27TH CHAPTER

The Yoke of Babylon Will Be on Judah

1 When Zedekiah, son of King Josiah of Judah, began to rule, the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. 

2 This is what the Lord said to me: Make ⸤leather⸥ straps and a wooden yoke,a and strap the yoke on your neck. 3 Then send messages to the kings of Edom, Moab, Ammon, Tyre, and Sidon, with messengers who have come to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem. 4 Give them an order for their masters: “This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Say this to your masters, 5 ‘I used my great strength and my powerful arm to make the earth along with the people and the animals on it. I give it to anyone I please. 6 Now I have handed all these countries over to my servant King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I have even made wild animals serve him. 7 All nations will serve him, his son, and his grandson until Babylon is defeated. Then many nations and great kings will make him their slave. 

8 “ ‘Suppose nations or kingdoms won’t serve or surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will punish those nations by wars, famines, and plagues, until I have put an end to them by Nebuchadnezzar’s power, declares the Lord. 9 Don’t listen to prophets, mediums, interpreters of dreams, fortunetellers, or sorcerers who tell you that you’ll never serve the king of Babylon. 10 They are prophesying lies to you. They will cause you to be taken far from your lands. I’ll scatter you, and you will die. 11 But suppose a nation surrenders to the king of Babylon and serves him. I will let it stay in its own land. People will farm the land and live on it,’ ” declares the Lord. 

12 I spoke the same message to King Zedekiah of Judah, “Surrender to the king of Babylon, serve him and his people, and you will stay alive. 13 Why should you and your people die in wars, famines, and plagues? The Lord has threatened the nations that don’t serve the king of Babylon. 14 Don’t listen to the prophets who tell you that you’ll never serve the king of Babylon. They are prophesying lies to you. 15 I didn’t send them, declares the Lord. They prophesy lies in my name. So I will scatter you, and you and the prophets will die.” 

16 I also spoke this message to the priests and all the people. “This is what the Lord said to me: Don’t listen to the prophets who tell you that the utensils of the Lord’s temple will be brought back from Babylon soon. They are prophesying lies to you. 17 Don’t listen to them. Instead, serve the king of Babylon, and live. Why should this city be turned into rubble? 18 If they are prophets and the Lord is speaking to them, they should beg the Lord of Armies not to allow the utensils that are left in the Lord’s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem to be taken away to Babylon. 

19–20 “Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar took Jehoiakin,b son of King Jehoiakim of Judah, into captivity from Jerusalem to Babylon along with all the nobles of Judah and Jerusalem. But he didn’t take the pillars, the bronze pool, the stands, and the rest of the utensils that are left in this city. 21 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says about the utensils that are left in the Lord’s temple, in the royal palace of Judah, and in Jerusalem: 22 They will be taken to Babylon and stay there until I come for them, declares the Lord. I will take them from there and bring them back to this place.” 

28TH CHAPTER

Hananiah’s False Prophecy

1 In that same year, early in the rule of King Zedekiah of Judah, in the fifth month of his fourth year as king, the prophet Hananiah, son of Azzur, from Gibeon, spoke to me in the Lord’s temple. He said to me in front of the priests and all the people, 2 “This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will break the yokea of the king of Babylon. 3 Within two years I will bring back all the utensils of the Lord’s temple that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took from this place and carried off to Babylon. 4 I will also bring back to this place Jehoiakin, son of King Jehoiakim of Judah, and all the captives of Judah who went to Babylon, declares the Lord. So I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.” 

5 The prophet Jeremiah replied to the prophet Hananiah in front of the priests and all the people standing in the Lord’s temple. 6 He said, “Amen! May the Lord do this! May the Lord make your prophecy come true and bring back the utensils of the Lord’s temple and all the captives from Babylon to this place. 7 But now listen to this message that I am speaking to you and to all the people: 8 Long ago, the prophets who preceded you and me prophesied wars, disasters, and plagues against many countries and great kingdoms. 9 But the prophet who prophesied peace was recognized as a prophet that the Lord sent only if the message of the prophet came true.” 

10 Then the prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it. 11 Hananiah said in front of all the people, “This is what the Lord says: In the same way, I will break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon off the neck of all the nations within two years.” Then the prophet Jeremiah went on his way. 

12 After the prophet Hananiah broke the yoke off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 13 “Tell Hananiah, ‘This is what the Lord says: You have broken the wooden yoke, but Ib will replace it with an iron yoke. 14 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations so that they will serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. They will serve him! I will even make wild animals serve him.’ ” 

15 Then Jeremiah told the prophet Hananiah, “Now listen, Hananiah, the Lord hasn’t sent you. You have made these people believe a lie. 16 This is what the Lord says: I’m going to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have encouraged rebellion against the Lord.” 

17 So the prophet Hananiah died in the seventh month of that year. 

29TH CHAPTER

Jeremiah Writes to the Captives in Babylon

1 The prophet Jeremiah sent a letter from Jerusalem to the rest of the leaders among the captives. He also sent it to the priests, the prophets, and all the people that Nebuchadnezzar took away as captives from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiakina and his mother, the court officials, the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and metal workers left Jerusalem.) 3 He sent the letter with Shaphan’s son Elasah and Hilkiah’s son Gemariah, whom King Zedekiah of Judah had sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon. The letter said: 

4 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all those who were taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build houses, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat what they produce. 6 Get married, and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons, and let your daughters get married so that they can have sons and daughters. Grow in number there; don’t decrease. 7 Work for the good of the city where I’ve taken you as captives, and pray to the Lord for that city. When it prospers, you will also prosper. 

8 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: Don’t let the prophets or the mediums who are among you trick you. Don’t even listen to your own dreams. 9 These people are prophesying lies to you in my name. I didn’t send them, declares the Lord. 

10 This is what the Lord says: When Babylon’s 70 years are over, I will come to you. I will keep my promise to you and bring you back to this place. 11 I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope. 12 Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 When you look for me, you will find me. When you wholeheartedly seek me, 14 I will let you find me, declares the Lord. I will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I’ve scattered you, declares the Lord. I will bring you back from the place where you are being held captive. 

15 You’ve said that the Lord has given you prophets in Babylon. 16 But this is what the Lord says about the king who sits on David’s throne and about all the people who live in this city, the people who are your relatives and who weren’t taken away as captives: 17 The Lord of Armies says: I’m going to send them wars, famines, and plagues. These people are like rotten figs to me, figs that are so bad that they can’t be eaten. 18 I will chase them with wars, famines, and plagues. I will make them a horrifying sight to all the kingdoms on the earth. They will become something cursed, ridiculed, and hissed at, and they will be a disgrace among all the nations where I scatter them. 19 They didn’t listen to me, declares the Lord. I sent them my servants the prophets again and again, but they refused to listen, declares the Lord. 

20 So listen to the Lord’s word, all you captives who were sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 

21 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says about Kolaiah’s son Ahab and about Maaseiah’s son Zedekiah, who prophesy lies to you in my name: I’m going to hand them over to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. I will kill them as you watch. 22 Because of them, all the captives from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: May the Lord curse you as he cursed Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burned to death. 23 They have done shameful things in Israel. They committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives and spoke lies in my name. I didn’t command them to do this. I know what they have done. I’m a witness, declares the Lord. 

24 ⸤The Lord says,⸥ “Say to Shemaiah from Nehelam, 25 ‘This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people who are in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniah, son of Maaseiah, and to all the priests. These letters said: 26 The Lord made you priest instead of Jehoiada so that there would be officials for the Lord’s temple. You should put any lunatic who acts like a prophet in prison and in shackles. 27 Now, why haven’t you arrested Jeremiah from Anathoth? After all, he acts like a prophet among you. 28 That’s why Jeremiah sent this message to us in Babylon: You will be captives a long time. Build houses, and live in them. Plant gardens, and eat what they produce.’ ” 

29 The priest Zephaniah read this letter to the prophet Jeremiah. 

30 Then the Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 31 “Send this message to all the captives: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiah from Nehelam: Shemaiah prophesied to you, but I didn’t send him. He has made you believe a lie. 32 The Lord says: I will punish Shemaiah from Nehelam. I will also punish his descendants. No one from his family will be left alive. He will not see the blessings that I’m going to send my people, declares the Lord, because he has encouraged rebellion against the Lord.’ ” 

30TH CHAPTER

Israel’s Glorious Future

1 The Lord spoke his word to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Write in a book everything that I tell you. 3 The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity. I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it.” 

4 This is the message that the Lord spoke about Israel and Judah: 5 “This is what the Lord says: 

“We hear cries of fear, cries of panic, not cries of peace. 

6  Ask now, and see: Can a man give birth to a child? 

Why, then, do I see every strong man holding his stomach in pain 

like a woman giving birth to a child? 

Why has every face turned pale? 

7  How terrible that day will be! 

There will be no other day like it. 

It will be a time of calamity for the descendants of Jacob, 

but they will be rescued from it. 

8 “On that day,” declares the Lord of Armies, “I will break the yokesa off your necks and tear off your ropes. Foreigners will no longer make you serve them. 9 You will serve the Lord your God and David your king. I will establish him for you. 

10  “Don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,” declares the Lord. 

Don’t be terrified, Israel. 

I’m going to rescue you from a faraway place. 

I’m going to rescue your descendants from where they are captives. 

The descendants of Jacob will again have peace and security, 

and no one will frighten them. 

11  I am with you, and I will rescue you,” declares the Lord. 

“I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you, 

but I will not completely destroy you. 

I will correct you with justice. 

I won’t let you go entirely unpunished. 

12 “This is what the Lord says: 

Your wound is incurable. 

Your injury is beyond healing. 

13  No one argues that you should be healed. 

No medicine will heal you. 

14  All your lovers have forgotten you, 

and they don’t want you anymore. 

I’ve punished you as an enemy would. 

I’ve corrected you as a cruel person would. 

You are very wicked, and you have many sins. 

15  Why do you cry about your wound, your injury that can’t be cured? 

I’ve done this to you. 

You are very wicked, and you have many sins. 

16  That is why everyone who devours you will be devoured, 

and all your enemies will be taken away as captives. 

Those who looted you will be looted. 

Those who stole from you in war will have things stolen from them. 

17  I’ll restore your health and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord. 

“People call you an outcast: 

Zion, no one cares for you. 

18 “This is what the Lord says: 

I’m going to bring the captives back to Jacob’s tents 

and show compassion on their homes. 

Cities will be built on the ruins, 

and fortified palaces will be built in their rightful place. 

19  The people who live there will sing songs of praise, 

and the sound of laughter will be heard from there. 

I’ll make them numerous, and their number won’t decrease. 

I’ll bring them honor, and they won’t be considered unimportant. 

20  Their children will be like they were long ago. 

Their community will be established in my presence, 

and I will punish everyone who oppresses them. 

21  Their leader will be someone from their own people. 

Their ruler will come from among them. 

I’ll bring him near, and he will come close to me. 

Who would dare to come near me?” asks the Lord. 

22  You will be my people, and I will be your God. 

23  The storm of the Lord will come with his anger. 

Like a driving wind, it will swirl down on the heads of the wicked. 

24  The Lord’s burning anger will not turn back 

until he has done everything he intends to do. 

In the last days you will understand this clearly. 

31ST CHAPTER

Both Israel and Judah Will Be Rescued

1 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” 

2 This is what the Lord says: 

The people who survived the wars have found favor in the desert. 

Israel went to find its rest. 

3 The Lord appeared to me in a faraway place and said, 

“I love you with an everlasting love. 

So I will continue to show you my kindness. 

4  Once again I will build you up, 

and you will be rebuilt, my dear people Israel. 

Once again you will take your tambourines, 

and you will go dancing with happy people. 

5  Once again you will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. 

Those who plant them will enjoy the fruit. 

6  There will be a day when watchmen on the mountains of Ephraim 

will call out this message: 

‘Arise! Let’s go to Zion, to the Lord our God.’ ” 

7 This is what the Lord says: 

Sing a happy song about Jacob. 

Sing joyfully for the leader of the nations. 

Shout, sing praise, and say, 

“O Lord, rescue your people, the remaining few from Israel.” 

8  “I will bring them from the land of the north. 

I will gather them from the farthest parts of the earth. 

Blind people and lame people will return 

together with pregnant women and those in labor. 

A large crowd will return here. 

9  They will cry as they return. 

They will pray as I bring them back. 

I will lead them beside streams 

on a level path where they will not stumble. 

I will be a Father to Israel, 

and Ephraim will be my firstborn. 

10  “You nations, listen to the Lord’s word. 

Tell it to the distant islands. 

Say, ‘The one who scattered the people of Israel will gather them 

and watch over them as a shepherd watches over his flock.’ 

11  The Lord will free the descendants of Jacob 

and reclaim them from those who are stronger than they are. 

12  They will come and shout for joy on top of Mount Zion. 

They will stream to it to enjoy the Lord’s blessings: 

fresh grain, new wine, and olive oil, lambs and calves. 

Their lives will be like well-watered gardens, 

and they will never suffer again. 

13  Then young women will rejoice and dance 

along with young men and old men. 

I will turn their mourning into joy. 

I will comfort them. 

I will give them joy in place of their sorrow. 

14  I will satisfy the priests with rich food. 

My people will be filled with my blessings,” declares the Lord. 

15 This is what the Lord says: 

A sound is heard in Ramah, 

the sound of crying in bitter grief. 

Rachel is crying for her children. 

She refuses to be comforted, 

because they are dead. 

16 This is what the Lord says: 

Stop your crying, and wipe away your tears. 

You will be rewarded for your work, declares the Lord. 

You will return from the land of the enemy. 

17  Your future is filled with hope, declares the Lord. 

Your children will return to their own territory. 

18  “I have certainly heard Ephraim mourn and say, 

‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined. 

I was like a young, untrained calf. 

Turn me, and I will be turned, 

because you are the Lord my God. 

19  After I was turned around, I changed the way I thought and acted. 

After I was taught a lesson, I hung my head in shame. 

I was so ashamed and humiliated, 

because of all the stupid things I have done 

ever since I was young.’ 

20  Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? 

Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him. 

That is why my heart longs for him, 

and I will certainly have compassion on him,” declares the Lord. 

21  Set up landmarks! 

Put up road signs! 

Remember the highway, the road on which you traveled. 

Come back, my dear people Israel, come back to your cities. 

22  How long will you wander around, you unfaithful people? 

The Lord will create something new on earth: 

A woman will protect a man. 

23 This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: When I have brought them back from captivity, they will once again use this saying in Judah and in its cities: 

“The Lord bless you, home of righteousness, holy mountain.” 

24  Judah and all its cities will live there together. 

Farmers and shepherds will also live there. 

25  I will give those who are weary all they need. 

I will refresh everyone who is filled with sorrow.” 

26 At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant. 

27 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will plant the nations of Israel and Judah with people and animals. 28 Once I watched over them to uproot them, to tear them down, and to wreck, ruin, and hurt them. Now I will watch over them to build them up and to plant them,” declares the Lord. 29 “When those days come, people will no longer say, ‘Fathers have eaten sour grapes, and their children’s teeth are set on edge.’ 30 But each person will die for his own sin. Whoever eats sour grapes will have his own teeth set on edge. 

The New Promise

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will make a new promisea to Israel and Judah. 32 It will not be like the promise that I made to their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of Egypt. They rejected that promise, although I was a husband to them,” declares the Lord. 33 “But this is the promise that I will make to Israel after those days,” declares the Lord: “I will put my teachings inside them, and I will write those teachings on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. 34 No longer will each person teach his neighbors or his relatives by saying, ‘Know the Lord.’ All of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” declares the Lord, “because I will forgive their wickedness and I will no longer hold their sins against them.” 

35  The Lord provides the sun to be a light during the day. 

He orders the moon and stars to be lights during the night. 

He stirs up the sea so that its waves roar. 

His name is the Lord of Armies. 

This is what the Lord says: 

36  Only if these laws stop working, declares the Lord, 

will Israel’s descendants stop being a nation in my presence. 

37 This is what the Lord says: 

Only if the heavens could be measured 

or the foundations of the earth could be searched, 

would I ever reject all of Israel’s descendants 

because of everything that they have done, declares the Lord. 

38 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when the city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to Corner Gate. 39 A measuring line will stretch from there straight to the Hill of Gareb, and then it will turn to Goah. 40 The whole valley, filled with its dead bodies and ashes, and the whole area to the Kidron Valley, as far as the corner of Horse Gate in the east, will be holy to the Lord. It will never be uprooted or torn down again.”