Jeremiah 29:1-13 ▼

1 And these are the words of the book which Jeremias sent from Jerusalem to the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, and to the false prophets, even an epistle to Babylon for the captivity, and to all the people;

2 (after the departure of Jechonias the king and the queen, and the eunuchs, and every freeman, and bondman, and artificer, out of Jerusalem;)

3 by the hand of Eleasan son of Saphan, and Gamarias son of Chelcias, (whom Sedekias king of Juda sent to the king of Babylon to Babylon) saying,

4 Thus said the Lord God of Israel concerning the captivity which I caused to be carried away from Jerusalem;

5 Build ye houses, and inhabit them ; and plant gardens, and eat the fruits thereof;

6 and take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, and be multiplied, and be not diminished.

7 And seek the peace of the land into which I have carried you captive, and ye shall pray to the Lord for the people: for in its peace ye shall have peace.

8 For thus saith the Lord; Let not the false prophets that are among you persuade you, and let not your diviners persuade you, and hearken not to your dreams which ye dream.

9 For they prophesy to you unrighteous words in my name; and I sent them not.

10 For thus said the Lord; When seventy years shall be on the point of being accomplished at Babylon, I will visit you, and will confirm my words to you, to bring back your people to this place.

11 And I will devise for you a device of peace, and not evil, to bestow upon you these good things .

12 And do ye pray to me, and I will hearken to you: and do ye earnestly seek me, and ye shall find me;

13 for ye shall seek me with your whole heart.