The word which יהוה spoke to Yirmeyahu after Nebuzaradan, chief of the guards, sent him away from Ramah, when he took him while he was bound in chains in the midst of all the exiles of Yerushalayim and Yehudah who were exiled to Bavel.

And the chief of the guards took Yirmeyahu and said to him, 'יהוה your Elohim spoke this disaster against this place.'

And יהוה did and brought it about, just as He spoke, because you sinned against יהוה and did not listen to His voice, and this thing happened to you.

And now, behold, I have freed you today from the chains that were on your hand. If it is good in your eyes to come with me to Bavel, come, and I will set my eye on you. But if it is bad in your eyes to come with me to Bavel, refrain. Behold, all the land is before you; go where it is good and right in your eyes to go.

And while he had not yet returned, return to Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam, son of Shafan, whom the king of Bavel appointed over the cities of Yehudah, and dwell with him among the people, or go wherever it is right in your eyes to go.' And the chief of the guards gave him provisions and a gift, and sent him away.

And Yirmeyahu came to Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam in Miṣpah, and dwelt with him among the people remaining in the land.

And all the commanders of the forces who were in the field, they and their men, heard that the king of Bavel had appointed Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam over the land, and that he had appointed with him men, women, children, and the poorest of the land who had not been exiled to Bavel.

And they came to Gedalyahu in Miṣpah, Yishma'el son of Netanyah, Yoḥanan and Yonatan sons of Kareah, Serayah son of Tanḥumet, the sons of 'Ephai the Netophathite, and Yizanyahu son of the Ma'akathite; they and their men.

And Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam, son of Shafan, swore to them and to their men, saying, 'Do not fear serving the Kasdim. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Bavel, and it will be well for you.'

And I, behold, I am dwelling in Miṣpah to stand before the Kasdim who come to us. But you, gather wine and summer fruit and oil, and put them in your vessels, and dwell in your cities which you have seized.'

And also all the Yehudim who were in Mo'av, and in the sons of 'Ammon, and in Edom, and who were in all the lands, heard that the king of Bavel had given a remnant to Yehudah, and that he had appointed Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam, son of Shafan, over them.

And all the Yehudim returned from all the places where they had been scattered, and they came to the land of Yehudah, to Gedalyahu in Miṣpah, and they gathered a great abundance of wine and summer fruit.

And Yoḥanan son of Kareah and all the commanders of the forces who were in the field came to Gedalyahu in Miṣpah.

And they said to him, 'Do you know that Ba'alis, the king of the sons of 'Ammon, has sent Yishma'el son of Netanyah to strike you down, life for life?' But Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam did not believe them.

And Yoḥanan son of Kareah said to Gedalyahu in secret in Miṣpah, saying, 'Let me go, please, and I will strike down Yishma'el son of Netanyah, and no one will know why he is striking you down, life for life, and all the Yehudim who are gathered to you will be scattered, and the remnant of Yehudah will be lost.'

And Gedalyahu son of Aḥiqam said to Yoḥanan son of Kareah, 'Do not do this thing, for you are speaking falsely about Yishma'el.'