Jeremiah 29:1-13

This is the open letter that the prophet Jeremiah sent from Jerusalem to the rest of the elders in exile, to the priests, the prophets, and all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had deported from Jerusalem to Babylon. (Among the exiles were King Jeconiah, Nehushta the queen mother, the high-ranking officials, the leading men of Judah and Jerusalem, and the craftsmen and metalworkers.) Jeremiah entrusted the letter to Elasah son of Shaphan and to Gemariah son of Hilkiah, whom Zedekiah king of Judah had sent to Babylon, to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. The letter read as follows: YAHWEH, the God of Israel, Commander of Angel Armies, says to all the exiles deported from Jerusalem to Babylon: “Build houses and settle in the land. Plant gardens and eat their produce. Get married and have children; encourage your sons and daughters to get married and raise families. Flourish in your captivity, for you must increase and not decrease. Work for the good of the city to which I have exiled you. And pray to YAHWEH, asking for a blessing on your city since your peace depends on its peace.” For YAHWEH, the God of Israel, Commander of Angel Armies, says: “Do not be deceived by the false prophets in your midst or by those who presume to know the future. Pay no attention to their dreams, for,” YAHWEH declares, “they prophesy lies to you in my name, and I have not sent them. I say to you: After Babylon has ruled over you for seventy years, I will show compassion to you and will fulfill my promise of giving you good things, and I will bring you back to your land.” Here’s what YAHWEH says to you: “I know all about the marvelous destiny I have in store for you, a future planned out in detail. My intention is not to harm you but to surround you with peace and prosperity and to give you a beautiful future, glistening with hope. When you call on me and come to me in prayer, I will listen to your every word. If you reach out to me, you will find me when you search for me with all your heart.