Jeremiah 28:5-17

5Jeremiah replied to Hananiah, the prophet, in the Lord's temple. The priests and all the people who were standing there could hear him.

6The prophet Jeremiah said, ‘Amen! I agree! I pray that the Lord would do that! I pray that what you have prophesied really happens. May the Lord bring back from Babylon all the valuable things that belong in his temple. May he bring back all the people that King Nebuchadnezzar took to Babylon as prisoners.

7But listen to what I say to you, and to all the people here.

8From long ago, there have been prophets, before you and I became prophets. They often prophesied that war, famine and disease would bring great trouble to many countries and kingdoms.

9But it is different if a prophet says that people will live safely in peace. We would only agree that the Lord has really sent him if his message becomes true.’

10Then the prophet Hananiah removed the yoke from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah. He broke it into pieces.

11He said in front of all the people, ‘The Lord says, “That shows how I will break the yoke of King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. He has put his yoke around the necks of all the nations. In less than two years I will break his yoke and I will remove it from their necks.” ’ After Hananiah said that, the prophet Jeremiah went away from the temple.

12Soon after Hananiah had broken the yoke that was on Jeremiah's neck, the Lord spoke again to Jeremiah.

13He said, ‘Go to Hananiah and tell him that the Lord says, “It is true that you have broken a wooden yoke. But instead of that you will get a yoke that is made from iron!

14Yes, the Lord Almighty, Israel's God, says this: I have put an iron yoke around the necks of all those nations. They will have to serve King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as his slaves. Everything will be under his power, even the wild animals.” ’

15Then Jeremiah said to Hananiah, ‘Listen to me, Hananiah! The Lord has not sent you as his prophet. You have spoken lies to these people and they have believed you.

16So the Lord says to you, “I will remove you from this earth. You have taught people to turn against me, the Lord. You will certainly die this year.” ’

17In the seventh month of that same year, the prophet Hananiah died.