1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all that were carried away captive of Jerusalem and Judah, which were carried away captive unto Babylon.*40.1 chains: or, manicles 2 And the captain of the guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, The LORD thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place. 3 Now the LORD hath brought it, and done according as he hath said: because ye have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you. 4 And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go.*40.4 were…: or, are upon thine hand*40.4 I will…: Heb. I will set mine eye upon thee 5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go. 6 Then went Jeremiah unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah; and dwelt with him among the people that were left in the land.

7 Now when all the captains of the forces which were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that were not carried away captive to Babylon; 8 Then they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men. 9 And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan sware unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you. 10 As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah to serve the Chaldeans, which will come unto us: but ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.*40.10 to serve: Heb. to stand before 11 Likewise when all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the Ammonites, and in Edom, and that were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan; 12 Even all the Jews returned out of all places whither they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits very much.

13 Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah, 14 And said unto him, Dost thou certainly know that Baalis the king of the Ammonites hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to slay thee? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.*40.14 to slay…: Heb. to strike thee in soul? 15 Then Johanan the son of Kareah spake to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man shall know it: wherefore should he slay thee, that all the Jews which are gathered unto thee should be scattered, and the remnant in Judah perish? 16 But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing: for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.

1 DIE woord wat van die Here tot Jeremia gekom het, nadat Nebusarádan, die owerste van die lyfwag, hom vrygelaat het uit Rama deur hom te laat haal, terwyl hy met kettings geboei was onder al die gevangenes van Jerusalem en Juda wat in ballingskap weggevoer sou word na Babel toe.

2 Die owerste van die lyfwag het naamlik Jeremia laat haal en vir hom gesê: Die Here jou God het hierdie onheil oor hierdie plek gespreek,

3 en die Here het dit laat kom en gedoen soos Hy gespreek het, omdat julle gesondig het teen die Here en nie geluister het na sy stem nie; daarom het dit oor julle gekom.

4 Nou dan, kyk, ek ontslaan jou vandag uit die kettings wat aan jou hande is; as dit goed is in jou oë om saam met my na Babel te gaan — kom, en ek sal my oog oor jou hou; maar as dit verkeerd is in jou oë om saam met my na Babel te kom, laat dit staan. Kyk, die hele land lê vir jou oop; waar dit goed en reg is in jou oë om te gaan, gaan daarheen.

5 En toe hy nog nie omgedraai het nie, sê hy: Gaan dan terug na Gedálja, die seun van Ahíkam, die seun van Safan, wat die koning van Babel oor die stede van Juda aangestel het, en woon by hom onder die volk, of gaan waar dit ook al reg is in jou oë om te gaan. Daarop het die owerste van die lyfwag vir hom padkos en 'n geskenk gegee, en hom laat gaan.

6 En Jeremia het by Gedálja, die seun van Ahíkam, in Mispa gekom en by hom gewoon onder die volk wat in die land oorgebly het.

7 Toe al die owerstes van die leërs wat in die veld was, hulle en hulle manskappe, hoor dat die koning van Babel Gedálja, die seun van Ahíkam, oor die land aangestel het en dat hy aan hom manne en vroue en kinders toevertrou het, en van die arm mense van die land, van die wat nie in ballingskap weggevoer is na Babel nie,

8 het hulle na Gedálja gekom in Mispa, naamlik Ismael, die seun van Netánja, en Jóhanan en Jónatan, die seuns van Karéag, en Serája, die seun van Tánhumet, en die seuns van Efai, die Netofatiet, en Jesánja, die seun van die Maägatiet, hulle en hulle manskappe.

9 En Gedálja, die seun van Ahíkam, die seun van Safan, het vir hulle en hulle manskappe gesweer en gesê: Wees nie bevrees om die Chaldeërs te dien nie; bly in die land en dien die koning van Babel; dan sal dit goed met julle gaan.

10 En ek self, kyk, ek woon in Mispa om voor die Chaldeërs te staan wat na ons sal kom. Samel julle dan wyn en somervrugte en olie in en gooi dit in julle bakke, en woon in julle stede wat julle in besit kan neem.

11 En ook al die Jode wat in Moab en onder die kinders van Ammon en in Edom en wat in al die lande was, het gehoor dat die koning van Babel vir Juda 'n oorblyfsel nagelaat het; en dat hy Gedálja, die seun van Ahíkam, die seun van Safan, oor hulle aangestel het;

12 daarom het al die Jode teruggekom uit al die plekke waarheen hulle verdryf was, en in die land Juda na Gedálja gekom, in Mispa; en hulle het groot hoeveelhede wyn en somervrugte ingesamel.

13 Maar Jóhanan, die seun van Karéag, en al die owerstes van die leërs wat in die veld was, het na Gedálja gekom in Mispa

14 en vir hom gesê: Weet u wel dat Báälis, die koning van die kinders van Ammon, Ismael, die seun van Netánja, gestuur het om u dood te slaan? Maar Gedálja, die seun van Ahíkam, het hulle nie geglo nie.

15 Toe het Jóhanan, die seun van Karéag, in die geheim met Gedálja in Mispa gespreek en gesê: Laat my tog gaan en Ismael, die seun van Netánja, verslaan sonder dat iemand dit weet. Waarom sou hy u doodslaan en die hele Juda wat by u versamel is, verstrooi word en die oorblyfsel van Juda tot niet gaan?

16 Maar Gedálja, die seun van Ahíkam, het vir Jóhanan, die seun van Karéag gesê: Doen hierdie ding nie, want jy spreek onwaarheid van Ismael.