59. This is the message that Jeremiah the prophet gave to the officer Seraiah son of Neriah, who was the son of Mahseiah. Seraiah went to Babylon with Zedekiah king of Judah in the fourth year Zedekiah was king of Judah. His duty was to arrange the king’s food and housing on the trip.
60. Jeremiah had written on a scroll all the terrible things that would happen to Babylon, all these words about Babylon.
61. Jeremiah said to Seraiah, “As soon as you come to Babylon, be sure to read this message so all the people can hear you.
62. Then say, ‘Lord, you have said that you will destroy this place so that no people or animals will live in it. It will be an empty ruin forever.’
63. After you finish reading this scroll, tie a stone to it and throw it into the Euphrates River.
64. Then say, ‘In the same way Babylon will sink and will not rise again because of the terrible things I will make happen here. Her people will fall.’ ”The words of Jeremiah end here.