"Living Productively in a World Not Your Own "
Mr. Andrew Wescott |
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Jeremiah 29:1-14
1 This is the text of the letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from
Jerusalem to the surviving elders among the exiles and to the priests, the
prophets and all the other people Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile
from Jerusalem to Babylon. 2 (This was after King Jehoiachin and the
queen mother, the court officials and the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem,
the craftsmen and the artisans had gone into exile from Jerusalem.) 3 He
entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of
Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to King Nebuchadnezzar in
Babylon. It said: 4This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel,
says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.
6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give
your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters.
Increase in number there; do not decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and
prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to
the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 8 Yes,
this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let
the prophets and diviners among you deceive you. Do not listen to the
dreams you encourage them to have. 9 They are prophesying lies to you
in my name. I have not sent them,” declares the LORD. 10 This is what
the LORD says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will
come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this
place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans
to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen
to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your
heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you
back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where
I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the
place from which I carried you into exile.”
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