Jeremiah 29
1 ଯିରିମିୟ ନିର୍ବାସିତମାନଙ୍କ ମଧିଅରେ ଥିବା ପ୍ରାଚୀନମାନଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଯାଜକଗଣଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଭବିଷ୍ଯତ୍ ବକ୍ତାଗଣଙ୍କ ପାଖକୁ ଓ ଅନ୍ୟ ସମସ୍ତ ବାବିଲ ନିବାସୀମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଏକ ପତ୍ର ପ୍ ରରଣେ କଲେ ଏବଂ ଏହିସବୁ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କୁ ନବୂଖଦନିତ୍ସର ୟିରୁଶାଲମରୁ ବାବିଲୋନକୁ ନିର୍ବାସିତ ରୂପେ ନଇୟୋଇଥିଲେ।
2 ରାଜା ଯିହାୟୋଦାରଖୀନ, ରାଜମାତା, ନପୁଂସକଗଣ, ପ୍ରାଚୀନବର୍ଗ, ଶିଳ୍ପକାରୀଗଣ ଓ କର୍ମକାରଗଣ ୟିରୁଶାଲମରୁ ପ୍ରସ୍ଥାନ କଲା ଉତ୍ତା ରେ ଏହି ପତ୍ର ପଠାଗଲା।
3 ଯିହୁଦାର ରାଜା ସିଦିକିଯ ବାବିଲର ରାଜା ନବୂଖଦନିତ୍ସର ନିକଟକୁ ଶାଫନର ପୁତ୍ର ଇଲିଯାସା ଓ ହିଲ୍କିଯର ପୁତ୍ର ଗରିଯକୁ ପଠାଇଲେ। ଯିରିମିୟ ସହେିମାନଙ୍କ ହସ୍ତ ରେ ପତ୍ର ଦେଲେ। ସହେି ପତ୍ରଟି ଏହିପରି ପାଠ କରାଗଲା।
4 ସୈନ୍ଯାଧିପତି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲର ପରମେଶ୍ବର ଏହିକଥା କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ ୟିରୁଶାଲମରୁ ବାବିଲକୁ ଯେଉଁମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ବାସିତ କରାଇଅଛୁ, ସହେି ସମସ୍ତ ନିର୍ବାସିତମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରତି ଆମ୍ଭର ଆଦେଶ ଏହି।
5 ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଗୃହ ନିର୍ମାଣ କରି ତହିଁରେ ବାସ କର ; ଉଦ୍ୟାନ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କରି ତାହାର ଫଳ ଉପ ଭୋଗ କର।
6 ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ବିବାହ କରି ପୁତ୍ର କନ୍ଯା ଉତ୍ପାଦନ କର। ଆଉ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ସହେି ପୁତ୍ର କନ୍ଯାମାନଙ୍କୁ ବିବାହ କରାଇ ସମାନଙ୍କେଠାରୁ ପୁତ୍ରକନ୍ଯା ଜନ୍ମ କରାଅ। ଏହିପରି ବାବିଲର ଲୋକସଂଖ୍ଯା ବୃଦ୍ଧି କର କିନ୍ତୁ ଊଣା କର ନାହିଁ।
7 ଆମ୍ଭେ ଯେଉଁ ନଗରକୁ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ବାସିତ କରିଅଛୁ ତାହାର ମଙ୍ଗଳ କର ଓ ସହେି ନଗର ନିମନ୍ତେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କୁ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କର। କାରଣ ସଠାେ ରେ ଶାନ୍ତି ଆସିଲେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ଶାନ୍ତି ଆସିବ।
8 ସୈନ୍ଯଧିପତି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲର ପରମେଶ୍ବର ଏହି କଥା କହନ୍ତି, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତା ଓ ଗଣକମାନଙ୍କ କଥା ରେ ଭୁଲ ନାହିଁ। ସମାନେେ ଯେଉଁ ଗୁପ୍ତ ଦର୍ଶନ କଥା କହୁଛନ୍ତି, ତାହା ପ୍ରତି ମନୋୟୋଗ କର ନାହିଁ।
9 ପୁଣି ସମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭ ନାମ ରେ ମିଥ୍ଯା ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବାକ୍ଯ ପ୍ରଚାର କରନ୍ତି। କିନ୍ତୁ ଆମ୍ଭେ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ପ୍ ରରଣେ କରି ନାହୁଁ। ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି।
10 ତା'ପ ରେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ମାତ୍ର ବାବିଲ ରେ ସତୁରି ବର୍ଷ ସୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ହେଲାପ ରେ ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ତତ୍ତ୍ବାନୁସନ୍ଧାନ କରିବା। ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୁନର୍ବାର ୟିରୁଶାଲମକୁ ଫରୋଇ ଆଣି ଆମ୍ଭେ ଆପଣା ମଙ୍ଗଳ ବାକ୍ଯ ପୂରଣ କରିବା।
11 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଆମ୍ଭେ ଯେଉଁ ସଙ୍କଳ୍ପ କରିଛୁ ତାହା ମଙ୍ଗଳକର ଅଟେ। ମୁଁ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦ ପୁନଃସ୍ଥାପନ ପାଇଁ ଯୋଜନା କରୁଛି ଏବଂ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୁଣି ନୂଆ ଆଶା ଦବେି।
12 ତେଣୁ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭକୁ ଆହ୍ବାନ କରିବ ଓ ଆମ୍ଭ ନିକଟରେ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା କରିବ। ଆଉ ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ପ୍ରାର୍ଥନା ପ୍ରତି ଧ୍ଯାନ ଦବୋ।
13 ପୁଣି ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭକୁ ଅନ୍ବଷେଣ କରିବ। ଆଉ ସର୍ବାନ୍ତଃକରଣ ରେ ଯେତବେେଳେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭକୁ ଖାଜେିବ ସେତବେେଳେ ଆମ୍ଭକୁ ପାଇବ।
14 ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ଆମ୍ଭର ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ଯ ପାଇବାକୁ ଦବୋ। ଆମ୍ଭେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ବନ୍ଦୀ ଅବସ୍ଥା ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତନ କରିଥିଲୁ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଆମ୍ଭେ ସଠାରୁେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ପୁନଃ ଏକତ୍ରୀତ କରିବା। ପୁଣି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ ପୁନର୍ବାର ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କୁ ନିର୍ବାସନ ସ୍ଥାନରୁ ଫରୋଇ ଆଣିବା।
15 ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ କହିବ, ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ନିମନ୍ତେ ବାବିଲକୁ ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତାମାନଙ୍କୁ ପଠାଇ ଅଛନ୍ତି।
16 ତୁମ୍ଭ ସହିତ ବାବିଲକୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ ହାଇେ ଆସି ନ ଥିବା ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ଭ୍ରାତୃଗଣ ବିଷଯ ରେ ଓ ଦାଉଦର ସିଂହାସନ ରେ ଉପବିଷ୍ଟ ରାଜା ବିଷଯ ରେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଏହି କଥା କହନ୍ତି।
17 ସୈନ୍ଯାଧିପତି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଏହି କଥା କହନ୍ତି, ୟିରୁଶାଲମ ରେ ଅବଶିଷ୍ଟ ଥିବା ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଆମ୍ଭେ ଖଡ୍ଗ, ଦୁର୍ଭିକ୍ଷ ଓ ମହାମାରୀ ପଠାଇବା। ଆଉ ଘୃଣାଜନକ ଭୋଜନ ଅ ଯୋଗ୍ଯ ମନ୍ଦ ଡ଼ିମ୍ବିରି ଫଳ ତୁଲ୍ଯ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ କରିବା।
18 ଆମ୍ଭେ ୟିରୁଶାଲମସ୍ଥ ଅବିଷ୍ଟ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ନିମନ୍ତେ ଖଡ୍ଗ, ଦୁର୍ଭିକ୍ଷ ଓ ମହାମାରୀ ପଠାଇବା। ସମାନେେ ଏକ ବସ୍ତୁ ହବେେ, ଯାହାକୁ କି ଦେଶ ଅଭିଶାପର ବୀଭିଷିକାର ଓ ହୀସ୍ ଶବ୍ଦର ବସ୍ତୁରୂପେ ବ୍ଯବହାର କରିବ। ଆଉ ସମାନେେ ପୃଥିବୀବାସୀଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ଲଜ୍ଜ୍ଯାର ଏକ ବିଷଯ ହବେେ
19 କାରଣ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ ପ୍ରଭାତ ରେ ଉଠି ଆମ୍ଭର ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତାଗଣଙ୍କୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ନିକଟକୁ ପଠାଇ ଯାହା କହିଲୁ, ସମାନେେ ତାହା ପ୍ରତି କର୍ଣ୍ଣପାତ କଲେ ନାହିଁ। ପୁଣି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ସମାନଙ୍କେ ନିକଟକୁ ବାରମ୍ବାର ଆମ୍ଭର ଦାସକୁ ପଠାଇ ଯାହା କହିଲୁ, ସମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭର ବାକ୍ଯ ଶୁଣିଲେ ନାହିଁ।
20 ଏଣୁ ଆମ୍ଭଦ୍ବାରା ୟିରୁଶାଲମରୁ ବାବିଲକୁ ତଡ଼ିତ ନିର୍ବାସିତ ଲୋକମାନେ, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ବାକ୍ଯ ଶୁଣ।
21 କୋଲାଯର ପୁତ୍ର ଆହାବ ଓ ମା ସଯରେ ପୁତ୍ର ସିଦିକିଯ ଆମ୍ଭ ନାମ ରେ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ମିଥ୍ଯା ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବାକ୍ଯ ପ୍ରଚାର କରନ୍ତି। ତେଣୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେ ବିଷଯ ରେ ସୈନ୍ଯାଧିପତି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲର ପରମେଶ୍ବର କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ ବାବିଲର ରାଜା ନବୂଖଦନିତ୍ସର ନିକଟକୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ପଠାଇବୁ। ଆଉ ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ସମ୍ମୁଖ ରେ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ବଧ କରିବ।
22 ପୁଣି ବାବିଲ ରେ ୟିହୁତାର ନିର୍ବାସିତ ଯେତେ ଲୋକ ଅଛନ୍ତି, ସମାନଙ୍କେ ମଧିଅରେ ସହେି ଦୁଇ ଲୋକଙ୍କ ଅଭିଶାପ କଥା ଉଦାହରଣ ସ୍ବରୂପ ପ୍ରଚାରିତ ହବେ। ସହେି ଲୋକମାନେ କହିବେ, 'ବାବିଲର ରାଜା ଯେପରି ସିଦିକିଯ ଓ ଆହାବଙ୍କୁ ଅଗ୍ନି ରେ ଦଗ୍ଧ କରିଥିଲେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ସମାନଙ୍କେୁ ସହେିପରି କରନ୍ତୁ।'
23 ସମାନେେ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲ ରେ ଅତି ମନ୍ଦ ଆଚରଣ କରିଛନ୍ତି, ସମାନେେ ଆପଣା ଆପଣା ପ୍ରତିବେଶୀ ସ୍ତ୍ରୀ ସହିତ ବ୍ଯଭିଚାର କରିଅଛନ୍ତି। ଆମ୍ଭେ ଆଜ୍ଞା କରି ନାହୁଁ, କିନ୍ତୁ ସମାନେେ ଆମ୍ଭ ନାମ ରେ ମିଥ୍ଯା କଥା କହି ଅଛନ୍ତି। ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ ଏହା ଜାଣୁ ଓ ଆମ୍ଭେ ଏଥିପାଇଁ ସାକ୍ଷୀ ଅଛୁ।
24 ଆଉ ମଧ୍ଯ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ନିହିଲାମୀଯ ବଂଶର ଶମଯିଯଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଦବେ।
25 ସୈନ୍ଯାଧିପତି ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲର ପରମେଶ୍ବର ଏହି କଥା କହନ୍ତି, ହେ ଶମଯିଯ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଇଶ୍ରାୟେଲର ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ମା ସଯରେ ପୁତ୍ର ସଫନିଯ ଯାଜକକୁ ଓ ଅନ୍ଯାନ୍ଯ ସମସ୍ତ ଯାଜକମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଆପଣା ନାମ ରେ ଏହି ପତ୍ର ପଠାଅ।
26 ତୁମ୍ଭେ ଏହି ପତ୍ର ରେ ଉଲ୍ଲେଖ କଲ ଯେ, ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ମନ୍ଦିରର ରକ୍ଷା କରିଥିଲେ, 'ଯିହାୟୋଦାରଦା ଯାଜକ ବଦଳ ରେ ତୁମ୍ଭକୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଯାଜକ କରିଛନ୍ତି। ଯଦି କହେି ବାତୁଳ ହାଇେ ନିଜକୁ ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତା ବୋଲି କ ହେ, ତବେେ ତୁମ୍ଭେ ତାକୁ ବଡ଼ ହରିକାଠ ରେ ଏକ ବଡ଼େି ରେ ବାନ୍ଧି ରଖିବ।
27 ସ୍ରତି ଯିରିମିୟ ନିଜକୁ ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତା ପରି ଦଖାେଉଅଛି। ତୁମ୍ଭେ କାହିଁକି ତାକୁ ବନ୍ଦୀ ନ କରିବ ?
28 ଯିରିମିୟ ଆମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କ ନିକଟକୁ ଏହି ବାର୍ତ୍ତା ଦଇେଅଛି, ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ବାବିଲ ରେ ଦୀର୍ଘକାଳ ନିର୍ବାସିତ ହାଇେଅଛ। ତେଣୁ ତୁମ୍ଭମାନେେ ଗୃହ ନିର୍ମାଣ କରି ତହିଁରେ ବାସ କର ଓ ଉଦ୍ୟାନ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କରି ଫଳ ଉପଭୋଗ କର।
29 ଅନନ୍ତର ସଫନିଯ ଯାଜକ ଯିରିମିୟ ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତାଙ୍କ କର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଗୋଚର ରେ ଏହି ପତ୍ର ପାଠ କଲା।
30 ତାହାପ ରେ ଯିରିମିୟଙ୍କ ନିକଟରେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କର ଏହି ବାକ୍ଯ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ ହେଲା।
31 ହେ ଯିରିମିୟ, ତୁମ୍ଭେ ନିର୍ବାସିତ ସମସ୍ତ ଲୋକଙ୍କୁ ଏହି ସମ୍ବାଦ ଦିଅ, 'ନିହିଲାମୀଯ ଶମଯିଯର ବିଷଯ ରେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ ଏହି କଥା କହନ୍ତି ; ଆମ୍ଭେ ଶମଯିଯଙ୍କୁ ଭବିଷ୍ଯଦବକ୍ତା ପ୍ରଚାର ପାଇଁ ପଠାଇ ନାହୁଁ। ମାତ୍ର ସେ ମିଥ୍ଯା କହି ତୁମ୍ଭମାନଙ୍କର ବିଶ୍ବାସ ଜନ୍ମାଇଅଛି।
32 ତେଣୁ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି, ଆମ୍ଭେ ନିହିଲାମୀଯ ଶମଯିଯକୁ ଓ ତାହାର ବଂଶକୁ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦବୋ। ଏହି ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ମଧିଅରେ ବାସ କରିବାକୁ ତାହାର କହେି ରହିବେ ନାହିଁ। ଆଉ ଆମ୍ଭେ ଆମ୍ଭ ଲୋକମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଯେଉଁ ମଙ୍ଗଳ କରିବା, ତାହା ସେ ଦେଖିବ ନାହିଁ। ଏହା ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁ କହନ୍ତି,ଆମ୍ଭେ ଶମଯିଯକୁ ଦଣ୍ଡ ଦବୋ, କାରଣ ସେ ସଦାପ୍ରଭୁଙ୍କ ବିରୁଦ୍ଧ ରେ ବିଦ୍ରୋହର କଥା କହିଅଛି।
1 Now these are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem unto the residue of the elders which were carried away captives, and to the priests, and to the prophets, and to all the people whom Nebuchadnezzar had carried away captive from Jerusalem to Babylon;
2 (After that Jeconiah the king, and the queen, and the eunuchs, the princes of Judah and Jerusalem, and the carpenters, and the smiths, were departed from Jerusalem;)
3 By the hand of Elasah the son of Shaphan, and Gemariah the son of Hilkiah, (whom Zedekiah king of Judah sent unto Babylon to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon) saying,
4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon;
5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them;
6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.
7 And seek the peace of the city whither I have caused you to be carried away captives, and pray unto the Lord for it: for in the peace thereof shall ye have peace.
8 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Let not your prophets and your diviners, that be in the midst of you, deceive you, neither hearken to your dreams which ye cause to be dreamed.
9 For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the Lord.
10 For thus saith the Lord, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place.
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
15 Because ye have said, The Lord hath raised us up prophets in Babylon;
16 Know that thus saith the Lord of the king that sitteth upon the throne of David, and of all the people that dwelleth in this city, and of your brethren that are not gone forth with you into captivity;
17 Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Behold, I will send upon them the sword, the famine, and the pestilence, and will make them like vile figs, that cannot be eaten, they are so evil.
18 And I will persecute them with the sword, with the famine, and with the pestilence, and will deliver them to be removed to all the kingdoms of the earth, to be a curse, and an astonishment, and an hissing, and a reproach, among all the nations whither I have driven them:
19 Because they have not hearkened to my words, saith the Lord, which I sent unto them by my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; but ye would not hear, saith the Lord.
20 Hear ye therefore the word of the Lord, all ye of the captivity, whom I have sent from Jerusalem to Babylon:
21 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, of Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and of Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, which prophesy a lie unto you in my name; Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon; and he shall slay them before your eyes;
22 And of them shall be taken up a curse by all the captivity of Judah which are in Babylon, saying, The Lord make thee like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;
23 Because they have committed villany in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken lying words in my name, which I have not commanded them; even I know, and am a witness, saith the Lord.
24 Thus shalt thou also speak to Shemaiah the Nehelamite, saying,
25 Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
26 The Lord hath made thee priest in the stead of Jehoiada the priest, that ye should be officers in the house of the Lord, for every man that is mad, and maketh himself a prophet, that thou shouldest put him in prison, and in the stocks.
27 Now therefore why hast thou not reproved Jeremiah of Anathoth, which maketh himself a prophet to you?
28 For therefore he sent unto us in Babylon, saying, This captivity is long: build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them.
29 And Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah the prophet.
30 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying,
31 Send to all them of the captivity, saying, Thus saith the Lord concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, and I sent him not, and he caused you to trust in a lie:
32 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed: he shall not have a man to dwell among this people; neither shall he behold the good that I will do for my people, saith the Lord; because he hath taught rebellion against the Lord.
1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
2 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar of the people.
3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.
4 And there were some that had indignation within themselves, and said, Why was this waste of the ointment made?
5 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor. And they murmured against her.
6 And Jesus said, Let her alone; why trouble ye her? she hath wrought a good work on me.
7 For ye have the poor with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.
8 She hath done what she could: she is come aforehand to anoint my body to the burying.
9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.
10 And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them.
11 And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.
12 And the first day of unleavened bread, when they killed the passover, his disciples said unto him, Where wilt thou that we go and prepare that thou mayest eat the passover?
13 And he sendeth forth two of his disciples, and saith unto them, Go ye into the city, and there shall meet you a man bearing a pitcher of water: follow him.
14 And wheresoever he shall go in, say ye to the goodman of the house, The Master saith, Where is the guestchamber, where I shall eat the passover with my disciples?
15 And he will shew you a large upper room furnished and prepared: there make ready for us.
16 And his disciples went forth, and came into the city, and found as he had said unto them: and they made ready the passover.
17 And in the evening he cometh with the twelve.
18 And as they sat and did eat, Jesus said, Verily I say unto you, One of you which eateth with me shall betray me.
19 And they began to be sorrowful, and to say unto him one by one, Is it I? and another said, Is it I?
20 And he answered and said unto them, It is one of the twelve, that dippeth with me in the dish.
21 The Son of man indeed goeth, as it is written of him: but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! good were it for that man if he had never been born.
22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.
23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.
24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
25 Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.
26 And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
27 And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
29 But Peter said unto him, Although all shall be offended, yet will not I.
30 And Jesus saith unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this day, even in this night, before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice.
31 But he spake the more vehemently, If I should die with thee, I will not deny thee in any wise. Likewise also said they all.
32 And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray.
33 And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;
34 And saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.
35 And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him.
36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
37 And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? couldest not thou watch one hour?
38 Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak.
39 And again he went away, and prayed, and spake the same words.
40 And when he returned, he found them asleep again, (for their eyes were heavy,) neither wist they what to answer him.
41 And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42 Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
43 And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44 And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
45 And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
46 And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
47 And one of them that stood by drew a sword, and smote a servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.
48 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Are ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves to take me?
49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and ye took me not: but the scriptures must be fulfilled.
50 And they all forsook him, and fled.
51 And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:
52 And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked.
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest: and with him were assembled all the chief priests and the elders and the scribes.
54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
55 And the chief priests and all the council sought for witness against Jesus to put him to death; and found none.
56 For many bare false witness against him, but their witness agreed not together.
57 And there arose certain, and bare false witness against him, saying,
58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.
59 But neither so did their witness agree together.
60 And the high priest stood up in the midst, and asked Jesus, saying, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
61 But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
62 And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
63 Then the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What need we any further witnesses?
64 Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
65 And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands.
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest:
67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.
68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
69 And a maid saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them.
70 And he denied it again. And a little after, they that stood by said again to Peter, Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilaean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.
71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.
72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.