deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by
the sword: but thy life shall be saved for thee, because thou hast put
thy trust in me, saith the Lord.

Jeremias Chapter 40

Jeremias remains with Godolias the governor; who receives all the Jews
that resort to him.

40:1. The word that came to Jeremias from the Lord, after that
Nabuzardan the general had let him go from Rama, when he had taken him,
being bound with chains, among all them that were carried away from
Jerusalem and Juda, and were carried to Babylon.

40:2. And the general of the army taking Jeremias, said to him: The Lord
thy God hath pronounced this evil upon this place,

40:3. And he hath brought it: and the Lord hath done as he hath said:
because you have sinned against the Lord, and have not hearkened to his
voice, and this word is come upon you.

40:4. Now then behold I have loosed thee this day from the chains which
were upon thy hands: if it please thee to come with me to Babylon, come:
and I will set my eyes upon thee: but if it do not please thee to come
with me to Babylon, stay here: behold all the land is before thee, as
thou shalt choose, and whither it shall please thee to go, thither go.

40:5. And come not with me: but dwell with Godolias the son of Ahicam
the son of Saphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the
cities of Juda: dwell therefore with him in the midst of the people: or
whithersoever it shall please thee to go, go. And the general of the
army gave him victuals and presents, and let him go.

40:6. And Jeremias went to Godolias the son of Ahicam to Masphath: and
dwelt with him in the midst of the people that were left in the land.

40:7. And when all the captains of the army that were scattered through
the countries, they and their companions, had heard that the king of
Babylon had made Godolias the son of Ahicam governor of the country, and
that he had committed unto him men and women, and children, and of the
poor of the land, them that had not been carried away captive to
Babylon:

40:8. They came to Godolias to Masphath: and Ismahel the son of
Nathanias, and Johanan, and Jonathan, the sons of Caree, and Sareas the
son of Thanehumeth, and the children of Ophi, that were of Netophathi,
and Jezonias the son of Maachati, they and their men.

40:9. And Godolias the son of Ahicam the son of Saphan swore to them and
to their companions, saying: Fear not to serve the Chaldeans: dwell in
the land, and serve the king