1 The word1697 that came1961 to Jeremiah3414 from the LORD,3068 after310 that Nebuzaradan5018 the captain7227 of the guard2876 had let him go7971 from Ramah,7414 when he had taken3947 him being bound631 in chains246 among8432 all3605 that were carried1546 away captive1546 of Jerusalem3389 and Judah,3063 which were carried1540 away captive1540 to Babylon.894

2 And the captain7227 of the guard2876 took3947 Jeremiah,3414 and said559 to him, The LORD3068 your God430 has pronounced1696 this2063 evil7451 on this2088 place.4725

3 Now the LORD3068 has brought935 it, and done6213 according as he has said:1696 because3588 you have sinned2398 against the LORD,3068 and have not obeyed8085 his voice,6963 therefore this2088 thing1697 is come1961 on you.

4 And now,6258 behold,2009 I loose6605 you this day3117 from the chains246 which834 were on your hand.3027 If518 it seem5869 good2896 to you to come935 with me into Babylon,894 come;935 and I will look7760 well to you: but if518 it seem5869 ill7489 to you to come935 with me into Babylon,894 forbear:2308 behold,7200 all3605 the land776 is before6440 you: where413 it seems5869 good2896 and convenient3477 for you to go,3212 thither8033 go.3212

5 Now while he was not yet5750 gone7725 back,7725 he said, Go7725 back7725 also to Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 the son1121 of Shaphan,8227 whom834 the king4428 of Babylon894 has made governor6485 over the cities5892 of Judah,3063 and dwell3427 with him among8432 the people:5971 or176 go3212 wherever413 3605 it seems5869 convenient3477 to you to go.3212 So the captain7227 of the guard2876 gave5414 him victuals737 and a reward,4864 and let him go.7971

6 Then went935 Jeremiah3414 to Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 to Mizpah;4708 and dwelled3427 with him among8432 the people5971 that were left7604 in the land.776

7 Now when all3605 the captains8269 of the forces2428 which834 were in the fields,7704 even they and their men,582 heard8085 that the king4428 of Babylon894 had made Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 governor6485 in the land,776 and had committed6485 to him men,582 and women,802 and children,2945 and of the poor1803 of the land,776 of them that were not carried1540 away captive1540 to Babylon;894

8 Then they came935 to Gedaliah1436 to Mizpah,4708 even Ishmael3458 the son1121 of Nethaniah,5418 and Johanan3110 and Jonathan3129 the sons1121 of Kareah,7143 and Seraiah8304 the son1121 of Tanhumeth,8576 and the sons1121 of Ephai5778 the Netophathite,5200 and Jezaniah3153 the son1121 of a Maachathite,4602 they and their men.582

9 And Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 the son1121 of Shaphan8227 swore7650 to them and to their men,582 saying,559 Fear3372 not to serve5647 the Chaldeans:3778 dwell3427 in the land,776 and serve5647 the king4428 of Babylon,894 and it shall be well3190 with you.

10 As for me, behold,2005 I will dwell3427 at Mizpah,4708 to serve5975 6440 the Chaldeans,3778 which834 will come935 to us: but you, gather622 you wine,3196 and summer7019 fruits, and oil,8081 and put7760 them in your vessels,3627 and dwell3427 in your cities5892 that you have taken.8610

11 Likewise1571 when all3605 the Jews3064 that were in Moab,4124 and among the Ammonites,5984 and in Edom,123 and that were in all3605 the countries,776 heard8085 that the king4428 of Babylon894 had left5414 a remnant7611 of Judah,3063 and that he had set6485 over5921 them Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 the son1121 of Shaphan;8227

12 Even all3605 the Jews3064 returned7725 out of all3605 places4725 where834 8033 they were driven,5080 and came935 to the land776 of Judah,3063 to Gedaliah,1436 to Mizpah,4708 and gathered622 wine3196 and summer7019 fruits very3966 much.3966

13 Moreover Johanan3110 the son1121 of Kareah,7143 and all3605 the captains8269 of the forces2428 that were in the fields,7704 came935 to Gedaliah1436 to Mizpah,4708

14 And said559 to him, Do you certainly know3045 that Baalis1185 the king4428 of the Ammonites5984 has sent7971 Ishmael3458 the son1121 of Nethaniah5418 to slay5221 5315 you? But Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 believed539 them not.

15 Then Johanan3110 the son1121 of Kareah7143 spoke559 to Gedaliah1436 in Mizpah4709 secretly 5643saying,559 Let me go,3212 I pray you, and I will slay5221 Ishmael3458 the son1121 of Nethaniah,5418 and no3808 man376 shall know3045 it: why4100 should he slay5221 you, that all3605 the Jews3064 which are gathered6908 to you should be scattered,6327 and the remnant7611 in Judah3063 perish?6

16 But Gedaliah1436 the son1121 of Ahikam296 said559 to Johanan3110 the son1121 of Kareah,7143 You shall not do6213 this2088 thing:1697 for you speak1696 falsely8267 of Ishmael.3458