Jeremiah 28

1 And it came to pass in that year, in the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year in the fifth month, that Hananiah son of Azzur the prophet who was of Gibeon, spake unto me, in the house of Yahweh, before the eyes of the priests and all the people, saying:

When Zedekiah had been the King of Judah for more than three years, late in the (summer/hot season), Azzur’s son Hananiah, a prophet from Gibeon [city], spoke to me in the [courtyard of the] temple, while [all] the priests and other people were listening. He said,

2 Thus speaketh Yahweh of hosts, God of Israel saying, —I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon:

“This is what the Commander of the armies of angels, the God whom [we] Israelis [worship], says: ‘I will cause the king of Babylon to stop ruling/controlling [MET] [all of you].

3 within the space of two years, I am bringing back into this place, all the vessels of the house of Yahweh, —which Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, hath taken away from this place, and carried into Babylon.

(Within two years/Before two years have ended), I will cause to be brought bring back to this temple all the valuable things that King Nebuchadnezzar’s [soldiers] took from this temple and took to Babylon.

4 Jeconiah also, son of Jehoiakim king of Judah with all the captives of Judah who have entered Babylon, am I bringing back into this place Declareth Yahweh, —for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.

And I will also cause King Jehoiachin to be brought back here, and all the [other] people who were captured and taken to Babylon. The king of Babylon has [forced you to do what he wants, like someone] puts a yoke [on the neck of an ox to force it to do what he] wants [MET] it to do. But I will cause that to end. [That will happen because] I, Yahweh, have said it.’”

5 Then said Jeremiah the prophet, unto Hananiah the prophet, in the presence of the priests and in the presence of all the people, who were standing in the house of Yahweh,

I replied to Hananiah in front of [all] the priests and other people who were standing outside the temple.

6 then said Jeremiah the prophet, —Amen! So, may Yahweh do! Yahweh establish thy words which thou hast prophesied by bringing back the vessels of the house of Yahweh and all them of the captivity, from Babylon unto this place.

I said, “(Amen/May that happen)! I desire/hope that what you have predicted will happen. I hope/desire that Yahweh will do everything that you have said! I hope/desire that he will cause [men from Babylon] to bring back from Babylon [all] the valuable things that were in this temple, and all the people who were taken [to Babylon].

7 Nevertheless hear thou I pray thee, this word, which I am speaking in thine ears, —and in the ears of all the people:

But now listen to what I say to you while all these people are listening.

8 The prophets who were before me and before thee, from age-past times when they prophesied against many lands and concerning great kingdoms, of war and of calamity and of pestilence,

Many years ago, those who were prophets before you and I [became prophets] spoke messages about many nations and great kingdoms. They predicted/prophesied that wars and disasters and plagues/diseases would occur in those nations.

9 the prophet who prophesied of peace when the word of the prophet was fulfilled, then was known the prophet, whom Yahweh had sent in truth.

[So now you or] any other prophet who predicts that things will go well [for us must show that your message is correct. Only] if what you predict actually happens will we know that you were truly appointed by Yahweh.”

10 Then Hananiah the prophet took the yoke from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, —and brake it.

Then Hananiah took the yoke off my neck and broke it.

11 And Hananiah spake before the eyes of all the people saying, Thus, saith Yahweh, —In like manner, will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, within the space of two years, from off the neck of all the nations, And Jeremiah the prophet went his way.

Then he said this to all the people who were there: “This is what Yahweh says: ‘Just like Hananiah has broken this yoke, within two years I will cause King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to [stop forcing the people to do what he wants, which has been like] a heavy yoke on all their necks [MET].’” After Hananiah said that, I left the temple area.

12 Then came the word of Yahweh unto Jeremiah after that Hananiah the prophet had broken the yoke from off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

[Soon] after Hananiah had broken the yoke that was around my neck, Yahweh gave this message to me:

13 Go and speak unto Hananiah saying—Thus, saith Yahweh, Yokes of wood, thou hast broken, —But thou shalt make, in their stead yokes of iron!

“Go and say this to Hananiah: ‘Yahweh says that you have broken a wooden yoke, but that he will replace it with an iron yoke.

14 For, Thus, saith Yahweh of hosts God of Israel, —A yoke of iron, have I put upon the neck of all these nations to serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and they shall serve him, Moreover also the wild beast of the field, have I given to him.

I have forced the people of all these nations to [become slaves of] King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. That is [like] [MET] an iron yoke around their necks. I have put everything, even wild animals, under his control.’”

15 Then said Jeremiah the prophet unto Hananiah the prophet, —Hear I pray thee, Hananiah: Yahweh hath not sent thee, Thou, therefore hast caused this people to trust in falsehood!

Then I [went to] Hananiah and said to him, “Hananiah, listen [to this]: Yahweh has not appointed you; instead, [you have told] lies to the people, and they have believed your lies.

16 Therefore, Thus, saith Yahweh, Behold me! driving thee away from off the face of the ground, —This year, art thou to die, Because revolt, hast thou spoken against Yahweh.

Therefore, this is what Yahweh says: ‘You will [soon] die. Before the end of this year, you will die, because you have rebelled against Yahweh.’”

17 So Hananiah the prophet died the same year, in the seventh month.

Hananiah died two months later.