20. Hear therefore the Lord’s word, all you captives, whom I have sent away from Jerusalem to Babylon.
21. the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says concerning Ahab the son of Kolaiah, and concerning Zedekiah the son of Maaseiah, who prophesy a lie to you in my name: “Behold, I will deliver them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon; and he will kill them before your eyes.
22. A curse will be taken up about them by all the captives of Judah who are in Babylon, saying, ‘the Lord make you like Zedekiah and like Ahab, whom the king of Babylon roasted in the fire;’
23. because they have done foolish things in Israel, and have committed adultery with their neighbours’ wives, and have spoken words in my name falsely, which I didn’t command them. I am he who knows, and am witness,” says the Lord.
24. Concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite you shall speak, saying,
25. “The Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel, says, ‘Because you have sent letters in your own name to all the people who are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah, the priest, and to all the priests, saying,
26. “The Lord has made you priest in the place of Jehoiada the priest, that there may be officers in the Lord’s house, for every man who is crazy, and makes himself a prophet, that you should put him in the stocks and in shackles.
27. Now therefore, why have you not rebuked Jeremiah of Anathoth, who makes himself a prophet to you,
28. because he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, The captivity is long. Build houses, and dwell in them. Plant gardens, and eat their fruit?”’”
29. Zephaniah the priest read this letter in the hearing of Jeremiah the prophet.
30. Then the Lord’s word came to Jeremiah, saying,
31. “Send to all of the captives, saying, ‘the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite: “Because Shemaiah has prophesied to you, and I didn’t send him, and he has caused you to trust in a lie;”
32. therefore the Lord says, “Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his offspring. He will not have a man to dwell amongst this people. He won’t see the good that I will do to my people,” says the Lord, “because he has spoken rebellion against the Lord.”’”