Jeremiah 40

1The wordH1697 which came to JeremiahH3414 from Jehovah, after that NebuzaradanH5018 the captain of the guard had let him goH7971 from RamahH7414, when he had takenH3947 him being boundH631 in chainsH246 among all the captives of JerusalemH3389 and JudahH3063, that were carried awayH7971 captive unto BabylonH894. 2And the captain of the guard tookH3947 JeremiahH3414, and saidH559 unto him, Jehovah thy GodH430 pronounced this evilH7451 upon this placeH4725; 3and Jehovah hath broughtH935 it, and done according as he spake: because ye have sinnedH2398 against Jehovah, and have not obeyed his voiceH6963, therefore this thingH1697 is comeH935 upon you. 4And nowH6258, behold, I loose thee this dayH3117 from the chainsH246 which are upon thy handH3027. If it seem goodH2896 unto thee to comeH935 with me into BabylonH894, comeH935, and I will look well unto thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to comeH935 with me into BabylonH894, forbear: behold, all the landH776 is before thee; whither it seemeth goodH2896 and rightH3477 unto thee to goH935, thither goH935. 5Now while he was not yetH5750 goneH7725 backH7725, GoH7971 backH7725 then, said he, to GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227, whom the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 hath madeH5414 governor over the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063, and dwellH3427 with him among the peopleH5971; or goH7971 wheresoever it seemeth rightH3477 unto thee to goH7971. So the captain of the guard gaveH5414 him victuals and a present, and let him goH7971. 6Then wentH935 JeremiahH3414 unto GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 to MizpahH4708, and dweltH3427 with him among the peopleH5971 that were leftH7604 in the landH776.

7Now when all the captains of the forces that were in the fieldsH7704, even they and their menH376, heardH8085 that the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had made GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 governor in the landH776, and had committed unto him menH376, and womenH802, and children, and of the poorest of the landH776, of them that were not carried away captive to BabylonH894; 8then they cameH935 to GedaliahH1436 to MizpahH4708, to wit, IshmaelH3458 the sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418, and JohananH3110 and JonathanH3129 the sonsH1121 of KareahH7143, and SeraiahH8304 the sonH1121 of TanhumethH8576, and the sonsH1121 of Ephai the NetophathiteH5200, and Jezaniah the sonH1121 of the MaacathiteH4602, they and their menH376. 9And GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227 sware unto them and to their menH376, sayingH559, FearH3372 not to serveH5647 the ChaldeansH3778: dwellH3427 in the landH776, and serveH5647 the kingH4428 of BabylonH894, and it shall be wellH3190 with you. 10As for me, behold, I will dwellH3427 at MizpahH4709, to standH5975 before the ChaldeansH3778 that shall comeH935 unto us: but ye, gatherH622 ye wineH3196 and summerH7019 fruits and oilH8081, and putH7760 them in your vesselsH3627, and dwellH3427 in your citiesH5892 that ye have taken. 11Likewise when all the JewsH3064 that were in MoabH4124, and among the children of AmmonH5983, and in EdomH123, and that were in all the countries, heardH8085 that the kingH4428 of BabylonH894 had left a remnantH7611 of JudahH3063, and that he had setH5414 over them GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296, the sonH1121 of ShaphanH8227; 12then all the JewsH3064 returnedH7725 out of all placesH4725 whither they were drivenH5080, and cameH935 to the landH776 of JudahH3063, to GedaliahH1436, unto MizpahH4708, and gatheredH622 wineH3196 and summerH7019 fruits veryH3966 muchH7235.

13Moreover JohananH3110 the sonH1121 of KareahH7143, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fieldsH7704, cameH935 to GedaliahH1436 to MizpahH4708, 14and saidH559 unto him, Dost thou knowH3045 that Baalis the kingH4428 of the children of AmmonH5983 hath sentH7971 IshmaelH3458 the sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418 to take thy lifeH5315? But GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 believedH539 them not. 15Then JohananH3110 the sonH1121 of KareahH7143 spake to GedaliahH1436 in MizpahH4709 secretly, sayingH559, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will slay IshmaelH3458 the sonH1121 of NethaniahH5418, and no manH376 shall knowH3045 it: wherefore should he take thy lifeH5315, that all the Jews that are gatheredH6908 unto thee should be scatteredH6327, and the remnantH7611 of JudahH3063 perishH6? 16But GedaliahH1436 the sonH1121 of AhikamH296 saidH559 unto JohananH3110 the sonH1121 of KareahH7143, Thou shalt not do this thingH1697; for thou speakest falsely of IshmaelH3458.