Jeremiah 40

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 the LORD gave to Jeremiah. It came after Nebuzaradan set him free at the town of Ramah. Nebuzaradan was the leader of the king of Babylon's guards. He had found Jeremiah in chains with the other prisoners. All of them were being taken away to Babylon.

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

2The leader of the guards took Jeremiah aside and spoke to him. He said, "The LORD your God said this trouble 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.

3"Now the LORD has done just what he said he would do. Your people sinned against the LORD and did not obey him. That is why this has happened to you."

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.

4"But look, today I am taking the chains off your wrists. If you want to come with me to Babylon, come. I will take good care of you. If you do not want to come, then do not come. The whole land is open to you. Go anywhere that seems good and right to you."

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.

5Jeremiah had not yet turned to go. Nebuzaradan said, "Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, 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 leader of the guards gave Jeremiah food and a gift, and let him go.

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 the town of Mizpah. He lived there with the people who were still 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 leaders and their men were still out in the open country. They heard that the king of Babylon had put Gedaliah in charge of the land. Gedaliah was to care for the men, women, and children left behind. These were the poorest people, who 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, and Johanan and Jonathan, the sons of Kareah. Seraiah son of Tanhumeth came too. So did the sons of Ephai from Netophah, and Jezaniah son of the Maacathite. Their men came with them.

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 made a promise to them and their men. He said, "Do not be afraid to serve the Chaldeans, the people of Babylon. Live here in the land and serve the king of Babylon. Then things will go well for you."

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.

10"As for me, I will stay here in Mizpah. I will speak for you to the men from Babylon who come to us. You should gather grapes, summer fruit, and olive oil. Put them in your jars. Live in the towns you have taken."

Note"Gather ye wine" means gather grapes, the fruit that wine is made from. The KJV names the drink instead of the fruit.

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;

11Some Jews were living in Moab, Ammon, Edom, and other lands. They heard that the king of Babylon had left some people alive in Judah. They also heard that he had put Gedaliah son of Ahikam in charge of 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 the places where they had been sent. They came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah. There they gathered a very large amount of 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,

13Then Johanan son of Kareah came to Gedaliah at Mizpah. The other army leaders from the open country came with him.

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 what Baalis, the king of Ammon, has done? He 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 alone at Mizpah. He said, "Please let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah. No one will know who did it. Why should he kill you? Then all the Jews who came to you would be scattered. The few people 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, "Do not do this. What you are saying about Ishmael is not true."