Seventy Years of Exile

Jeremiah 25

Jeremiah recounts twenty-three years of preaching repentance to Judah that went unheeded, and declares that the Lord will bring a nation from the north against the land, after which Judah and the surrounding nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years before that nation too is judged. The chapter closes with the beginning of a word concerning Elam, whose bow will be broken and whose people scattered to every corner of the earth, though the Lord promises to restore their fortunes in the end.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonTHE word [of God] which came to Jeremias concerning all the people of Juda in the fourth year of Joakim son of Josias, king of Juda,

BrentonThe Word that came to Jeremias concerning all the people of Juda in the fourth year of Joakim, son of Josias, king of Juda;

GreekὉ ΛΟΓΟΣ Ὁ ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΟΣ ΠΡΟΣ ἹΕΡΕΜΙΑΝ ἐπὶ πάντα τὸν λαὸν Ἰούδα ἐν τῷ ἔτει τῷ τετάρτῳ τοῦ Ἰωακεὶμ υἱοῦ Ἰωσία βασιλέως Ἰούδα,

KJVThe word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;

JPSThe word that came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, that was the first year of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon;

Thomsonwhich he spoke to all the people of Juda and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:

Brentonwhich he spoke to all the people of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,

Greekὃν ἐλάλησε πρὸς πάντα τὸν λαὸν Ἰούδα, καὶ πρὸς τοὺς κατοικοῦντας Ἱερουσαλὴμ, λέγων,

KJVThe which Jeremiah the prophet spake unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying,

JPSwhich Jeremiah the prophet spoke unto all the people of Judah, and to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying:

ThomsonFrom the thirteenth year of Josias son of Amos, king of Juda, even to this day, for three and twenty years I have spoken to you, rising early and speaking;

BrentonIn the thirteenth year of Josias, son of Amos, king of Juda, even until this day for three and twenty years, I have both spoken to you, rising early and speaking,

GreekἘν τρισκαιδεκάτῳ ἔτει Ἰωσία υἱοῦ Ἀμὼς βασιλέως Ἰούδα, καὶ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης εἴκοσι καὶ τρία ἔτη, καὶ ἐλάλησα πρὸς ὑμᾶς ὀρθρίζων, καὶ λέγων,

KJVFrom the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, even unto this day, that is the three and twentieth year, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, rising early and speaking; but ye have not hearkened.

JPSFrom the thirteenth year of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, even unto this day, these three and twenty years, the word of the LORD hath come unto me, and I have spoken unto you, speaking betimes and often; but ye have not hearkened.

Thomsonand I have sent to you My servants the prophets, sending them early, though you have not hearkened nor inclined your ears;

Brentonand I sent to you my servants the prophets, sending them early; (but ye hearkened not, and listened not with your ears;) saying,

Greekκαὶ ἀπέστελλον πρὸς ὑμᾶς τοὺς δούλους μου τοὺς προφήτας, ὄρθρου ἀποστέλλων, καὶ οὐκ εἰσηκούσατε, καὶ οὐ προσέσχετε τοῖς ὠσὶν ὑμῶν,

KJVAnd the LORD hath sent unto you all his servants the prophets, rising early and sending them; but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear.

JPSAnd the LORD hath sent unto you all His servants the prophets, sending them betimes and often—but ye have not hearkened, nor inclined your ear to hear—

Thomsonsaying, Turn ye every one from his evil way, and from your wicked pursuits and you shall dwell in this land, which I gave to you and your fathers from age to age.

BrentonTurn ye every one from his evil way, and from your evil practices, and ye shall dwell in the land which I gave to you and your fathers, of old and for ever.

Greekλέγων, ἀποστράφητε ἕκαστος ἀπὸ τῆς ὁδοῦ αὐτοῦ τῆς πονηρᾶς, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν πονηρῶν ἐπιτηδευμάτων ὑμῶν, καὶ κατοικήσετε ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς ἧς ἔδωκα ὑμῖν καὶ τοῖς πατράσιν ὑμῶν, ἀπʼ αἰῶνος καὶ ἕως αἰῶνος.

KJVThey said, Turn ye again now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers for ever and ever:

JPSsaying: ‘Return ye now every one from his evil way, and from the evil of your doings, and dwell in the land that the LORD hath given unto you and to your fathers, for ever and ever;

ThomsonGo not after strange gods to serve them, and worship them, that you may not provoke Me by the works of your hands to bring evils upon you.

BrentonGo ye not after strange gods, to serve them, and to worship them, that ye provoke me not by the works of your hands, to do you hurt.

GreekΜὴ πορεύεσθε ὀπίσω θεῶν ἀλλοτρίων, τοῦ δουλεύειν αὐτοῖς, καὶ τοῦ προσκυνεῖν αὐτοῖς, ὅπως μὴ παροργίζητέ με ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις τῶν χειρῶν ὑμῶν, τοῦ κακῶσαι ὑμᾶς.

KJVAnd go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke me not to anger with the works of your hands; and I will do you no hurt.

JPSand go not after other gods to serve them, and to worship them, and provoke Me not with the work of your hands, and I will do you no hurt.’

ThomsonBut you hearkened not to Me.

BrentonBut ye hearkened not to me.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἠκούσατέ μου.

KJVYet ye have not hearkened unto me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke me to anger with the works of your hands to your own hurt.

JPSYet ye have not hearkened unto Me, saith the LORD; that ye might provoke Me with the work of your hands to your own hurt.

ThomsonTherefore thus saith the Lord: Since you have not believed My words,

BrentonTherefore thus saith the Lord; Since ye believed not my words,

GreekΔιατοῦτο τάδε λέγει Κύριος, ἐπειδὴ οὐκ ἐπιστεύσατε τοῖς λόγοις μου,

KJVTherefore thus saith the LORD of hosts; Because ye have not heard my words,

JPSTherefore thus saith the LORD of hosts: Because ye have not heard My words,

Thomsonbehold I am sending, and I will take a family from the north and bring them against this land and against the inhabitants thereof and against all the nations around it. And I will lay them waste and make them a desolation and an object of pity and an everlasting reproach.

Brentonbehold, I will send and take a family from the north, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants of it, and against all the nations round about it, and I will make them utterly waste, and make them a desolation, and a hissing, and an everlasting reproach.

Greekἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω, καὶ λήψομαι πατριὰν ἀπὸ Βοῤῥᾶ, καὶ ἄξω αὐτοὺς ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ταύτην, καὶ ἐπὶ τοὺς κατοικοῦντας αὐτὴν, καὶ ἐπὶ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη τὰ κύκλῳ αὐτῆς, καὶ ἐξερημώσω αὐτοὺς, καὶ δώσω αὐτοὺς εἰς ἀφανισμὸν, καὶ εἰς συριγμὸν, καὶ εἰς ὀνειδισμὸν αἰώνιον.

KJVBehold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about, and will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and an hissing, and perpetual desolations.

JPSbehold, I will send and take all the families of the north, saith the LORD, and I will send unto Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, My servant, and will bring them against this land, and against the inhabitants thereof, and against all these nations round about; and I will utterly destroy them, and make them an astonishment, and a hissing, and perpetual desolations.

ThomsonAnd I will destroy from among them the sound of joy and the sound of gladness; the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride; the odour of myrrh and the light of the lamp.

BrentonAnd I will destroy from among them the voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the scent of ointment, and the light of a candle.

GreekΚαὶ ἀπολῶ ἀπʼ αὐτῶν φωνὴν χαρᾶς, καὶ φωνὴν εὐφροσύνης, φωνὴν νυμφίου καὶ φωνὴν νύμφης, ὀσμὴν μύρου, καὶ φῶς λύχνου.

KJVMoreover I will take from them the voice of mirth, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the candle.

JPSMoreover I will cause to cease from among them the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the sound of the millstones, and the light of the lamp.

ThomsonAnd the whole country shall be a desolation. And they shall be slaves among the nations seventy years.

BrentonAnd all the land shall be a desolation; and they shall serve among the Gentiles seventy years.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται πᾶσα ἡ γῆ εἰς ἀφανισμὸν, καὶ δουλεύσουσιν ἐν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη.

KJVAnd this whole land shall be a desolation, and an astonishment; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

JPSAnd this whole land shall be a desolation, and a waste; and these nations shall serve the king of Babylon seventy years.

ThomsonAnd when the seventy years are completed I will execute vengeance on that nation, and make them an everlasting desolation.

BrentonAnd when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will take vengeance on that nation, and will make them a perpetual desolation.

GreekΚαὶ ἐν τῷ πληρωθῆναι τὰ ἑβδομήκοντα ἔτη, ἐκδικήσω τὸ ἔθνος ἐκεῖνο, καὶ θήσομαι αὐτοὺς εἰς ἀφανισμὸν αἰώνιον,

KJVAnd it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans, and will make it perpetual desolations.

JPSAnd it shall come to pass, when seventy years are accomplished, that I will punish the king of Babylon, and that nation, saith the LORD, for their iniquity, and the land of the Chaldeans; and I will make it perpetual desolations.

ThomsonI will indeed bring against that land all these words of Mine which I have spoken against it—all the things which are written in this book which Jeremias prophesied against the nations.*

BrentonAnd I will bring upon that land all my words which I have spoken against it, even all things that are written in this book.

Greekκαὶ ἐπάξω ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν ἐκείνην πάντας τοὺς λόγους μου, οὓς ἐλάλησα κατʼ αὐτῆς, πάντα τὰ γεγραμμένα ἐν τῷ βιβλίῳ τούτῳ·

KJVAnd I will bring upon that land all my words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

JPSAnd I will bring upon that land all My words which I have pronounced against it, even all that is written in this book, which Jeremiah hath prophesied against all the nations.

Thomson—

BrentonThe Prophecies of Jeremias against the Nations of Ælam.

GreekἋ ἘΠΡΟΦΗΤΕΥΣΕΝ ἹΕΡΕΜΙΑΣ ἘΠΙ ΤΑ ἜΘΝΗ ΤΑ ΑΙΛΑΜ.

KJV—

JPS—

ThomsonAnd if they refuse to take the cup out of thy hand to drink, then thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord: You shall drink it;

BrentonThus saith the Lord, The bow of Ælam is broken, even the chief of their power.

GreekΤάδε λέγει Κύριος, συνετρίβη τὸ τόξον Αἰλὰμ, ἀρχὴ δυναστείας αὐτῶν.

KJVFor thus saith the LORD God of Israel unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

JPSFor thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, unto me: Take this cup of the wine of fury at My hand, and cause all the nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.

Thomson—

BrentonAnd I will bring upon Ælam the four winds from the four corners of heaven, and I will disperse them toward all these winds; and there shall be no nation to which they shall not come— even the outcasts of Ælam.

GreekΚαὶ ἐπάξω ἐπὶ Αἰλὰμ τέσσαρας ἀνέμους ἐκ τῶν τεσσάρων ἄκρων τοῦ οὐρανοῦ, καὶ διασπερῶ αὐτοὺς ἐν πᾶσι τοῖς ἀνέμοις τούτοις, καὶ οὐκ ἔσται ἔθνος ὃ οὐχ ἥξει ἐκεῖ, οἱ ἐξωσμένοι Αἰλάμ.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd I will put them in fear before their enemies that seek their life; and I will bring evils upon them according to my great anger; and I will send forth my sword after them, until I have utterly destroyed them.

GreekΚαὶ πτοήσω αὐτοὺς ἐναντίον τῶν ἐχθρῶν αὐτῶν, τῶν ζητούντων τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτῶν, καὶ ἐπάξω ἐπʼ αὐτοὺς κατὰ τὴν ὀργὴν τοῦ θυμοῦ μου, καὶ ἐπαποστελῶ ὀπίσω αὐτῶν τὴν μάχαιράν μου, ἕως τοῦ ἐξαναλῶσαι αὐτούς.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonAnd I will set my throne in Ælam, and will send forth thence king and rulers.

GreekΚαὶ θήσω τὸν θρόνον μου ἐν Αἰλὰμ, καὶ ἐξαποστελῶ ἐκεῖθεν βασιλέα καὶ μεγιστᾶνας.

KJV—

JPS—

Thomson—

BrentonBut it shall come to pass at the end of days, that I will turn the captivity of Ælam, saith the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται ἐπʼ ἐσχάτου τῶν ἡμερῶν, καὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν αἰχμαλωσίαν Αἰλὰμ, λέγει Κύριος.

KJVA noise shall come even to the ends of the earth; for the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, he will plead with all flesh; he will give them that are wicked to the sword, saith the LORD.

JPSA noise is come even to the end of the earth; For the LORD hath a controversy with the nations, He doth plead with all flesh; As for the wicked, He hath given them to the sword, Saith the LORD.

Thomson—

BrentonIn the beginning of the reign of king Sedekias, there came this word concerning Ælam.

GreekἘν ἀρχῇ βασιλεύοντος Σεδεκίου βασιλέως, ἐγένετο ὁ λόγος οὗτος περὶ Αἰλάμ·

KJV—

JPS—