HelpFinder Bible - Flipbook - Page 1064
J EREMIA H 3 0
who were not exiled to Babylon. 17 This is
what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says:
“I will send war, famine, and disease upon
them and make them like bad figs, too rotten
to eat. 18 Yes, I will pursue them with war,
famine, and disease, and I will scatter them
around the world. In every nation where I
send them, I will make them an object of
damnation, horror, contempt, and mockery.
19 For they refuse to listen to me, though I
have spoken to them repeatedly through the
prophets I sent. And you who are in exile
have not listened either,” says the Lord.
20 Therefore, listen to this message from
the Lord, all you captives there in Babylon.
21 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
the God of Israel, says about your prophets—
Ahab son of Kolaiah and Zedekiah son
of Maaseiah—who are telling you lies in
my name: “I will turn them over to
Nebuchadnezzar* for execution before
your eyes. 22 Their terrible fate will become
proverbial, so that the Judean exiles will
curse someone by saying, ‘May the Lord
make you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom
the king of Babylon burned alive!’ 23 For
these men have done terrible things among
my people. They have committed adultery
with their neighbors’ wives and have lied in
my name, saying things I did not command.
I am a witness to this. I, the Lord, have
spoken.”
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I did not send him and has tricked you into
believing his lies, 32 I will punish him and his
family. None of his descendants will see the
good things I will do for my people, for he has
incited you to rebel against me. I, the Lord,
have spoken!’”
Promises of Deliverance
The Lord gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, 2 “This is what the Lord,
the God of Israel, says: Write down for the record everything I have said to you, Jeremiah.
3 For the time is coming when I will restore the
fortunes of my people of Israel and Judah. I will
bring them home to this land that I gave to their
ancestors, and they will possess it again. I, the
Lord, have spoken!”
4 This is the message the Lord gave concerning Israel and Judah. 5 This is what the Lord
says:
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A Message for Shemaiah
24 The Lord sent this message to Shemaiah the
Nehelamite in Babylon: 25 “This is what the
Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel,
says: You wrote a letter on your own authority
to Zephaniah son of Maaseiah, the priest, and
you sent copies to the other priests and people
in Jerusalem. You wrote to Zephaniah,
26 “The Lord has appointed you to replace
Jehoiada as the priest in charge of the house
of the Lord. You are responsible to put
into stocks and neck irons any crazy man
who claims to be a prophet. 27 So why have
you done nothing to stop Jeremiah from
Anathoth, who pretends to be a prophet
among you? 28 Jeremiah sent a letter here
to Babylon, predicting that our captivity
will be a long one. He said, ‘Build homes,
and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat
the food they produce.’”
29 But when Zephaniah the priest received
Shemaiah’s letter, he took it to Jeremiah and
read it to him. 30 Then the Lord gave this message to Jeremiah: 31 “Send an open letter to all
the exiles in Babylon. Tell them, ‘This is what
the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: Since he has prophesied to you when
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“I hear cries of fear;
there is terror and no peace.
Now let me ask you a question:
Do men give birth to babies?
Then why do they stand there, ashen-faced,
hands pressed against their sides
like a woman in labor?
In all history there has never been such a
time of terror.
It will be a time of trouble for my people
Israel.*
Yet in the end they will be saved!
For in that day,”
says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,
“I will break the yoke from their necks
and snap their chains.
Foreigners will no longer be their masters.
For my people will serve the Lord
their God
and their king descended from David—
the king I will raise up for them.
“So do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant;
do not be dismayed, Israel,”
says the Lord.
“For I will bring you home again from
distant lands,
and your children will return from
their exile.
Israel will return to a life of peace and
quiet,
and no one will terrorize them.
For I am with you and will save you,”
says the Lord.
“I will completely destroy the nations
where I have scattered you,
but I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you, but with justice;
I cannot let you go unpunished.”
29:21 Hebrew Nebuchadrezzar, a variant spelling of
Nebuchadnezzar. 30:7 Hebrew Jacob; also in 30:10b, 18.
See note on 5:20.