Study Desk

Then the leaders and all the people said to the religious leaders and men of God, "No, this man should not be put to death! For he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God."

Did King Hezekiah of Judah and all the people of Judah put him to death? Did he not fear the Lord and pray for the Lord's favor? And the Lord changed His mind about the trouble He had said would come to them. But we are about to bring a very bad thing on ourselves."

The Lord said to me, "Make ropes and a cross-bar for carrying a load, and put them on your neck.

All the nations will serve him and his son and his grandson, until the time for his land comes. Then many nations and great kings will make him their servant.

Do not listen to the men who tell of their dreams and say to you, ‘You will not serve the king of Babylon.' For they are telling you a lie.

Then I said to the religious leaders and to all these people, "The Lord says: Do not listen to the men who speak in God's name saying, ‘See, the objects of the Lord's house will soon be returned from Babylon,' for they are telling you a lie.

For this is what the Lord of All says about the pillars, the brass pool, the stands, and the rest of the objects that are left in this city.

I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and all the people of Judah who were taken to Babylon,' says the Lord. ‘For I will break the cross-bar of the king of Babylon.'"

And Jeremiah, the man who spoke for God, said, "Let it be so! May the Lord do so. May the Lord make the words you have spoken come true, and bring back to this place from Babylon the objects of the Lord's house and all the people of Judah.

The men who spoke for God before us from long ago spoke of war and trouble and disease coming to many lands and great nations.

As for the man who told that peace would come, when his word comes to pass, then that man will be known as the one that the Lord has sent."

For the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, "I have put the cross-bar of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. And they will serve him. I have given him the animals of the field also."'"

Then Jeremiah who spoke for God said to Hananiah who told what would happen, "Listen, Hananiah, the Lord has not sent you. And you have made these people trust in a lie.

Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters. And take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may give birth to sons and daughters. Become many there, and do not let your number become less.

Work for the well-being of the city where I have sent you to and pray to the Lord for this. For if it is well with the city you live in, it will be well with you.'

For the Lord of All, the God of Israel, says, ‘Do not let the people among you who tell what is going to happen in the future and those who use their secret ways fool you. Do not listen to their dreams.

For they speak false words to you in My name. I have not sent them,' says the Lord.

"For the Lord says, ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My promise to you. I will bring you back to this place.

For I know the plans I have for you,' says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.

You will look for Me and find Me, when you look for Me with all your heart.