And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that {were} in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, {both} nigh and far,

And they wrote {letters} by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren {send} greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia:

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,

And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

And Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah, and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel.

For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though {it were} but for a season.

The LORD shewed me, and, behold, two baskets of figs {were} set before the temple of the LORD, after that Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon had carried away captive Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, and the princes of Judah, with the carpenters and smiths, from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.

And I will bring again to this place Jeconiah the son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, with all the captives of Judah, that went into Babylon, saith the LORD: for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon. {captives: Heb. captivity}

Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

And Jehoiachin the king of Judah went out to the king of Babylon, he, and his mother, and his servants, and his princes, and his officers: and the king of Babylon took him in the eighth year of his reign. {officers: or, eunuchs} {his reign: Nebuchadnezzar's eighth year}

And when the year was expired, king Nebuchadnezzar sent, and brought him to Babylon, with the goodly vessels of the house of the LORD, and made Zedekiah his brother king over Judah and Jerusalem. {when...: Heb. at the return of the year} {goodly...: Heb. vessels of desire} {Zedekiah...: or, Mattaniah, his father's brother}

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.

And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, When thou comest to Babylon, and shalt see, and shalt read all these words;