1The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD after Nebuzaradan, the chief of the guards, had released him from Ramah. He had taken him there bound in chains among all the captives from Jerusalem and Judah who were being exiled to Babylon.2The chief of the guards took Jeremiah and said to him, "The LORD your God pronounced this disaster against this place."3It happened, and the LORD did just as he said. You sinned against the LORD and did not obey his voice, and this has happened to you.4And now behold, today I have freed you from the shackles that are on your hands. If it seems good in your eyes to come with me to Babel, come, and I will look after you. And if it seems bad in your eyes to come with me to Babel, refrain. Look, all the land is before you; toward what is good and toward what is right, wherever it seems good in your eyes to go.5But before Jeremiah turned to go, he said to Gedaliah son of Ahikam son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon had appointed over the cities of Judah, "Come and dwell with him among the people. Or go wherever it seems right to you." So the chief of the guards gave him provisions and a ration of food and let him go.6And Jeremiah came to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and he dwelt with him in the midst of the people, the remnant in the land.