Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles

1  וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ (And these are) דִּבְרֵ֣י (the words) הַסֵּ֔פֶר (of the letter) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) שָׁלַ֛ח (sent) יִרְמְיָ֥ה (Jeremiah) הַנָּבִ֖יא (the prophet) מִירוּשָׁלִָ֑ם (from Jerusalem) אֶל־ (to) יֶ֜תֶר (the remaining) זִקְנֵ֣י (elders) הַגּוֹלָ֗ה (of the captivity), וְאֶל־ (and to) הַכֹּהֲנִ֤ים (the priests), וְאֶל־ (and to) הַנְּבִיאִים֙ (the prophets), וְאֶל־ (and to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (whom) הֶגְלָ֧ה (had removed) נְבֽוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֛ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (from Jerusalem) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (to Babylon); 2  אַחֲרֵ֣י (after) צֵ֣את (the going forth of) יְכָנְיָֽה־ (Jeconiah) הַ֠מֶּלֶךְ (the king), וְהַגְּבִירָ֨ה (and the queen mother), וְהַסָּרִיסִ֜ים (and the eunuchs), שָׂרֵ֨י (and the princes) יְהוּדָ֧ה (of Judah) וִירוּשָׁלִַ֛ם (and Jerusalem), וְהֶחָרָ֥שׁ (and the craftsmen), וְהַמַּסְגֵּ֖ר (and the smiths), מִירוּשָׁלִָֽם׃ (from Jerusalem). 3  בְּיַד֙ (By the hand) אֶלְעָשָׂ֣ה (of Elasah) בֶן־ (the son) שָׁפָ֔ן (of Shaphan), וּגְמַרְיָ֖ה (and Gemariah) בֶּן־ (son) חִלְקִיָּ֑ה (of Hilkiah), אֲשֶׁ֨ר (whom) שָׁלַ֜ח (sent) צִדְקִיָּ֣ה (Zedekiah) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) יְהוּדָ֗ה (of Judah) אֶל־ (to) נְבוּכַדְנֶאצַּ֛ר (Nebuchadnezzar) מֶ֥לֶךְ (king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) בָּבֶ֥לָה (to Babylon) לֵאמֹֽר׃ס (saying),

4  כֹּ֥ה (thus) אָמַ֛ר (says) יְהוָ֥ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֖וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (of Israel), לְכָל־ (to all) הַ֨גּוֹלָ֔ה (the captive ones), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) הִגְלֵ֥יתִי (I caused to be removed) מִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (from Jerusalem) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ (to Babylon); 5  בְּנ֥וּ (Build) בָתִּ֖ים (houses), וְשֵׁ֑בוּ (and dwell) וְנִטְע֣וּ (and plant) גַנּ֔וֹת (gardens), וְאִכְל֖וּ (and eat) אֶת־ (-) פִּרְיָֽן׃ (their fruit). 6  קְח֣וּ (Take) נָשִׁ֗ים (wives), וְהוֹלִידוּ֮ (and beget) בָּנִ֣ים (sons) וּבָנוֹת֒ (and daughters); וּקְח֨וּ (and take) לִבְנֵיכֶ֜ם (for your⁺ sons), נָשִׁ֗ים (wives) וְאֶת־ (and) בְּנֽוֹתֵיכֶם֙ (your⁺ daughters) תְּנ֣וּ (give) לַֽאֲנָשִׁ֔ים (to husbands) וְתֵלַ֖דְנָה (so that they may bear) בָּנִ֣ים (sons) וּבָנ֑וֹת (and daughters); וּרְבוּ־ (and multiply) שָׁ֖ם (there), וְאַל־ (and not) תִּמְעָֽטוּ׃ (you⁺ shall decrease). 7  וְדִרְשׁ֞וּ (And seek) אֶת־ (-) שְׁל֣וֹם (the peace) הָעִ֗יר (of the city) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (to which) הִגְלֵ֤יתִי (I have caused to be removed), אֶתְכֶם֙ (you⁺) שָׁ֔מָּה (-) וְהִתְפַּֽלְל֥וּ (and pray) בַעֲדָ֖הּ (on its behalf) אֶל־ (to) יְהוָ֑ה (YHWH) כִּ֣י (for) בִשְׁלוֹמָ֔הּ (in its peace) יִהְיֶ֥ה (there shall be) לָכֶ֖ם (unto you⁺) שָׁלֽוֹם׃פ (peace).

8  כִּי֩ (For) כֹ֨ה (thus) אָמַ֜ר (says) יְהוָ֤ה (YHWH of) צְבָאוֹת֙ (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (of Israel); אַל־ (Do not) יַשִּׁ֧יאוּ (let deceive) לָכֶ֛ם (you⁺) נְבִֽיאֵיכֶ֥ם (your⁺ prophets) אֲשֶׁר־ (that are) בְּקִרְבְּכֶ֖ם (among you⁺) וְקֹֽסְמֵיכֶ֑ם (and your⁺ diviners), וְאַֽל־ (and not) תִּשְׁמְעוּ֙ (do listen) אֶל־ (to) חֲלֹמֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם (your⁺ dreams) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) אַתֶּ֖ם (you⁺) מַחְלְמִֽים׃ (cause to be dreamed). 9  כִּ֣י (For) בְשֶׁ֔קֶר (falsely) הֵ֛ם (they) נִבְּאִ֥ים (prophesy) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) בִּשְׁמִ֑י (in My name); לֹ֥א (not) שְׁלַחְתִּ֖ים (I have sent them) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

10  כִּֽי־ (For) כֹה֙ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH), כִּ֠י (Surely) לְפִ֞י (after) מְלֹ֧את (are completed) לְבָבֶ֛ל (for Babylon) שִׁבְעִ֥ים (seventy) שָׁנָ֖ה (years) אֶפְקֹ֣ד (I will visit) אֶתְכֶ֑ם (you⁺) וַהֲקִמֹתִ֤י (and perform) עֲלֵיכֶם֙ (over you⁺) אֶת־ (-) דְּבָרִ֣י (word) הַטּ֔וֹב (My good) לְהָשִׁ֣יב (to make return) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) אֶל־ (to) הַמָּק֖וֹם (place) הַזֶּֽה׃ (this). 11  כִּי֩ (For) אָנֹכִ֨י (I) יָדַ֜עְתִּי (know) אֶת־ (-) הַמַּחֲשָׁבֹ֗ת (the plans) אֲשֶׁ֧ר (that) אָנֹכִ֛י (I) חֹשֵׁ֥ב (think) עֲלֵיכֶ֖ם (toward you⁺) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), מַחְשְׁב֤וֹת (thoughts) שָׁלוֹם֙ (of peace), וְלֹ֣א (and not) לְרָעָ֔ה (of evil), לָתֵ֥ת (to give) לָכֶ֖ם (to you⁺) אַחֲרִ֥ית (a future) וְתִקְוָֽה׃ (and a hope). 12  וּקְרָאתֶ֤ם (And you⁺ will call) אֹתִי֙ (Me) וַֽהֲלַכְתֶּ֔ם (and will go) וְהִתְפַּלַּלְתֶּ֖ם (and pray) אֵלָ֑י (to Me) וְשָׁמַעְתִּ֖י (and I will listen) אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺). 13  וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם (And you⁺ will seek) אֹתִ֖י (Me) וּמְצָאתֶ֑ם (and you⁺ will find) כִּ֥י (when) תִדְרְשֻׁ֖נִי (you⁺ search for Me) בְּכָל־ (with all) לְבַבְכֶֽם׃ (your⁺ heart). 14  וְנִמְצֵ֣אתִי (And I will be found) לָכֶם֮ (by you⁺) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָה֒ (of YHWH), וְשַׁבְתִּ֣י (and I will turn back) אֶת־ (-) שְׁבִיתְכֶם (your⁺ captivity), וְקִבַּצְתִּ֣י (and I will gather) אֶ֠תְכֶם (you⁺) מִֽכָּל־ (from all) הַגּוֹיִ֞ם (the nations), וּמִכָּל־ (and from all) הַמְּקוֹמ֗וֹת (the places) אֲשֶׁ֨ר (to which) הִדַּ֧חְתִּי (I have driven) אֶתְכֶ֛ם (you⁺) שָׁ֖ם (there) נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH); וַהֲשִׁבֹתִ֣י (and I will bring) אֶתְכֶ֔ם (you⁺) אֶל־ (to) הַ֨מָּק֔וֹם (the place) אֲשֶׁר־ (from which) הִגְלֵ֥יתִי (I caused) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (you⁺ to be carried away captive) מִשָּֽׁם׃ (from there).

15  כִּ֖י (Because) אֲמַרְתֶּ֑ם (you⁺ have said), הֵקִ֨ים (Has raised up) לָ֧נוּ (for us) יְהוָ֛ה (YHWH) נְבִאִ֖ים (prophets) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ס (in Babylon); 16  כִּי־ (surely) כֹ֣ה׀ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (the king) הַיּוֹשֵׁב֙ (sitting) אֶל־ (on) כִּסֵּ֣א (the throne) דָוִ֔ד (of David), וְאֶל־ (and concerning) כָּל־ (all) הָעָ֔ם (the people) הַיּוֹשֵׁ֖ב (dwelling) בָּעִ֣יר (city), הַזֹּ֑את (in this) אֲחֵיכֶ֕ם (and your⁺ brothers) אֲשֶׁ֛ר (who) לֹֽא־ (not) יָצְא֥וּ (have gone out) אִתְּכֶ֖ם (with you⁺) בַּגּוֹלָֽה׃ (into captivity); 17  כֹּ֤ה (thus) אָמַר֙ (says) יְהוָ֣ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֔וֹת (Hosts);

הִנְנִי֙ (Behold, I) מְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ (am sending) בָּ֔ם (upon them) אֶת־ (-) הַחֶ֖רֶב (the sword), אֶת־ (-) הָרָעָ֣ב (the famine), וְאֶת־ (and) הַדָּ֑בֶר (the pestilence), וְנָתַתִּ֣י (and I will give) אוֹתָ֗ם (them) כַּתְּאֵנִים֙ (to be like figs) הַשֹּׁ֣עָרִ֔ים (rotten), אֲשֶׁ֥ר (that) לֹא־ (not) תֵאָכַ֖לְנָה (can be eaten), מֵרֹֽעַ׃ (for badness). 18  וְרָֽדַפְתִּי֙ (And I will pursue) אַֽחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם (after them) בַּחֶ֖רֶב (with the sword), בָּרָעָ֣ב (with famine), וּבַדָּ֑בֶר (and with the pestilence), וּנְתַתִּ֨ים (and I will deliver them) לִזְוָעָה (to trouble) לְכֹ֣ל׀ (among all) מַמְלְכ֣וֹת (the kingdoms) הָאָ֗רֶץ (of the earth), לְאָלָ֤ה (to be a curse), וּלְשַׁמָּה֙ (and as a horror), וְלִשְׁרֵקָ֣ה (and as a hissing), וּלְחֶרְפָּ֔ה (and a reproach), בְּכָל־ (among all) הַגּוֹיִ֖ם (the nations) אֲשֶׁר־ (to which) הִדַּחְתִּ֥ים (I have driven them) שָֽׁם׃ (there). 19  תַּ֛חַת (Because) אֲשֶֽׁר־ (that) לֹא־ (not) שָׁמְע֥וּ (they did listen) אֶל־ (to) דְּבָרַ֖י (My words), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), אֲשֶׁר֩ (which) שָׁלַ֨חְתִּי (I sent) אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם (to them) אֶת־ (by) עֲבָדַ֤י (My servants) הַנְּבִאִים֙ (the prophets), הַשְׁכֵּ֣ם (rising up early) וְשָׁלֹ֔חַ (and sending) וְלֹ֥א (and you would not) שְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ם (listen), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ (of YHWH).

20  וְאַתֶּ֖ם (And you⁺) שִׁמְע֣וּ (hear) דְבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH), כָּל־ (all) הַ֨גּוֹלָ֔ה (of the captivity), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) שִׁלַּ֥חְתִּי (I have sent away) מִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם (from Jerusalem) בָּבֶֽלָה׃ס (to Babylon). 21  כֹּֽה־ (Thus) אָמַר֩ (says) יְהוָ֨ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֜וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֣י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (of Israel), אֶל־ (concerning) אַחְאָ֤ב (Ahab) בֶּן־ (son) קֽוֹלָיָה֙ (of Kolaiah), וְאֶל־ (and) צִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ (Zedekiah) בֶן־ (son) מַֽעֲשֵׂיָ֔ה (of Maaseiah), הַֽנִּבְּאִ֥ים (those prophesying) לָכֶ֛ם (to you⁺) בִּשְׁמִ֖י (in My name); שָׁ֑קֶר (a lie) הִנְנִ֣י׀ (Behold, I) נֹתֵ֣ן (will deliver) אֹתָ֗ם (them) בְּיַד֙ (into the hand) נְבֽוּכַדְרֶאצַּ֣ר (of Nebuchadnezzar) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (king) בָּבֶ֔ל (of Babylon); וְהִכָּ֖ם (and he will strike them) לְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃ (before your⁺ eyes); 22  וְלֻקַּ֤ח (shall be taken up) מֵהֶם֙ (and because of them) קְלָלָ֔ה (a curse) לְכֹל֙ (for all) גָּל֣וּת (the captivity) יְהוּדָ֔ה (of Judah) אֲשֶׁ֥ר (who are) בְּבָבֶ֖ל (in Babylon), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), יְשִֽׂמְךָ֤ (Make you) יְהוָה֙ (YHWH) כְּצִדְקִיָּ֣הוּ (like Zedekiah) וּכְאֶחָ֔ב (and like Ahab), אֲשֶׁר־ (whom) קָלָ֥ם (roasted) מֶֽלֶךְ־ (the king) בָּבֶ֖ל (of Babylon) בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ (in the fire); 23  יַ֡עַן (because) אֲשֶׁר֩ (that) עָשׂ֨וּ (they have done) נְבָלָ֜ה (folly) בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל (in Israel), וַיְנַֽאֲפוּ֙ (and have committed adultery) אֶת־ (with) נְשֵׁ֣י (the wives), רֵֽעֵיהֶ֔ם (of their neighbors) וַיְדַבְּר֨וּ (and have spoken) דָבָ֤ר (words) בִּשְׁמִי֙ (in My name), שֶׁ֔קֶר (false) אֲשֶׁ֖ר (which) ל֣וֹא (not) צִוִּיתִ֑ם (I have commanded them) וְאָנֹכִ֛י (and I am) הוּיֹדֵעַ (the One knowing) וָעֵ֖ד (and a witness), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָֽה׃ס (of YHWH).

The Message to Shemaiah

24  וְאֶל־ (And to) שְׁמַעְיָ֥הוּ (Shemaiah) הַנֶּחֱלָמִ֖י (the Nehelamite), תֹּאמַ֥ר (you shall speak) לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 25  כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֞ר (says) יְהוָ֧ה (YHWH of) צְבָא֛וֹת (Hosts), אֱלֹהֵ֥י (the God) יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (of Israel), לֵאמֹ֑ר (saying), יַ֡עַן (Because) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (that) אַתָּה֩ (you) שָׁלַ֨חְתָּ (have sent) בְשִׁמְכָ֜ה (in your name) סְפָרִ֗ים (letters) אֶל־ (to) כָּל־ (all) הָעָם֙ (the people) אֲשֶׁ֣ר (who are) בִּירוּשָׁלִַ֔ם (in Jerusalem), וְאֶל־ (and to) צְפַנְיָ֤ה (Zephaniah) בֶן־ (son) מַֽעֲשֵׂיָה֙ (of Maaseiah) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest), וְאֶ֥ל (and to) כָּל־ (all) הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים (the priests), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying),

26  יְהוָ֞ה (YHWH) נְתָנְךָ֣ (has made you) כֹהֵ֗ן (priest) תַּ֚חַת (in place) יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע (of Jehoiada) הַכֹּהֵ֔ן (the priest), לִֽהְי֤וֹת (that you should be) פְּקִדִים֙ (officers) בֵּ֣ית (in the house) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH), לְכָל־ (over every) אִ֥ישׁ (man) מְשֻׁגָּ֖ע (who is mad), וּמִתְנַבֵּ֑א (and makes himself a prophet), וְנָתַתָּ֥ה (that you should put) אֹת֛וֹ (him) אֶל־ (in) הַמַּהְפֶּ֖כֶת (prison), וְאֶל־ (and in) הַצִּינֹֽק׃ (the stocks). 27  וְעַתָּ֗ה (And now) לָ֚מָּה (why) לֹ֣א (have you not) גָעַ֔רְתָּ (rebuked) בְּיִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah) הָֽעֲנְּתֹתִ֑י (the Anathothite), הַמִּתְנַבֵּ֖א (who is making himself a prophet) לָכֶֽם׃ (to you⁺). 28  כִּ֣י (For) עַל־ (upon) כֵּ֞ן (thus) שָׁלַ֥ח (he has sent) אֵלֵ֛ינוּ (to us) בָּבֶ֥ל (in Babylon), לֵאמֹ֖ר (saying), אֲרֻכָּ֣ה (is long); הִ֑יא (it) בְּנ֤וּ (build) בָתִּים֙ (houses), וְשֵׁ֔בוּ (and dwell) וְנִטְע֣וּ (and plant) גַנּ֔וֹת (gardens), וְאִכְל֖וּ (and eat) אֶת־ (-) פְּרִיהֶֽן׃ (their fruit).

29  וַיִּקְרָ֛א (Read) צְפַנְיָ֥ה (and Zephaniah) הַכֹּהֵ֖ן (the priest) אֶת־ (-) הַסֵּ֣פֶר (letter) הַזֶּ֑ה (this) בְּאָזְנֵ֖י (in the ears) יִרְמְיָ֥הוּ (of Jeremiah) הַנָּבִֽיא׃פ (the prophet).

30  וַֽיְהִי֙ (And came) דְּבַר־ (the word) יְהוָ֔ה (of YHWH) אֶֽל־ (to) יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ (Jeremiah), לֵאמֹֽר׃ (saying), 31  שְׁלַ֤ח (Send) עַל־ (to) כָּל־ (all those) הַגּוֹלָה֙ (of the captivity), לֵאמֹ֔ר (saying), כֹּ֚ה (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֔ה (YHWH) אֶל־ (concerning) שְׁמַעְיָ֖ה (Shemaiah) הַנֶּחֱלָמִ֑י (the Nehelamite); יַ֡עַן (because) אֲשֶׁר֩ (-) נִבָּ֨א (has prophesied) לָכֶ֜ם (to you⁺) שְׁמַעְיָ֗ה (Shemaiah) וַֽאֲנִי֙ (and I) לֹ֣א (not), שְׁלַחְתִּ֔יו (have sent him) וַיַּבְטַ֥ח (trust) אֶתְכֶ֖ם (and he has made you⁺) עַל־ (in) שָֽׁקֶר׃ (a lie), 32  לָכֵ֞ן (therefore) כֹּֽה־ (thus) אָמַ֣ר (says) יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) הִנְנִ֨י (Behold, I) פֹקֵ֜ד (will attend) עַל־ (to) שְׁמַעְיָ֣ה (Shemaiah) הַנֶּחֱלָמִי֮ (the Nehelamite), וְעַל־ (and) זַרְעוֹ֒ (his family); לֹא־ (not) יִהְיֶ֨ה (there shall be) ל֜וֹ (unto him) אִ֣ישׁ׀ (a man) יוֹשֵׁ֣ב׀ (dwelling) בְּתוֹךְ־ (in the midst) הָעָ֣ם (of the people); הַזֶּ֗ה (this) וְלֹֽא־ (and not) יִרְאֶ֥ה (shall he see) בַטּ֛וֹב (the good) אֲשֶׁר־ (that) אֲנִ֥י (I) עֹשֶֽׂה־ (am going to do) לְעַמִּ֖י (for My people), נְאֻם־ (a declaration) יְהוָ֑ה (of YHWH) כִּֽי־ (because) סָרָ֥ה (rebellion) דִבֶּ֖ר (he has spoken) עַל־ (against) יְהוָֽה׃ס (YHWH).