False Prophets and Genuine Hope in Crisis

1. That same year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah the son of Azzur, the prophet, who was of Gibeon, spoke to me in Yahweh’s house, in the presence of the priests and of all the people, saying, 2. “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. 3. Within two full years will I bring again into this place all the vessels of Yahweh’s house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried to Babylon. 4. I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, who went to Babylon,’ says Yahweh; ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’” 5. Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests, and in the presence of all the people who stood in Yahweh’s house, 6. even the prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May Yahweh do so. May Yahweh perform your words which you have prophesied, to bring again the vessels of Yahweh’s house, and all those who are captives, from Babylon to this place. 7. Nevertheless listen now to this word that I speak in your ears, and in the ears of all the people: 8. The prophets who have been before me and before you of old prophesied against many countries, and against great kingdoms, of war, of evil, and of pestilence. 9. The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet happens, then the prophet will be known, that Yahweh has truly sent him.” 10. Then Hananiah the prophet took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah’s neck, and broke it. 11. Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Yahweh says: ‘Even so I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from off the neck of all the nations within two full years.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah went his way. 12. Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, after Hananiah the prophet had broken the bar from off the neck of the prophet Jeremiah, saying, 13. “Go, and tell Hananiah, saying, ‘Yahweh says, “You have broken the bars of wood, but you have made in their place bars of iron.” 14. For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says, “I have put a yoke of iron on the neck of all these nations, that they may serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and they will serve him. I have also given him the animals of the field.”’” 15. Then the prophet Jeremiah said to Hananiah the prophet, “Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh has not sent you, but you make this people trust in a lie. 16. Therefore Yahweh says, ‘Behold, I will send you away from off the surface of the earth. This year you will die, because you have spoken rebellion against Yahweh.’” 17. So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month. 1. Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the residue of the elders of the captivity, and to the priests, to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon, 2. (after Jeconiah the king, the queen mother, the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, the craftsmen, and the smiths, had departed from Jerusalem), 3. by the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent to Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon). It said: 4. Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives whom I have caused to be carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon: 5. “Build houses and dwell in them. Plant gardens and eat their fruit. 6. Take wives and father sons and daughters. Take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters. Multiply there, and don’t be diminished. 7. Seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to Yahweh for it; for in its peace you will have peace.” 8. For Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel says: “Don’t let your prophets who are among you and your diviners deceive you. Don’t listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. 9. For they prophesy falsely to you in my name. I have not sent them,” says Yahweh. 10. For Yahweh says, “After seventy years are accomplished for Babylon, I will visit you and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place. 11. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says Yahweh, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future. 12. You shall call on me, and you shall go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13. You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart. 14. I will be found by you,” says Yahweh, “and I will turn again your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places where I have driven you, says Yahweh. I will bring you again to the place from where I caused you to be carried away captive.” 15. Because you have said, “Yahweh has raised us up prophets in Babylon;” 16. Yahweh says concerning the king who sits on David’s throne, and concerning all the people who dwell in this city, your brothers who haven’t gone with you into captivity; 17. Yahweh of Armies says: “Behold, I will send on them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like rotten figs that can’t be eaten, they are so bad. 18. I will pursue after them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be tossed back and forth among all the kingdoms of the earth, to be an object of horror, an astonishment, a hissing, and a reproach among all the nations where I have driven them, 19. because they have not listened to my words,” says Yahweh, “with which I sent to them my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but you would not hear,” says Yahweh. 20. Hear therefore Yahweh’s word, all you captives, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon. 21. Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name: “Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he will kill them before your eyes. 22. A curse will be taken up about them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘Yahweh make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;’ 23. because they have done foolish things in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbors’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I didn’t command them. I am he who knows, and am witness,” says Yahweh. 24. Concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying, 25. “Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying, 26. “Yahweh has made you priest in the place of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in Yahweh’s house, for every man who is crazy, and makes himself a prophet, that you should put him in the stocks and in shackles. 27. Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself a prophet to you, 28. because he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, The captivity is long. Build houses, and dwell in them. Plant gardens, and eat their fruit?”’” 29. Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet. 30. Then Yahweh’s word came to Jeremiah, saying, 31. “Send to all of the captives, saying, ‘Yahweh says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I didn’t send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie;” 32. therefore Yahweh says, “Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his offspring. He will not have a man to dwell among this people. He won’t see the good that I will do to my people,” says Yahweh, “because he has spoken rebellion against Yahweh.”’” 1. The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2. “Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3. For, behold, the days come,’ says Yahweh, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’” 4. These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5. For Yahweh says: “We have heard a voice of trembling; a voice of fear, and not of peace. 6. Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child. Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned pale? 7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it. It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he will be saved out of it. 8. It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and will burst your bonds. Strangers will no more make them their bondservants; 9. but they will serve Yahweh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them. 10. Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh. Don’t be dismayed, Israel. For, behold, I will save you from afar, and save your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return, and will be quiet and at ease. No one will make him afraid. 11. For I am with you, says Yahweh, to save you; for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you, but I will not make a full end of you; but I will correct you in measure, and will in no way leave you unpunished.” 12. For Yahweh says, “Your hurt is incurable. Your wound is grievous. 13. There is no one to plead your cause, that you may be bound up. You have no healing medicines. 14. All your lovers have forgotten you. They don’t seek you. For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins were increased. 15. Why do you cry over your injury? Your pain is incurable. For the greatness of your iniquity, because your sins have increased, I have done these things to you. 16. Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured. All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity. Those who plunder you will be plunder. I will make all who prey on you become prey. 17. For I will restore health to you, and I will heal you of your wounds,” says Yahweh; “because they have called you an outcast, saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’” 18. Yahweh says: “Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be built on its own hill, and the palace will be inhabited in its own place. 19. Thanksgiving will proceed out of them with the voice of those who make merry. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small. 20. Their children also will be as before, and their congregation will be established before me. I will punish all who oppress them. 21. Their prince will be one of them, and their ruler will proceed from among them. I will cause him to draw near, and he will approach to me; for who is he who has had boldness to approach to me?” says Yahweh. 22. “You shall be my people, and I will be your God. 23. Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out, a sweeping storm: it will burst on the head of the wicked. 24. The fierce anger of Yahweh will not return until he has accomplished, and until he has performed the intentions of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it.”

1. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the assembly of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2. We always give thanks to God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers, 3. remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father. 4. We know, brothers loved by God, that you are chosen, 5. and that our Good News came to you not in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we showed ourselves to be among you for your sake. 6. You became imitators of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, 7. so that you became an example to all who believe in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8. For from you the word of the Lord has been declared, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone out; so that we need not to say anything. 9. For they themselves report concerning us what kind of a reception we had from you; and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, 10. and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1. For you yourselves know, brothers, our visit to you wasn’t in vain, 2. but having suffered before and been shamefully treated, as you know, at Philippi, we grew bold in our God to tell you the Good News of God in much conflict. 3. For our exhortation is not of error, nor of uncleanness, nor in deception. 4. But even as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News, so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, who tests our hearts. 5. For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness), 6. nor seeking glory from men (neither from you nor from others), when we might have claimed authority as apostles of Christ. 7. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8. Even so, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you, not the Good News of God only, but also our own souls, because you had become very dear to us. 9. For you remember, brothers, our labor and travail; for working night and day, that we might not burden any of you, we preached to you the Good News of God. 10. You are witnesses with God, how holy, righteously, and blamelessly we behaved ourselves toward you who believe. 11. As you know, we exhorted, comforted, and implored every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12. to the end that you should walk worthily of God, who calls you into his own Kingdom and glory. 13. For this cause we also thank God without ceasing, that, when you received from us the word of the message of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which also works in you who believe. 14. For you, brothers, became imitators of the assemblies of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus; for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews; 15. who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and drove us out, and didn’t please God, and are contrary to all men; 16. forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved; to fill up their sins always. But wrath has come on them to the uttermost. 17. But we, brothers, being bereaved of you for a short season, in presence, not in heart, tried even harder to see your face with great desire, 18. because we wanted to come to you—indeed, I, Paul, once and again—but Satan hindered us. 19. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Isn’t it even you, before our Lord Jesus at his coming? 20. For you are our glory and our joy. 1. Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone, 2. and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith; 3. that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task. 4. For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know. 5. For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain. 6. But when Timothy came just now to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you; 7. for this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith. 8. For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9. For what thanksgiving can we render again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God; 10. night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 11. Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you; 12. and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you, 13. to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. 1. Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. 2. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3. For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4. that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, 5. not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God; 6. that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7. For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8. Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you. 9. But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 10. for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; 11. and that you make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, even as we instructed you; 12. that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and may have need of nothing. 13. But we don’t want you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, so that you don’t grieve like the rest, who have no hope. 14. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15. For this we tell you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will in no way precede those who have fallen asleep. 16. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with God’s trumpet. The dead in Christ will rise first, 17. then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. So we will be with the Lord forever. 18. Therefore comfort one another with these words. 1. But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that anything be written to you. 2. For you yourselves know well that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3. For when they are saying, “Peace and safety,” then sudden destruction will come on them, like birth pains on a pregnant woman; and they will in no way escape. 4. But you, brothers, aren’t in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief. 5. You are all children of light, and children of the day. We don’t belong to the night, nor to darkness, 6. so then let’s not sleep, as the rest do, but let’s watch and be sober. 7. For those who sleep, sleep in the night; and those who are drunk are drunk in the night. 8. But let us, since we belong to the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and, for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 9. For God didn’t appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10. who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 11. Therefore exhort one another, and build each other up, even as you also do. 12. But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, 13. and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. 14. We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the faint-hearted, support the weak, be patient toward all. 15. See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all. 16. Rejoice always. 17. Pray without ceasing. 18. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. 19. Don’t quench the Spirit. 20. Don’t despise prophesies. 21. Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. 22. Abstain from every form of evil. 23. May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24. He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it. 25. Brothers, pray for us. 26. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27. I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers. 28. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

1. He who is often rebuked and stiffens his neck will be destroyed suddenly, with no remedy. 2. When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan. 3. Whoever loves wisdom brings joy to his father; but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. 4. The king by justice makes the land stable, but he who takes bribes tears it down. 5. A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet. 6. An evil man is snared by his sin, but the righteous can sing and be glad. 7. The righteous care about justice for the poor. The wicked aren’t concerned about knowledge. 8. Mockers stir up a city, but wise men turn away anger. 9. If a wise man goes to court with a foolish man, the fool rages or scoffs, and there is no peace. 10. The bloodthirsty hate a man of integrity; and they seek the life of the upright. 11. A fool vents all of his anger, but a wise man brings himself under control. 12. If a ruler listens to lies, all of his officials are wicked. 13. The poor man and the oppressor have this in common: Yahweh gives sight to the eyes of both. 14. The king who fairly judges the poor, his throne shall be established forever. 15. The rod of correction gives wisdom, but a child left to himself causes shame to his mother. 16. When the wicked increase, sin increases; but the righteous will see their downfall. 17. Correct your son, and he will give you peace; yes, he will bring delight to your soul. 18. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but one who keeps the law is blessed. 19. A servant can’t be corrected by words. Though he understands, yet he will not respond. 20. Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 21. He who pampers his servant from youth will have him become a son in the end. 22. An angry man stirs up strife, and a wrathful man abounds in sin. 23. A man’s pride brings him low, but one of lowly spirit gains honor. 24. Whoever is an accomplice of a thief is an enemy of his own soul. He takes an oath, but dares not testify. 25. The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe. 26. Many seek the ruler’s favor, but a man’s justice comes from Yahweh. 27. A dishonest man detests the righteous, and the upright in their ways detest the wicked.