4 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all the exiles who were taken from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 Build yourselves houses there to live in. Plant gardens and grow food to eat. 6 Get married and have children. Arrange for your children to get married so they can have children too. Increase in number, don’t decrease. 7 Help make the city where I’ve exiled you more prosperous. Pray to the Lord for it, since as it prospers, so will you.
10 This is what the Lord says: When the seventy years exile in Babylon is over, I will see to you and keep my promise to bring you back to Jerusalem. 11 I know what I intend to do for you, declares the Lord. I plan good things for you and not bad. I’m going to give you a future and a hope.