1The LORD showed me, and behold, two baskets of figs set before the temple of the LORD after Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried Jeconiah son of Jehoiakim king of Judah into exile, along with the rulers of Judah, the artificer, and the locksmith from Jerusalem, and had brought them to Babylon.2One basket contained figs that were very good, like firstfruits figs, and the other basket contained figs that were very bad, which could not be eaten because of their badness.3Then the LORD said to me, "What do you see, Jeremiah?" And I said, "Figs. The good figs are very good, and the bad figs are very bad, which cannot be eaten because of their badness."4Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying:5"Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: As with these good figs, so I will acknowledge the exiles of Judah whom I sent from this place to the land of the Chaldeans for their good."6"I will set my eye upon them for good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them."7"I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD, and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart."8"But like the bad figs that cannot be eaten because of their badness, thus says the LORD: So I will treat Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem who remain in this land, as well as those who dwell in the land of Egypt."9"I will make them an object of trembling and distress among all the kingdoms of the earth, a reproach, a proverb, a taunt, and a curse in every place where I banish them."10"I will send the sword, famine, and pestilence among them until they are consumed from the land that I gave to them and to their fathers."