1The false prophet Hananiah spoke to me, Jeremiah, in the LORD’s house. Hananiah was from Gibeon. He was the son of Azzur. It was shortly after Zedekiah became king of Judah. It was in the fifth month of his fourth year. In front of the priests and all the people Hananiah spoke to me. He said,2‘The LORD who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, “I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.3Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, removed all the objects that belong to my house. He took them to Babylon. Before two years are over, I will bring them back to this place.4I will also bring King Jehoiachin back. He is the son of Jehoiakim. And I will bring back all the others who were taken from Judah to Babylon,” announces the LORD. “I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.” ’5Then Jeremiah the prophet replied to the false prophet Hananiah. Jeremiah spoke to him in front of the priests and all the people. They were standing in the LORD’s house.6Jeremiah said, ‘Amen, Hananiah! May the LORD do those things! May he make the words you have prophesied come true. May he bring back from Babylon the objects that belong to the LORD’s house. May he bring back to this place all the people who were taken away.7But listen to what I have to say. I want you and all the people to hear it.8There have been prophets long before you and I were ever born. They have prophesied against many countries and great kingdoms. They have spoken about war, trouble and plague.9But what if a prophet says peace will come? And suppose peace really does come? Only then will he be recognised as a prophet truly sent by the LORD.’10The false prophet Hananiah took the yoke off the neck of Jeremiah the prophet. Then Hananiah broke the yoke.11In front of all the people he said, ‘The LORD says, “In the same way, I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. Before two years are over, I will remove it from the necks of all the nations.” ’ When Jeremiah the prophet heard this, he went on his way.12A message from the LORD came to Jeremiah. It was after the false prophet Hananiah had broken the yoke off Jeremiah’s neck. The message said,13‘Go. Tell Hananiah, “The LORD says, ‘You have broken a wooden yoke. But in its place you will get an iron yoke.’14The LORD who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, ‘I will put an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations. I will make them serve Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon. So they will serve him. I will even give him control over the wild animals.’ ” ’15Then Jeremiah the prophet spoke to the false prophet Hananiah. Jeremiah said, ‘Listen, Hananiah! The LORD hasn’t sent you. But you have tricked these people. Now they trust in lies.16So the LORD says, “I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. Before this year is over, you will die. You have taught the people to turn against me.” ’17In the seventh month of that very year, the false prophet Hananiah died.