Jeremiah 29:22–32

22 Because of them, all the exiles from Judah who are in Babylon will use this curse: ‘May the Lord treat you like Zedekiah and Ahab, whom the king of Babylon burnedn in the fire.’ 23 For they have done outrageous things in Israel; they have committed adulteryo with their neighbors’ wives, and in my name they have uttered lies—which I did not authorize. I knowp it and am a witnessq to it,” declares the Lord.

Message to Shemaiah

24 Tell Shemaiah the Nehelamite, 25 “This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: You sent letters in your own name to all the people in Jerusalem, to the priest Zephaniahr son of Maaseiah, and to all the other priests. You said to Zephaniah, 26 ‘The Lord has appointed you priest in place of Jehoiada to be in charge of the house of the Lord; you should put any maniacs who acts like a prophet into the stockst and neck-irons. 27 So why have you not reprimanded Jeremiah from Anathoth, who poses as a prophet among you? 28 He has sent this messageu to us in Babylon: It will be a long time.v Therefore buildw houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.’ ”

29 Zephaniahx the priest, however, read the letter to Jeremiah the prophet. 30 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 31 “Send this message to all the exiles: ‘This is what the Lord says about Shemaiahy the Nehelamite: Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, even though I did not sendz him, and has persuaded you to trust in lies, 32 this is what the Lord says: I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants.a He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the goodb things I will do for my people, declares the Lord, because he has preached rebellionc against me.’ ”