1. The Lord spoke to me after Nebuzaradan, the commanding officer, had set me free at Ramah. I had been taken there in chains, along with all the other people from Jerusalem and Judah who were being taken away as prisoners to Babylonia.
2. The commanding officer took me aside and said, “The Lord your God threatened this land with destruction,
3. and now he has done what he said he would. All this happened because your people sinned against the Lord and disobeyed him.
4. Now, I am taking the chains off your wrists and setting you free. If you want to go to Babylonia with me, you may do so, and I will take care of you. But if you don't want to go, you don't have to. You have the whole country to choose from, and you may go wherever you wish.”