Jeremiah 42

The Remnant Seeks the LORD

1 Then all the commanders of the forces, Johanan son of Kareah, Jezaniah son of Hoshaiah, and all the people from the least to the greatest approached

2 Jeremiah the prophet and said, “Please hear our plea. Pray to the LORD your God for this entire remnant of ours. For we are just a few left out of many, as you can see.”

3 “Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should go and what we should do.”

4 Jeremiah the prophet said to them, “I have heard you. I will pray to the LORD your God as you requested, And whatever the LORD answers you, I will tell you. I will not hold back a word from you.”

5 They said to Jeremiah, “May the LORD be a true and faithful witness against us If we do not act according to everything the LORD your God sends you to tell us.”

6 “Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the LORD our God, To whom we are sending you, So it will go well with us when we obey the LORD our God.”

God’s Answer Comes

7 After ten days, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah.

8 He summoned Johanan son of Kareah, all the commanders of the forces with him, and all the people from the least to the greatest.

9 He said to them, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, The One you sent me to present your plea before Him:”

Stay in the Land

10 “If you stay in this land, I will build you up and not tear you down; I will plant you and not uproot you, For I relent of the disaster I brought on you.”

11 “Do not be afraid of the king of Babylon, whom you now fear. Do not be afraid of him?” declares the LORD, “for I am with you to save you and rescue you from his hand.”

12 “I will show you compassion, And he will have compassion on you And restore you to your land.”

Warning Against Going to Egypt

13 “But if you say, ‘We will not stay in this land,’ And do not obey the voice of the LORD your God,

14 Saying, ‘No, we will go to the land of Egypt, Where we will not see war or hear the sound of the trumpet Or hunger for bread, And there we will live,’”

15 Then hear the word of the LORD, remnant of Judah. This is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says:

Judgment If They Go to Egypt

16 “If you are determined to go to Egypt and live there, The sword you fear will overtake you there, The famine you are afraid of will follow you into Egypt, And there you will die.”

17 “So all who are determined to go to Egypt to live there Will die by sword, famine, and plague. None of them will survive or escape the disaster I will bring on them.”

18 “For this is what the LORD of armies, the God of Israel, says: Just as My anger and wrath were poured out on the people of Jerusalem, So My wrath will be poured out on you if you go to Egypt. You will become an object of cursing, horror, and disgrace, And you will never see this place again.”

They Are Warned Clearly

19 “The LORD has spoken concerning you, remnant of Judah: Do not go to Egypt. Know for certain that I have warned you today.”

20 “You deceived yourselves when you sent me to the LORD your God, saying, ‘Pray for us to the LORD our God, and whatever the LORD says, tell us and we will do it.’”

21 “I have told you today, But you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD your God In everything He sent me to tell you.”

22 “Now therefore know for certain that you will die by sword, famine, and plague In the place where you desire to go and live.”