Jeremiah 29:1–14

Jeremiah’s Letter to the Exiles

29 This is the text of the letter u that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders of the exiles, the priests, the prophets, and all the people Nebuchadnezzar v had deported from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 This was after King Jeconiah, w x the queen mother, the court officials, the officials of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the metalsmiths had left Jerusalem. 3 The letter was sent by Elasah son of Shaphan and Gemariah son of Hilkiah y whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter stated:

4 This is what the Lord of * Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles I deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and live in them. z Plant gardens and eat their produce. 6 Take wives and have sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons and give your daughters to men in marriage so that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there; do not decrease. a 7 Seek the welfare of the city I have deported you to. Pray to the Lord on its behalf, b for when it has prosperity, you will prosper.”

8 For this is what the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you c and your diviners deceive you, d and don’t listen to the dreams you elicit from them, 9 for they are prophesying falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them.” e This is the Lord’s declaration.

10 For this is what the Lord says: “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, f I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you” g—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 You will call to Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. h 13 You will seek Me i and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“and I will restore your fortunes j k and gather you from all the nations and places where I banished you”—this is the Lord’s declaration. “I will restore you to the place I deported you from.” l