Jeremiah Chapter 40
King James Version (KJV)
Other Translations
asv (asv) - eBible.org engASV USFM
1
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Go, and say to the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Will ye not receive instruction to hearken to my words? saith Jehovah.
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The words of Jonadab the son of Rechab, that he commanded his sons, not to drink wine, are performed; and unto this day they drink none, for they obey their father’s commandment. But I have spoken unto you, rising up early and speaking; and ye have not hearkened unto me.
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I have sent also unto you all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them, saying, Return ye now every man from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but ye have not inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.
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Forasmuch as the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab have performed the commandment of their father which he commanded them, but this people hath not hearkened unto me;
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therefore thus saith Jehovah, the God of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I will bring upon Judah and upon all the inhabitants of Jerusalem all the evil that I have pronounced against them; because I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.
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And Jeremiah said unto the house of the Rechabites, Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Because ye have obeyed the commandment of Jonadab your father, and kept all his precepts, and done according unto all that he commanded you;
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therefore thus saith Jehovah of hosts, the God of Israel: Jonadab the son of Rechab shall not want a man to stand before me for ever.
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And it came to pass in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that this word came unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, saying,
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Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel, and against Judah, and against all the nations, from the day I spake unto thee, from the days of Josiah, even unto this day.
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It may be that the house of Judah will hear all the evil which I purpose to do unto them; that they may return every man from his evil way; that I may forgive their iniquity and their sin.
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Then Jeremiah called Baruch the son of Neriah; and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of Jehovah, which he had spoken unto him, upon a roll of a book.
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And Jeremiah commanded Baruch, saying, I am shut up; I cannot go into the house of Jehovah:
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therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of Jehovah in the ears of the people in Jehovah’s house upon the fast-day; and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.
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It may be they will present their supplication before Jehovah, and will return every one from his evil way; for great is the anger and the wrath that Jehovah hath pronounced against this people.
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And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of Jehovah in Jehovah’s house.
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Now it came to pass in the fifth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, in the ninth month, that all the people in Jerusalem, and all the people that came from the cities of Judah unto Jerusalem, proclaimed a fast before Jehovah.
darby (darby) - eBible.org Darby 1890 plaintext
1
The word that came to Jeremiah from Jehovah, after that Nebuzar-adan the captain of the body-guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him, being bound in chains, among all the captivity of Jerusalem and Judah, that were carried away captive to Babylon.
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And the captain of the body-guard took Jeremiah, and said unto him, Jehovah thyGod pronounced this evil upon this place,
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and Jehovah hath brought [it about] and done according as he said; for ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened unto his voice, therefore this thing is come upon you.
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And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains that are upon thy hand. If it seem good in thy sight to come with me to Babylon, come, and I will keep mine eye upon thee; but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me to Babylon, forbear. See, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and right in thy sight to go, thither go.
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And while he had not yet given answer; [he said,] Yea, go back to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and abide with him in the midst of the people; or go wheresoever it seemeth right in thy sight to go. And the captain of the body-guard gave him provisions and a present, and let him go.
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And Jeremiah came unto Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and abode with him among the people that remained in the land.
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And all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had appointed Gedaliah the son of Ahikam over the land, and had committed unto him men, and women, and children, and of the poor of the land, of them that had not been carried away captive to Babylon.
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And they came to Gedaliah to Mizpah; even Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of a Maachathite, they and their men.
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And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore unto them and to their men, saying, Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it shall be well with you.
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And as for me, behold, I dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans, who will come unto us; and ye, gather wine, and summer fruits, and oil, and put [them] in your vessels, and dwell in your cities which ye have taken.
11
Likewise all the Jews that were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon and in Edom, and that were in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah, and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan;
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and all the Jews returned out of all the places whither they had been driven, and came to the land of Judah to Gedaliah, unto Mizpah, and gathered wine and summer fruits in great abundance.
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And Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces that were in the fields, came to Gedaliah unto Mizpah,
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and said unto him, Dost thou indeed know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon hath sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to smite thee to death? But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam believed them not.
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And Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, Let me go, I pray thee, and I will smite Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and no man shall know it: why should he take thy life, and all they of Judah who are gathered unto thee be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?
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But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said unto Johanan the son of Kareah, Thou shalt not do this thing; for thou speakest falsely of Ishmael.
lxxbrent (lxxbrent) - Septuagint (Brenton 1851) eBible USFM
1
And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the second time, when he was yet bound in the court of the prison, saying,
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Thus saith the Lord, who made the earth and formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;
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Cry to me, and I will answer thee, and I will declare to thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
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For thus saith the Lord concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the king of Juda, which have been pulled down for mounds and fortifications,
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to fight against the Chaldeans, and to fill it with the corpses of men, whom I smote in mine anger and my wrath, and turned away my face from them, for all their wickedness:
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Behold, I bring upon her healing and cure, and I will show [myself] to them, and will heal her, and make both peace and security.
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And I will turn the captivity of Juda, and the captivity of Israel, and will build them, even as before.
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And I will cleanse them from all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against me, and will not remember their sins, whereby they have sinned against me, and revolted from me.
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And it shall be for joy and praise, and for glory to all the people of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I will do: and they shall fear and be provoked for all the good things and for all the peace which I will bring upon them.
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Thus saith the Lord; There shall yet be heard in this place, of which ye say, It is destitute of men and cattle, in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem, [the places] that have been made desolate for want of men and cattle,
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the voice of gladness, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of men saying, Give thanks to the Lord Almighty: for the Lord is good; for his mercy [endures] for ever: and they shall bring gifts into the house of the Lord; for I will turn all the captivity of that land as before, said the Lord.
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Thus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet be in this place, that is desert for want of man and beast, in all the cities thereof, resting-places for shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
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In the cities of the hill country, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the [cities] round about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda, flocks shall yet pass under the hand of him that numbers [them], saith the Lord.
vul1914 (vul1914) - Vulgate 1914 UTF-8 (sacredbible.org)
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Sermo, qui factus est ad Ieremiam a Domino, postquam dimissus est a Nabuzardan magistro militiæ de Rama, quando tulit eum vinctum catenis in medio omnium, qui migrabant de Ierusalem et Iuda, et ducebantur in Babylonem.
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Tollens ergo princeps militiæ Ieremiam, dixit ad eum: Dominus Deus tuus locutus est malum hoc super locum istum,
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et adduxit: et fecit Dominus sicut locutus est, quia peccastis Domino, et non audistis vocem eius, et factus est vobis sermo hic.
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Nunc ergo ecce solvi te hodie de catenis, quæ sunt in manibus tuis: si placet tibi ut venias mecum in Babylonem, veni: et ponam oculos meos super te: si autem displicet tibi venire mecum in Babylonem, reside: ecce omnis terra in conspectu tuo est: quod elegeris, et quo placuerit tibi ut vadas, illuc perge.
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Et mecum noli venire: sed habita apud Godoliam filium Ahicam filii Saphan, quem præposuit rex Babylonis civitatibus Iuda: habita ergo cum eo in medio populi: vel quocumque placuerit tibi ut vadas, vade. Dedit quoque ei magister militiæ cibaria, et munuscula, et dimisit eum.
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Venit autem Ieremias ad Godoliam filium Ahicam in Masphath, et habitavit cum eo in medio populi, qui relictus fuerat in terra.
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Cumque audissent omnes principes exercitus, qui dispersi fuerant per regiones, ipsi et socii eorum, quod præfecisset rex Babylonis Godoliam filium Ahicam terræ, et quod commendasset ei viros, et mulieres, et parvulos, et de pauperibus terræ, qui non fuerant translati in Babylonem.
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Venerunt ad Godoliam in Masphath: et Ismahel filius Nathaniæ, et Iohanan et Ionathan filii Caree, et Sareas filius Thanehumeth, et filii Ophi, qui erant de Netophathi, et Iezonias filius Maachathi, ipse et viri eorum.
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Et iuravit eis Godolias filius Ahicam filii Saphan, et comitibus eorum, dicens: Nolite timere servire Chaldæis, habitate in terra, et servite regi Babylonis, et bene erit vobis.
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Ecce ego habito in Masphath ut respondeam præcepto Chaldæorum, qui mittuntur ad nos: vos autem colligite vindemiam, et messem, et oleum, et condite in vasis vestris, et manete in urbibus vestris, quas tenetis.
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Sed et omnes Iudæi, qui erant in Moab, et in filiis Ammon, et in Idumæa, et in universis regionibus, audito quod dedisset rex Babylonis reliquias in Iudæa, et quod præposuisset super eos Godoliam filium Ahicam filii Saphan:
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reversi sunt, inquam, omnes Iudæi de universis locis, ad quæ profugerant, et venerunt in Terram Iuda ad Godoliam in Masphath: et collegerunt vinum, et messam multam nimis.
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Iohanan autem filius Caree, et omnes principes exercitus, qui dispersi fuerant in regionibus, venerunt ad Godoliam in Masphath.
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Et dixerunt ei: Scito quod Baalis rex filiorum Ammon misit Ismahel filium Nathaniæ percutere animam tuam. Et non credidit eis Godolias filius Ahicam.
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Iohanan autem filius Caree dixit ad Godoliam seorsum in Masphath, loquens: Ibo, et percutiam Ismahel filium Nathaniæ nullo sciente, ne interficiat animam tuam, et dissipentur omnes Iudæi, qui congregati sunt ad te, et peribunt reliquiæ Iuda.
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Et ait Godolias filius Ahicam ad Iohanan filium Caree: Noli facere verbum hoc: falsum enim tu loqueris de Ismahel.
web (web) - WorldEnglish.Bible — CC0 modern update of ASV
1
The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard had let him go from Ramah, when he had taken him being bound in chains among all the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were carried away captive to Babylon.
2
The captain of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, “The LORD your God pronounced this evil on this place;
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and the LORD has brought it, and done according as he spoke. Because you have sinned against the LORD, and have not obeyed his voice, therefore this thing has come on you.
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Now, behold, I release you today from the chains which are on your hand. If it seems good to you to come with me into Babylon, come, and I will take care of you; but if it seems bad to you to come with me into Babylon, don’t. Behold, all the land is before you. Where it seems good and right to you to go, go there.”
5
Now while he had not yet gone back, “Go back then,” he said, “to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people; or go wherever it seems right to you to go.” So the captain of the guard gave him food and a present, and let him go.
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Then Jeremiah went to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam to Mizpah, and lived with him among the people who were left in the land.
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Now when all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, even they and their men, heard that the king of Babylon had made Gedaliah the son of Ahikam governor in the land, and had committed to him men, women, children, and of the poorest of the land, of those who were not carried away captive to Babylon,
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then Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan the sons of Kareah, and Seraiah the son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah the son of the Maacathite, they and their men came to Gedaliah to Mizpah.
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Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, “Don’t be afraid to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it will be well with you.
10
As for me, behold, I will dwell at Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who will come to us; but you, gather wine and summer fruits and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that you have taken.”
11
Likewise when all the Jews who were in Moab, and among the children of Ammon, and in Edom, and who were in all the countries, heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant of Judah, and that he had set over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan,
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then all the Jews returned out of all places where they were driven, and came to the land of Judah, to Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and gathered very much wine and summer fruits.
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Moreover Johanan the son of Kareah, and all the captains of the forces who were in the fields, came to Gedaliah to Mizpah,
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and said to him, “Do you know that Baalis the king of the children of Ammon has sent Ishmael the son of Nethaniah to take your life?” But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam didn’t believe them.
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Then Johanan the son of Kareah spoke to Gedaliah in Mizpah secretly, saying, “Please let me go, and I will kill Ishmael the son of Nethaniah, and no man will know it. Why should he take your life, that all the Jews who are gathered to you should be scattered, and the remnant of Judah perish?”
16
But Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, “You shall not do this thing, for you speak falsely of Ishmael.”
ylt (ylt) - Bible.com YLT98 plain UTF-8
1
The word that hath been unto Jeremiah from Jehovah, after Nebuzar-Adan, chief of the executioners, hath sent him from Ramah, in his taking him--and he a prisoner in chains--in the midst of all the removal of Jerusalem and of Judah, who are removed to Babylon.
2
And the chief of the executioners taketh Jeremiah, and saith unto him, `Jehovah thy God hath spoken this evil concerning this place,
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and Jehovah bringeth <FI>it<Fi> in, and doth as He spake, because ye have sinned against Jehovah, and have not hearkened to His voice, even this thing hath been to you.
4
`And now, lo, I have loosed thee to-day from the chains that <FI>are<Fi> on thy hand; if good in thine eyes to come with me <FI>to<Fi> Babylon, come, and I keep mine eye upon thee: and if evil in thine eyes to come with me to Babylon, forbear; see, all the land <FI>is<Fi> before thee, whither <FI>it be<Fi> good, and whither <FI>it be<Fi> right in thine eyes to go--go.' --
5
and while he doth not reply--`Or turn back unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath appointed over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him in the midst of the people, or whithersoever it is right in thine eyes to go--go.' And the chief of the executioners giveth to him for the way, and a gift, and sendeth him away,
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and Jeremiah cometh in unto Gedaliah son of Ahikam, to Mizpah, and dwelleth with him, in the midst of the people who are left in the land.
7
And all the heads of the forces that <FI>are<Fi> in the field hear, they and their men, that the king of Babylon hath appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam over the land, and that he hath charged him <FI>with<Fi> men, and women, and infants, and of the poor of the land, of those who have not been removed to Babylon;
8
and they come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah, even Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah, and Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, and the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, and Jezaniah son of the Maachathite, they and their men.
9
And swear to them doth Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, and to their men, saying, `Be not afraid of serving the Chaldeans, abide in the land, and serve the king of Babylon, and it is well for you;
10
and I, lo, I am dwelling in Mizpah, to stand before the Chaldeans who are come in unto us, and ye, gather ye wine, and summer fruit, and oil, and put in your vessels, and dwell in your cities that ye have taken.'
11
And also all the Jews who <FI>are<Fi> in Moab, and among the sons of Ammon, and in Edom, and who <FI>are<Fi> in all the lands, have heard that the king of Babylon hath given a remnant to Judah, and that he hath appointed over them Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan,
12
and all the Jews from all the places whither they have been driven, turn back and enter the land of Judah, unto Gedaliah, to Mizpah, and they gather wine and summer fruit--very much.
13
And Johanan son of Kareah, and all the heads of the forces that <FI>are<Fi> in the field, have come in unto Gedaliah to Mizpah,
14
and they say unto him, `Dost thou really know that Baalis king of the sons of Ammon hath sent Ishmael son of Nethaniah to smite thy soul?' And Gedaliah son of Ahikam hath not given to them credence.
15
And Johanan son of Kareah hath spoken unto Gedaliah in secret, in Mizpah, saying, `Let me go, I pray thee, and I smite Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one doth know; why doth he smite thy soul? and scattered have been all Judah who are gathered unto thee, and perished hath the remnant of Judah.'
16
And Gedaliah son of Ahikam saith unto Johanan son of Kareah, `Thou dost not do this thing, for falsehood thou art speaking concerning Ishmael.'
Explanations by Age Level
Explain Like I'm 5
A long, long time ago, there was nothing at all - no earth, no sky, no animals, no people. It was all dark and empty. But God was there! God is so powerful that He can make anything just by speaking. So God said "Let there be light!" and BOOM! There was light everywhere! God saw that the light was beautiful and good. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night." This was the very first day when God started making our wonderful world!
Explain Like I'm 10
Before anything existed - no planets, stars, or life - God decided to create the universe. The earth started out as a dark, empty place covered with water. But God's Spirit was there, ready to bring order and beauty to everything. When God spoke and said "Let there be light," light immediately appeared because God's words have incredible power. God looked at the light and was pleased with what He had made. He organized time by separating light (day) from darkness (night), creating the first 24-hour period. This shows us that God is organized and purposeful in everything He does.
Explain Like I'm 15
Genesis 1:1-5 establishes fundamental theological truths about God and creation. The Hebrew word "bara" (created) indicates creation from nothing (ex nihilo), demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty and power. The phrase "without form and void" (tohu wa-bohu) describes a state of chaos that God transforms into order. The Spirit of God "hovering" or "brooding" over the waters suggests active, caring involvement in creation. The creation of light before the sun (created on day 4) indicates that God Himself is the ultimate source of light and energy. The establishment of day and night creates the framework of time, showing that God operates within orderly patterns while transcending them. This passage refutes both atheistic materialism and pantheism, establishing that God is both transcendent (separate from creation) and immanent (actively involved in it).