I will make them like rotten figs, so spoiled that they cannot be eaten.ġ8I will pursue them with sword, famine, and pestilence, and make them an object of horror to all the kingdoms of the earth, a curse, a desolation, a hissing, and a reproach to all the nations among which I have banished them, h 19because they did not listen to my words-oracle of the L ORD-even though I kept sending them my servants the prophets, but they would not listen to them-oracle of the L ORD. g 15As for your saying, “The L ORD has raised up for us prophets here in Babylon”-ġ6Thus says the L ORD concerning the king sitting on David’s throne and all the people living in this city, your kinsmen who did not go with you into exile ġ7thus says the L ORD of hosts: I am sending against them sword, famine, and pestilence. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart,ġ4I will let you find me-oracle of the L ORD-and I will change your lot I will gather you together from all the nations and all the places to which I have banished you-oracle of the L ORD-and bring you back to the place from which I have exiled you. f 13When you look for me, you will find me. e 11For I know well the plans I have in mind for you-oracle of the L ORD-plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.ġ2When you call me, and come and pray to me, I will listen to you. dġ0For thus says the L ORD: Only after seventy years have elapsed for Babylon will I deal with you and fulfill for you my promise to bring you back to this place. b 8For thus says the L ORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners who are among you do not listen to those among you who dream dreams, c 9for they prophesy lies to you in my name I did not send them-oracle of the L ORD. Increase there do not decrease.ħSeek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you pray for it to the L ORD, for upon its welfare your own depends. a 3Delivered in Babylon by Elasah, * son of Shaphan, and by Gemariah, son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah, king of Judah, sent to the king of Babylon, the letter read:ĤThus says the L ORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon:ĥBuild houses and live in them plant gardens and eat their fruits.ĦTake wives and have sons and daughters find wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters. 1These are the words of the scroll which Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the remaining elders among the exiles, to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon.ĢThis was after King Jeconiah and the queen mother, the court officials, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the artisans and smiths had left Jerusalem. Isaiah 54:10 gives a glimpse of the peace and completeness we have in the shalom of God, ‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of shalom shall not be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” Shalom is a descriptor of what God is going to provide for humanity as he redeems the world.Letter to the Exiles in Babylon. The word shalom encapsulates the sum of humanity’s restoration before God. It means wholeness, health, peace, prosperity, and contentment. Welfare is not a bad translation, but it’s hard to capture that Hebrew word in English. It appears 237x in the OT, 31x in Jeremiah, 3x in 29:7 and 1x in 29:11. The word shalom, which is translated as welfare in these verses and sometimes as “good” or “plans to prosper you” in 29:11 is a huge OT word. Jeremiah tells them to get comfortable, to pray for the shalom of the city, and to seek its welfare. First, the exile will not end until they have spent 70 years in Babylon. It runs from 29:4-23 and contains some important information.

Bible jeremiah 29 11