Jeremiah 40

NEW AMERICAN BIBLE	NEW JERUSALEM
1 This word came to Jeremiah from the LORD, after Nebuzaradan, captain of the bodyguard, had released him in Ramah, where he had found him a prisoner in chains, among the captives of Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.	1 The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh after Nebuzaradan commander of the guard hadreleased him from Ramah, where he had found him in chains with al the other captives from Jerusalem andJudah who were being deported to Babylon:
2 When the captain of the bodyguard took charge of Jeremiah, he said to him, "The LORD, your God, foretold the ruin of this place.	2 The commander of the guard took Jeremiah and said to him, 'Yahweh your God foretold calamity forthis country,
3 Now he has brought about in deed what he threatened; because you sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice, this fate has befallen you.	3 and now he has brought it. He has done what he threatened to do, because you had sinned againstYahweh and would not listen to his voice; so al this has happened to you.
4 And now, I am freeing you today from the fetters that bind your hands; if it seems good to you to come with me to Babylon, you may come: I will look after you well. But if it does not please you to come to Babylon, you need not come. See, the whole land is before you; go wherever you think good and proper";	4 Look, today I am having your hands unchained. If you like to come with me to Babylon, come: I shallook after you. If you do not want to come with me to Babylon, do not. Look, you have the whole country beforeyou: go wherever you think it best and most suitable to go.'
5 and then, before he left--"or go to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed ruler over the cities of Judah; stay with him among the people, or go wherever you please." The captain of the bodyguard gave him food and gifts and let him go.	5 And before Jeremiah retired, he added, 'You can go back to Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan,whom the king of Babylon has appointed governor of the towns of Judah, and stay with him among the people,or go anywhere else you think suitable.' With that, the commander of the guard gave him provisions and apresent, and dismissed him.
6 Jeremiah went to Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, in Mizpah, and stayed with him among the people left in the land.	6 Jeremiah went to Mizpah, to Gedaliah son of Ahikam and stayed with him, among those people stil leftin the country.
7 When the army leaders who were still in the field with all their men heard that the king of Babylon had given Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, charge of the land, of men, women, and children, and of those poor who had not been led captive to Babylon,	7 When the military leaders who with their men were still in the field, all heard that the king of Babylonhad appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam as governor of the country, making him responsible for the men, womenand children, and those of the poor country people who had not been deported to Babylon,
8 they came with their men to Gedaliah in Mizpah: Ishmael, son of Nethaniah; Johanan, son of Kareah; Seraiah, son of Tanhumeth; the sons of Ephai of Netophah; and Jezaniah of Beth-maacah.	8 they came to Gedaliah at Mizpah: Ishmael son of Nethaniah, Johanan and Jonathan sons of Kareah,Seraiah son of Tanhumeth, the sons of Ephai the Netophathite, Jezaniah son of the Maacathite, they and theirmen.
9 Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, adjured them and their men not to be afraid to serve the Chaldeans: to stay in the land and submit to the king of Babylon, for their own welfare;	9 To them and to their men Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan, swore an oath. 'Do not be afraid',he said, 'of serving the Chaldaeans, stay in the country, serve the king of Babylon, and al wil go wel with you.
10 saying that he himself would remain in Mizpah, as their intermediary with the Chaldeans who should come to them. They were to collect the wine, the fruit, and the oil, to store them in jars, and to settle in the cities they occupied.	10 I for my part, as the man answerable to the Chaldaeans when they come to us, shal stay here atMizpah, whereas you can harvest the wine, summer fruit and oil, fill your storage jars and settle in the townswhich you have seized.'
11 When the people of Judah in Moab, those among the Ammonites, those in Edom, and those in all other lands heard that the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah, and had appointed over them Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, son of Shaphan,	11 Similarly, when all the Judaeans living in Moab, with the Ammonites, in Edom and elsewhere, heardthat the king of Babylon had left a remnant in Judah and had appointed Gedaliah son of Ahikam, son of Shaphanas their governor,
12 they all returned to the land of Judah from the places to which they had scattered. They went to Gedaliah at Mizpah and had a rich harvest of wine and fruit.	12 the Judaeans al came back from wherever they had been driven. On their return to the land of Judah,to Gedaliah at Mizpah, they harvested an immense quantity of wine and summer fruit.
13 Now Johanan, son of Kareah, and all the leaders of the armies in the field came to Gedaliah in Mizpah	13 Now Johanan son of Kareah and al the military leaders stil in the field, came to Gedaliah at Mizpah
14 and asked him whether he did not know that Baalis, the king of the Ammonites, had sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah, to assassinate him.	14 and said to him, 'Are you aware that Baalis king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael son of Nethaniahto assassinate you?' But Gedaliah son of Ahikam would not believe them.
15 But Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, would not believe them. Then Johanan, son of Kareah, said secretly to Gedaliah in Mizpah: "Let me go and kill Ishmael, son of Nethaniah; no one will know it. Why should he be allowed to kill you? All the Jews who have now rallied to you will be dispersed and the remnant of Judah will perish."	15 Johanan son of Kareah then spoke in secret to Gedaliah at Mizpah, as fol ows: 'Please let me go andkil Ishmael son of Nethaniah, and no one will be any the wiser. Why should he assassinate you and cause thedispersal of al the Judaeans who have ral ied round you. Why should the remnant of Judah perish?'
16 Nevertheless, Gedaliah, son of Ahikam, answered Johanan, son of Kareah, "You shall do nothing of the kind; you have lied about Ishmael."	16 But Gedaliah son of Ahikam replied to Johanan son of Kareah, 'You wil do no such thing, for whatyou say about Ishmael is false.'