Jeremiah 29

New International Version

⁴ This is what theLordAlmighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried^(E)into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:⁵ “Build^(F)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.^(G)7 Also, seek^(H)the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray^(I)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^(J)and diviners among you deceive^(K)you. Do not listen to the dreams^(L)you encourage them to have.^(M)9 They are prophesying lies^(N)to you in my name. I have not sent^(O)them,” declares theLord.

¹⁰ This is what theLordsays: “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 theLord, “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 theLord, “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 theLord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”^(AC)

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^(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 theLord, “words that I sent to them again and again^(AK)by my servants the prophets.^(AL)And you exiles have not listened either,” declares theLord.

²⁰ Therefore, hear the word of theLord, all you exiles whom I have sent^(AM)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^(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 theLordtreat 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 theLord.