1 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan commander of the imperial guard had released him at Ramah. He had found Jeremiah bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being carried into exile to Babylon.2 When the commander of the guard found Jeremiah, he said to him, "The LORD your God decreed this disaster for this place.3 And now the LORD has brought it about; he has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the LORD and did not obey him.4 But today I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you; but if you do not want to, then don't come. Look, the whole country lies before you; go wherever you please."5 However, before Jeremiah turned to go, "Nebuzaradan added, "Go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the towns of Judah, and live with him among the people, or go anywhere else you please." Then the commander gave him provisions and a present and let him go.6 So Jeremiah went to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah and stayed with him among the people who were left behind in the land.7 When all the army officers and their men who were still in the open country heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor over the land and had put him in charge of the men, women and children who were the poorest in the land and who had not been carried into exile to Babylon,8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah —Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jaazaniah "the son of the Maakathite, and their men.9 Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, took an oath to reassure them and their men. "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians, "" he said. "Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.10 I myself will stay at Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us, but you are to harvest the wine, summer fruit and olive oil, and put them in your storage jars, and live in the towns you have taken over."11 When all the Jews in Moab, Ammon, Edom and all the other countries heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, as governor over them,12 they all came back to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah at Mizpah, from all the countries where they had been scattered. And they harvested an abundance of wine and summer fruit.13 Johanan son of Kareah and all the army officers still in the open country came to Gedaliah at Mizpah14 and said to him, "Don't you know that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to take your life?" But Gedaliah son of Ahikam did not believe them.15 Then Johanan son of Kareah said privately to Gedaliah in Mizpah, "Let me go and kill Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who are gathered around you to be scattered and the remnant of Judah to perish?"16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam said to Johanan son of Kareah, "Don't do such a thing! What you are saying about Ishmael is not true."

1 Sermo qui factus est ad Jeremiam a Domino, postquam dimissus est a Nabuzardan magistro militi de Rama, quando tulit eum vinctum catenis in medio omnium qui migrabant de Jerusalem et Juda, et ducebantur in Babylonem. 2 Tollens ergo princeps militi Jeremiam, dixit ad eum : Dominus Deus tuus locutus est malum hoc super locum istum : 3 et adduxit, et fecit Dominus sicut locutus est, quia peccastis Domino, et non audistis vocem ejus : et factus est vobis sermo hic. 4 Nunc ergo ecce solvi te hodie de catenis qu sunt in manibus tuis : si placet tibi ut venias mecum in Babylonem, veni, et ponam oculos meos super te : si autem displicet tibi venire mecum in Babylonem, reside : ecce omnis terra in conspectu tuo est : quod elegeris, et quo placuerit tibi ut vadas, illuc perge : 5 et mecum noli venire, sed habita apud Godoliam filium Ahicam filii Saphan, quem prposuit rex Babylonis civitatibus Juda : habita ergo cum eo in medio populi : vel quocumque placuerit tibi ut vadas, vade. Dedit quoque ei magister militi cibaria, et munuscula, et dimisit eum. 6 Venit autem Jeremias ad Godoliam filium Ahicam in Masphath, et habitavit cum eo in medio populi qui relictus fuerat in terra. 7 Cumque audissent omnes principes exercitus, qui dispersi fuerant per regiones, ipsi et socii eorum, quod prfecisset rex Babylonis Godoliam filium Ahicam terr, et quod commendasset ei viros, et mulieres, et parvulos, et de pauperibus terr, qui non fuerant translati in Babylonem, 8 venerunt ad Godoliam in Masphath, et Ismahel filius Nathani, et Johanan et Jonathan filii Caree, et Sareas filius Thanehumeth, et filii Ophi, qui erant de Netophathi, et Jezonias filius Maachathi, ipse et viri eorum. 9 Et juravit eis Godolias filius Ahicam filii Saphan, et comitibus eorum, dicens : Nolite timere servire Chaldis : habitate in terra, et servite regi Babylonis, et bene erit vobis. 10 Ecce ego habito in Masphath, ut respondeam prcepto Chaldorum qui mittuntur ad nos : vos autem colligite vindemiam, et messem, et oleum, et condite in vasis vestris, et manete in urbibus vestris, quas tenetis. 11 Sed et omnes Judi qui erant in Moab, et in filiis Ammon, et in Iduma, et in universis regionibus, audito quod dedisset rex Babylonis reliquias in Juda, et quod prposuisset super eos Godoliam filium Ahicam filii Saphan, 12 reversi sunt, inquam, omnes Judi de universis locis ad qu profugerant, et venerunt in terram Juda ad Godoliam in Masphath, et collegerunt vinum et messam multam nimis.13 Johanan autem filius Caree, et omnes principes exercitus, qui dispersi fuerant in regionibus, venerunt ad Godoliam in Masphath, 14 et dixerunt ei : Scito quod Baalis, rex filiorum Ammon, misit Ismahel filium Nathani percutere animam tuam. Et non credidit eis Godolias filius Ahicam. 15 Johanan autem filius Caree dixit ad Godoliam seorsum in Masphath, loquens : Ibo, et percutiam Ismahel filium Nathani, nullo sciente, ne interficiat animam tuam, et dissipentur omnes Judi qui congregati sunt ad te, et peribunt reliqui Juda. 16 Et ait Godolias filius Ahicam ad Johanan filium Caree : Noli facere verbum hoc : falsum enim tu loqueris de Ismahel.