4 This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from
Jerusalem to Babylon: 5 “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they
produce. 6 Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters
in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not
decrease. 7 Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile.
Pray to the LORD for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.”