1
The word[H1697] that came to Jeremiah[H3414] from the LORD[H3068], after[H310] that Nebuzaradan[H5018] the captain[H7227] of the guard[H2876] had let him go[H7971] from Ramah[H7414], when he had taken[H3947] him being bound[H631] in chains[H246]among[H8432] all that were carried away captive[H1546] of Jerusalem[H3389] and Judah[H3063], which were carried away captive[H1540] unto Babylon[H894].
2
And the captain[H7227] of the guard[H2876]took[H3947]Jeremiah[H3414], and said[H559] unto him, The LORD[H3068] thy God[H430] hath pronounced[H1696] this evil[H7451] upon this place[H4725].
3
Now the LORD[H3068] hath brought[H935] it, and done[H6213] according as he hath said[H1696]: because ye have sinned[H2398] against the LORD[H3068], and have not obeyed[H8085] his voice[H6963], therefore this thing[H1697] is come upon you.
4
And now, behold[H7200], I loose[H6605] thee this day[H3117] from the chains[H246] which were upon thine hand[H3027]. If it seem good[H2896] unto thee to come[H935] with me into Babylon[H894], come[H935]; and I will look well[H7760] unto thee: but if it seem ill[H7489] unto thee to come[H935] with me into Babylon[H894], forbear[H2308]: behold[H7200], all the land[H776] is before[H6440] thee: whither it seemeth[H413]good[H5869] and convenient[H3477] for thee to go[H3212], thither go[H3212].
5
Now while he was not yet gone back[H7725], he said, Go[H3212]back[H7725] also to Gedaliah[H1436] the son[H1121] of Ahikam[H296] the son[H1121] of Shaphan[H8227], whom the king[H4428] of Babylon[H894] hath made governor[H6485] over the cities[H5892] of Judah[H3063], and dwell[H3427] with him among[H8432] the people[H5971]: or go[H7971] wheresoever it seemeth convenient[H3477] unto thee to go[H7971]. So the captain[H7227] of the guard[H2876]gave[H5414] him victuals[H737] and a reward[H4864], and let him go[H7971].
6
Then went[H935]Jeremiah[H3414] unto Gedaliah[H1436] the son[H1121] of Ahikam[H296] to Mizpah[H4708]; and dwelt[H3427] with him among[H8432] the people[H5971] that were left[H7604] in the land[H776].
7
Now when all the captains[H8269] of the forces[H2428] which were in the fields[H7704], even they and their men[H582], heard[H8085] that the king[H4428] of Babylon[H894] had made Gedaliah[H1436] the son[H1121] of Ahikam[H296]governor[H6485] in the land[H776], and had committed[H6485] unto him men[H582], and women[H802], and children[H2945], and of the poor[H1803] of the land[H776], of them that were not carried away captive[H1540] to Babylon[H894];
8
Then they came[H935] to Gedaliah[H1436] to Mizpah[H4708], even Ishmael[H3458] the son[H1121] of Nethaniah[H5418], and Johanan[H3110] and Jonathan[H3129] the sons[H1121] of Kareah[H7143], and Seraiah[H8304] the son[H1121] of Tanhumeth[H8576], and the sons[H1121] of Ephai[H5778] the Netophathite[H5200], and Jezaniah[H3153] the son[H1121] of a Maachathite[H4602], they and their men[H582].
9
And Gedaliah[H1436] the son[H1121] of Ahikam[H296] the son[H1121] of Shaphan[H8227]sware[H7650] unto them and to their men[H582], saying[H559], Fear[H3372] not to serve[H5647] the Chaldeans[H3778]: dwell in[H3427] the land[H776], and serve[H5647] the king[H4428] of Babylon[H894], and it shall be well[H3190] with you.
10
As for me, behold, I will dwell[H3427] at Mizpah[H4709] to serve[H5975] the Chaldeans[H3778], which will come[H935] unto us: but ye, gather[H622] ye wine[H3196], and summer fruits[H7019], and oil[H8081], and put[H7760] them in your vessels[H3627], and dwell[H3427] in your cities[H5892] that ye have taken[H8610].
11
Likewise when all the Jews[H3064] that were in Moab[H4124], and among the Ammonites[H5983], and in Edom[H123], and that were in all the countries[H776], heard[H8085] that the king[H4428] of Babylon[H894] had left[H5414] a remnant[H7611] of Judah[H3063], and that he had set[H6485] over them Gedaliah[H1436] the son[H1121] of Ahikam[H296] the son[H1121] of Shaphan[H8227];
12
Even all the Jews[H3064] returned out[H7725] of all places[H4725] whither they were driven[H5080], and came[H935] to the land[H776] of Judah[H3063], to Gedaliah[H1436], unto Mizpah[H4708], and gathered[H622]wine[H3196] and summer fruits[H7019]very[H3966]much[H7235].
13
Moreover Johanan[H3110] the son[H1121] of Kareah[H7143], and all the captains[H8269] of the forces[H2428] that were in the fields[H7704], came[H935] to Gedaliah[H1436] to Mizpah[H4708],
14
And said[H559] unto him, Dost thou certainly[H3045]know[H3045] that Baalis[H1185] the king[H4428] of the Ammonites[H1121] hath sent[H7971]Ishmael[H3458] the son[H1121] of Nethaniah[H5418] to slay[H5221] thee? But Gedaliah[H1436] the son[H1121] of Ahikam[H296]believed[H539] them not.
15
Then Johanan[H3110] the son[H1121] of Kareah[H7143]spake[H559] to Gedaliah[H1436] in Mizpah[H4709]secretly[H5643], saying[H559], Let me go[H3212], I pray thee, and I will slay[H5221]Ishmael[H3458] the son[H1121] of Nethaniah[H5418], and no man[H376] shall know[H3045] it: wherefore should he slay[H5315] thee, that all the Jews[H3064] which are gathered[H6908] unto thee should be scattered[H6327], and the remnant[H7611] in Judah[H3063]perish?[H6]
16
But Gedaliah[H1436] the son[H1121] of Ahikam[H296]said[H559] unto Johanan[H3110] the son[H1121] of Kareah[H7143], Thou shalt not do[H6213] this thing[H1697]: for thou speakest[H1696]falsely[H8267] of Ishmael[H3458].