1In that same year, at the beginning of the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the fourth year, in the fifth month, Hananiah son of Azzur, the prophet from Gibeon, spoke to me in Yahweh’s house in the presence of the priests and all the people. He said,
2“This is what Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: ‘I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon.
3Within two full years I will bring back to this place all the articles from Yahweh’s house that King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon took away from this place and carried to Babylon.
4I will also bring back to this place Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, along with all the captives from Judah who went to Babylon,’ says Yahweh, ‘for I will break the yoke of the king of Babylon.’”
5Then the prophet Jeremiah spoke to the prophet Hananiah in the presence of the priests and all the people who were standing in Yahweh’s house.
6The prophet Jeremiah said, “Amen! May Yahweh do so. May Yahweh fulfill your words which you have prophesied, to bring back the articles of Yahweh’s house and all the exiles from Babylon to this place.
7Nevertheless, listen now to this word that I speak for you and for all the people to hear:
8The prophets who were before me and before you in ancient times prophesied against many countries and against great kingdoms, predicting war, disaster, and disease.
9If a prophet prophesies peace, when that prophet’s word comes true, then it will be known that Yahweh has truly sent him.”
10Then Hananiah the prophet took the wooden bar from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah and broke it.
11Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying, “Yahweh says: ‘In this very way I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from the neck of all the nations within two full years.’” Then the prophet Jeremiah went on his way.
12Then the word of Yahweh came to Jeremiah after Hananiah the prophet had broken the wooden bar from the neck of the prophet Jeremiah. It said,
13"Go tell Hananiah that Yahweh says, 'You broke the wooden yoke bars, but in their place, you have made iron bars.'"
14For Yahweh, the God of Israel, the ruler of armies, says, 'I have placed an iron yoke on the necks of all these nations so they must serve Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. They will serve him, and I have even given him the wild animals.'
15Then the prophet Jeremiah said to the prophet Hananiah, "Listen, Hananiah! Yahweh did not send you, but you are making these people believe a lie."
16Therefore, Yahweh says, 'Look, I will remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have spoken rebellion against Yahweh.'
17So the prophet Hananiah died that same year, in the seventh month.