Jeremiah 29:1-14

And these [are] words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the remnant of the elders of the removal, and unto the priests, and unto the prophets, and unto all the people — whom Nebuchadnezzar removed from Jerusalem to Babylon, After the going forth of Jeconiah the king, and the mistress, and the officers, heads of Judah and Jerusalem, and the artificer, and the smith, from Jerusalem — By the hand of Eleasah son of Shaphan, and Gemariah son of Hilkijah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon — to Babylon, saying, ‘Thus said JEHOVAH of Hosts, God of Israel, to all the removal that I removed from Jerusalem to Babylon, Build ye houses, and abide; and plant ye gardens, and eat their fruit; Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take for your sons wives, and your daughters give to husbands, and they bear sons and daughters; and multiply there, and ye are not few; And seek the peace of the city whither I have removed you, and pray for it unto JEHOVAH, for in its peace ye have peace. ‘For thus said JEHOVAH of Hosts, God of Israel, Let not your prophets who [are] in your midst, and your diviners, lift you up, nor hearken ye unto their dreams, that ye are causing [them] to dream; For with falsehood they are prophesying to you in My name; I have not sent them, an affirmation of JEHOVAH. ‘For thus said JEHOVAH, Surely at the fulness of Babylon — seventy years — I inspect you, and have established towards you My good word, to bring you back unto this place. For I have known the thoughts that I am thinking towards you — an affirmation of JEHOVAH; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give to you posterity and hope. ‘And ye have called Me, and have gone, and have prayed unto Me, and I have hearkened unto you, And ye have sought Me, and have found, for ye seek Me with all your heart; And I have been found of you — an affirmation of JEHOVAH; and I have turned back [to] your captivity, and have gathered you out of all the nations, and out of all the places whither I have driven you — an affirmation of JEHOVAH — and I have brought you back unto the place whence I removed you.