Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you and say, (A)‘Buy my field that is at (B)Anathoth, (C)for the right of redemption by purchase is yours.’ Then Hanamel my cousin came to me in (D)the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the Lord, and said to me, ‘Buy my field that is at (E)Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself.’ Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.

“And I bought the field at (F)Anathoth from Hanamel my cousin, and (G)weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. 10 (H)I signed the deed, (I)sealed it, (J)got witnesses, and (K)weighed the money on scales. 11 Then I took the sealed deed of purchase, containing the terms and conditions and the open copy. 12 And I gave the deed of purchase to (L)Baruch the son of Neriah son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my cousin, in the presence of (M)the witnesses who signed the deed of purchase, and in the presence of all the Judeans who were sitting in (N)the court of the guard. 13 I charged (O)Baruch in their presence, saying, 14 ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware vessel, that they may last for a long time. 15 For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Houses and (P)fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land.’

Jeremiah Prays for Understanding

16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to (Q)Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord, saying: 17 ‘Ah, Lord God! It is (R)you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by (S)your outstretched arm! (T)Nothing is too hard for you. 18 (U)You show steadfast love to thousands, (V)but you repay the guilt of fathers (W)to their children after them, O great and (X)mighty God, whose name is the (Y)Lord of hosts, 19 (Z)great in counsel and (AA)mighty in deed, (AB)whose eyes are open to all the ways of the children of man, (AC)rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds. 20 You have shown (AD)signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, and to this day in Israel and among all mankind, (AE)and have made a name for yourself, as at this day. 21 (AF)You brought your people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs and wonders, with a strong hand and (AG)outstretched arm, (AH)and with great terror. 22 And you gave them this land, (AI)which you swore to their fathers to give them, (AJ)a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 And they entered and took possession of it. (AK)But they did not obey your voice or walk in your law. They did nothing of all you commanded them to do. Therefore you have made all this disaster come upon them. 24 Behold, (AL)the siege mounds have come up to the city to take it, and (AM)because of sword and famine and pestilence (AN)the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans who are fighting against it. What you spoke has come to pass, and behold, you see it. 25 Yet you, O Lord God, have said to me, (AO)“Buy the field for money (AP)and get witnesses”—though (AQ)the city is given into the hands of the Chaldeans.’”

26 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “Behold, I am the Lord, (AR)the God of all flesh. (AS)Is anything too hard for me?

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Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth,(A) because as nearest relative it is your right and duty(B) to buy it.’

“Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field(C) at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’

“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; so I bought the field(D) at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels[a] of silver.(E) 10 I signed and sealed the deed,(F) had it witnessed,(G) and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11 I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— 12 and I gave this deed to Baruch(H) son of Neriah,(I) the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

13 “In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: 14 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed(J) and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. 15 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’(K)

16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch(L) son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord,(M) you have made the heavens and the earth(N) by your great power and outstretched arm.(O) Nothing is too hard(P) for you. 18 You show love(Q) to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps(R) of their children(S) after them. Great and mighty God,(T) whose name is the Lord Almighty,(U) 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds.(V) Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind;(W) you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve.(X) 20 You performed signs and wonders(Y) in Egypt(Z) and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown(AA) that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand(AB) and an outstretched arm(AC) and with great terror.(AD) 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey.(AE) 23 They came in and took possession(AF) of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law;(AG) they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster(AH) on them.

24 “See how the siege ramps(AI) are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague,(AJ) the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said(AK) has happened,(AL) as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field(AM) with silver and have the transaction witnessed.(AN)’”

26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind.(AO) Is anything too hard for me?(AP)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 32:9 That is, about 7 ounces or about 200 grams