Jeremiah

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.

1This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the LORD. It came after Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, set him free at Ramah. Nebuzaradan had found him bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken away to Babylon.

Note"The captain of the guard" was the commander of the Babylonian king's own soldiers. He was a very high officer, not a jail guard.

2And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place.

2The commander of the guard found Jeremiah and said to him, "The LORD your God said this disaster would come to this place.

3Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.

3Now the LORD has made it happen. He did exactly what he said he would do. All this came upon you people because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey him.

4And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.

4But look, today I am taking the chains off your wrists. If you would like to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will take good care of you. If you would rather not come, then don't. Look, the whole land is open to you. Go wherever you think is best."

5Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.

5Before Jeremiah turned to go, Nebuzaradan added, "Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan. The king of Babylon has put him in charge of the towns of Judah. Live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you think is right." Then the commander of the guard gave Jeremiah food and a gift, and let him go.

NoteIn the KJV, "victuals and a reward" means food for the journey and a parting gift. It is not payment for work done.

6Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

6So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah. He lived there with him among the people who were left in the land.

7Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon;

7Some army captains and their men were still out in the countryside. They heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam in charge of the land. Gedaliah was over the men, women, and children who were the poorest people there and had not been taken away to Babylon.

8Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.

8So they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. They were Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite. They came with their men.

9And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.

9Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, made a solemn promise to them and their men. He said, "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Live in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and things will go well for you.

NoteThe KJV says "Chaldeans." That was another name for the people of Babylon.

10As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.

10As for me, I will stay here at Mizpah and speak for you when the Babylonians come to us. You should gather wine grapes, summer fruit, and olive oil. Store them in your jars, and live in the towns you have taken."

11Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;

11Jews living in Moab, in Ammon, in Edom, and in other lands heard the news too. They heard that the king of Babylon had left some of the people of Judah in the land, and had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, over them.

12Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

12So they all came back from every place they had been scattered to. They came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. And they gathered a very large harvest of wine grapes and summer fruit.

13Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,

13Meanwhile Johanan son of Kareah and all the army captains who were still out in the countryside came to Gedaliah at Mizpah.

14And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.

14They said to him, "Do you know that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to kill you?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.

15Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish?

15Then Johanan son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah privately at Mizpah. He said, "Please let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will ever know. Why should he kill you? Then all the Jews who have gathered around you would be scattered, and the few left in Judah would die."

16But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

16But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "You must not do this. What you are saying about Ishmael is not true."