jerusalén a Babilonia. (Esto sucedió después de salir de Jerusalén el rey Jeconías, junto con la reina madre, los oficiales de la corte, los príncipes de Judá y de Jerusalén(B), los artífices y los herreros). La carta que fue enviada por mano de Elasa, hijo de Safán, y de Gemarías, hijo de Hilcías(C), a quienes Sedequías, rey de Judá, envió a Babilonia, a Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, decía: «Así dice el Señor de los ejércitos, el Dios de Israel, a todos los desterrados que envié al destierro(D) de Jerusalén a Babilonia: “Edifiquen casas y habítenlas, planten huertos y coman de su fruto(E). Tomen mujeres y tengan hijos e hijas, tomen mujeres para sus hijos y den sus hijas a maridos para que den a luz hijos e hijas(F), y multiplíquense allí y no disminuyan. Y busquen el bienestar[a](G) de la ciudad adonde los he desterrado, y rueguen al Señor por ella(H); porque en su bienestar tendrán bienestar”. Porque así dice el Señor de los ejércitos, el Dios de Israel: “Que no los engañen sus profetas(I), que están en medio de ustedes, ni sus adivinos(J), ni escuchen los[b] sueños que tienen[c](K). Porque les profetizan falsamente en Mi nombre. Yo no los he enviado”, declara el Señor(L).

10 »Pues así dice el Señor: “Cuando se le hayan cumplido a Babilonia setenta años, Yo los visitaré y cumpliré Mi buena palabra de hacerlos volver a este lugar(M). 11 Porque Yo sé los planes que tengo[d] para ustedes(N)”, declara el Señor(O), “planes de bienestar y no de calamidad, para darles un futuro y una esperanza(P). 12 Ustedes me invocarán(Q) y vendrán a rogarme, y Yo los escucharé(R). 13 Me buscarán y me encontrarán, cuando me busquen de todo corazón(S). 14 Me dejaré hallar de ustedes”, declara el Señor, “y restauraré su bienestar[e] y los reuniré de todas las naciones y de todos los lugares adonde los expulsé(T)”, declara el Señor, “y los traeré de nuevo al lugar desde donde los envié al destierro(U)”.

15 »Por cuanto ustedes han dicho: “El Señor nos ha levantado profetas en Babilonia(V) 16 (pues así dice el Señor(W) acerca del rey que se sienta sobre el trono de David, y acerca de todo el pueblo que habita en esta ciudad, sus hermanos que no fueron con ustedes al destierro), 17 así dice el Señor de los ejércitos: “Yo envío contra ellos la espada, el hambre y la pestilencia(X), y los pondré como higos reventados que de podridos no se pueden comer(Y). 18 Los perseguiré con la espada, con el hambre y con la pestilencia, y los haré motivo de espanto para todos los reinos de la tierra(Z), para que sean maldición, horror(AA), burla(AB) y oprobio entre todas las naciones adonde los he arrojado. 19 Porque ellos no han escuchado Mis palabras(AC)”, declara el Señor, “las que les envié repetidas veces[f] por medio de Mis siervos los profetas; pero no escucharon(AD)”, declara el Señor. 20 Oigan, pues, la palabra del Señor, todos ustedes los desterrados, a quienes he enviado de Jerusalén a Babilonia(AE)».

21 «Así dice el Señor de los ejércitos, el Dios de Israel, acerca de Acab, hijo de Colaías, y acerca de Sedequías, hijo de Maasías, que les profetizan mentira en Mi nombre(AF): “Yo los entregaré en manos de Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, y él los matará delante de los ojos de ustedes. 22 Por causa de ellos será tomada esta maldición(AG) por todos los desterrados de Judá que están en Babilonia: ‘Que el Señor te haga como a Sedequías y como a Acab, a quienes el rey de Babilonia asó en el fuego(AH). 23 Porque obraron neciamente en Israel(AI), cometieron adulterio con las mujeres de sus prójimos(AJ) y hablaron en Mi nombre palabras falsas que no les mandé(AK). Yo soy el que sabe y soy testigo’, declara el Señor(AL)”».

24 Y a Semaías el nehelamita le dirás(AM): 25 «Así dice el Señor de los ejércitos, el Dios de Israel: “Por cuanto has enviado cartas en tu nombre a todo el pueblo que está en Jerusalén, y al sacerdote Sofonías, hijo de Maasías, y a todos los sacerdotes(AN), diciéndole a Sofonías(AO): 26 ‘El Señor te ha puesto por sacerdote en lugar del sacerdote Joiada, para estar encargado[g](AP) en la casa del Señor(AQ) de todo loco que profetice(AR), a fin de que lo pongas en el cepo y la argolla(AS).

27 ’Entonces ¿por qué no has reprendido a Jeremías de Anatot(AT) que les profetiza a ustedes? 28 Porque él nos ha enviado un mensaje a Babilonia(AU), diciéndonos(AV): “El destierro será largo; edifiquen casas y habítenlas, planten huertos y coman de su fruto(AW)”’”».

29 Y el sacerdote Sofonías(AX) leyó esta carta a oídos del profeta Jeremías. 30 Entonces vino a Jeremías la palabra del Señor: 31 «Envía un mensaje a todos los desterrados(AY), diciéndoles: “Así dice el Señor acerca de Semaías el nehelamita(AZ): ‘Por cuanto Semaías les ha profetizado(BA) sin que Yo lo haya enviado, y les ha hecho confiar en una mentira(BB)’, 32 por tanto, así dice el Señor: ‘Voy a castigar a Semaías el nehelamita y a su descendencia[h](BC). No tendrá a nadie que habite en medio de este pueblo, ni verá el bien que voy a hacer a Mi pueblo(BD)’, declara el Señor, ‘porque predicó[i] la rebelión contra el Señor(BE)’”».

Footnotes

  1. 29:7 O la paz.
  2. 29:8 Lit. sus.
  3. 29:8 Lit. ellos sueñan.
  4. 29:11 Lit. estoy trazando.
  5. 29:14 O haré volver a sus cautivos.
  6. 29:19 Lit. madrugando y enviando.
  7. 29:26 Lit. encargados.
  8. 29:32 Lit. simiente.
  9. 29:32 Lit. hablado.

29 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;

(After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)

By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,

Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;

Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;

Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.

For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.

For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.

10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.

11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.

13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.

15 Because ye have said, The Lord hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;

16 Know that thus saith the Lord of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;

17 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.

18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:

19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the Lord.

20 Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:

21 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;

22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;

23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours' wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.

24 Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,

25 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,

26 The Lord hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.

27 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?

28 For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.

30 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying,

31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:

32 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord.

A Letter to the Exiles

29 This is the text of the letter(A) 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.(B) (This was after King Jehoiachin[a](C) and the queen mother,(D) the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the skilled workers and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 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:

This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried(E) into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build(F) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. 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.(G) Also, seek(H) the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray(I) to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Yes, this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let the prophets(J) and diviners among you deceive(K) you. Do not listen to the dreams(L) you encourage them to have.(M) They are prophesying lies(N) to you in my name. I have not sent(O) them,” declares the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years(P) are completed for Babylon, I will come to you(Q) and fulfill my good promise(R) to bring you back(S) to this place. 11 For I know the plans(T) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(U) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(V) 12 Then you will call(W) on me and come and pray(X) to me, and I will listen(Y) to you. 13 You will seek(Z) me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.(AA) 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back(AB) from captivity.[b] 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.”(AC)

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 fellow citizens 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(AD) against them and I will make them like figs(AE) that are so bad they cannot be eaten. 18 I will pursue them with the sword, famine and plague and will make them abhorrent(AF) to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse[c](AG) and an object of horror,(AH) of scorn(AI) and reproach, among all the nations where I drive them. 19 For they have not listened to my words,”(AJ) declares the Lord, “words that I sent to them again and again(AK) by my servants the prophets.(AL) 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(AM) 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(AN) 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 the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned(AO) in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adultery(AP) with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I know(AQ) it and am a witness(AR) to it,” declares the Lord.

Message to Shemaiah

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 the priest Zephaniah(AS) son of Maaseiah, 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 maniac(AT) who acts like a prophet into the stocks(AU) 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(AV) to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.(AW) Therefore build(AX) houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’”

29 Zephaniah(AY) 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(AZ) the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not send(BA) him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.(BB) He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good(BC) things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellion(BD) against me.’”

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 29:2 Hebrew Jeconiah, a variant of Jehoiachin
  2. Jeremiah 29:14 Or will restore your fortunes
  3. Jeremiah 29:18 That is, their names will be used in cursing (see verse 22); or, others will see that they are cursed.