Now the rest of the people {that were} left in the city, and the fugitives that fell away to the king of Babylon, with the remnant of the multitude, did Nebuzaradan the captain of the guard carry away. {fugitives: Heb. fallen away}

And he carried away all Jerusalem, and all the princes, and all the mighty men of valour, {even} ten thousand captives, and all the craftsmen and smiths: none remained, save the poorest sort of the people of the land.

These {are} the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;

The punishment of thine iniquity is accomplished, O daughter of Zion; he will no more carry thee away into captivity: he will visit thine iniquity, O daughter of Edom; he will discover thy sins. {The...: or, Thine iniquity} {discover...: or, carry thee captive for thy sins}

Her adversaries are the chief, her enemies prosper; for the LORD hath afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions: her children are gone into captivity before the enemy.

In the third year of his reign, he made a feast unto all his princes and his servants; the power of Persia and Media, the nobles and princes of the provinces, {being} before him:

Zedekiah {was} one and twenty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eleven years in Jerusalem. And his mother's name {was} Hamutal the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. {began...: Heb. reigned}

To bring Vashti the queen before the king with the crown royal, to shew the people and the princes her beauty: for she {was} fair to look on. {fair...: Heb. good of countenance}

In the ninth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, in the tenth month, came Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon and all his army against Jerusalem, and they besieged it.

Then were the king's scribes called at that time in the third month, that {is}, the month Sivan, on the three and twentieth {day} thereof; and it was written according to all that Mordecai commanded unto the Jews, and to the lieutenants, and the deputies and rulers of the provinces which {are} from India unto Ethiopia, an hundred twenty and seven provinces, unto every province according to the writing thereof, and unto every people after their language, and to the Jews according to their writing, and according to their language.

And the coast shall be for the remnant of the house of Judah; they shall feed thereupon: in the houses of Ashkelon shall they lie down in the evening: for the LORD their God shall visit them, and turn away their captivity. {for the LORD: or, when, etc}

And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that {is} in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein {was} a record thus written: {Achmetha: or, Ecbatana, or, in a coffer}

And the drinking {was} according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.

Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz the son of Josiah, and made him king in his father's stead in Jerusalem.

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. {great...: Chaldee, stones of rolling}

Now it came to pass in the days of Ahasuerus, (this {is} Ahasuerus which reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, {over} an hundred and seven and twenty provinces:)

Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction, and because of great servitude: she dwelleth among the heathen, she findeth no rest: all her persecutors overtook her between the straits. {because of great...: Heb. for the greatness of servitude}

And when the governor had read {the letter}, he asked of what province he was. And when he understood that {he was} of Cilicia;

These {are} the children of the province, that went up out of the captivity, of those that had been carried away, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away, and came again to Jerusalem and to Judah, every one unto his city;

Now these {are} the priests and the Levites that went up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,

Now these {are} the chief of the province that dwelt in Jerusalem: but in the cities of Judah dwelt every one in his possession in their cities, {to wit}, Israel, the priests, and the Levites, and the Nethinims, and the children of Solomon's servants.

{Also} the children of those that had been carried away, which were come out of the captivity, offered burnt offerings unto the God of Israel, twelve bullocks for all Israel, ninety and six rams, seventy and seven lambs, twelve he goats {for} a sin offering: all {this was} a burnt offering unto the LORD.

And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province {are} in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also {is} broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands. {great...: Chaldee, stones of rolling}

Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, {so} that I will not take {any} of his seed {to be} rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.