1And early in the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, in the fifth month of the fourth year, Hananiah, the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was from Gibeon, spoke to me in the house of the LORD, in the presence of the priests and all the people, saying,
2“The LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, says, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within two full years will I bring all the vessels of the LORD's house back into this place, that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, carried from this place to Babylon.
4And I will bring Jeconiah, son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, back to this place, along with all the captives of Judah, who went into Babylon,’ says the LORD; ‘For I will break the yoke that the king of Babylon put on your necks.’”
5Then the prophet Jeremiah replied to Hananiah, the prophet, in the presence of the priests, and all the people who stood in the house of the LORD,
6“Amen! May the LORD do so! May the LORD do what you have prophesied, to return from Babylon the vessels of the LORD's house, and all that were carried away captive, back to this place.
7Nevertheless, hear now this word that I say to you, and to all the people,
8“The prophets who preceded you and me, spoke against many countries and great kingdoms - of war, disaster, and disease.
9But the prophet who prophesies of peace must prove his prophecy is true: only if what he predicted comes to pass, will it be known that the LORD has truly sent him.”
10Then Hananiah, the prophet, took the yoke from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and broke it.
11And Hananiah said in the presence of all the people, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from the neck of all nations within two full years.’” With that, the prophet Jeremiah went his way.
12After the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of Jeremiah, the prophet, this word of the LORD came to Jeremiah,
13“Go and tell Hananiah, ‘Thus says the LORD, “You have broken the yoke of wood, but in its place you shall get yokes of iron.
14For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, ‘I have put a yoke of iron upon the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon; and they shall serve him. I have put everything – even the beasts of the field – under his control.’”
15Then Jeremiah said to Hananiah, the prophet, “Hear now, Hananiah! The LORD has not sent you; but you have persuaded this people to trust in lies.
16Therefore, this is what the LORD says, ‘Behold, I will remove you from off the face of the earth; this very year you shall die, because you have taught rebellion against the LORD.’”
17So Hananiah, the prophet, died in the seventh month of that same year. Easy Reader Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2023 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |
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