“‘I well know the thoughts that I am thinking toward you,’ declares Jehovah, a ‘thoughts of peace, and not of calamity, to give you a future and a hope.’”—Jeremiah 29:11, New World Translation.

 “‘I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”—Jeremiah 29:11, New International Version.

 Jehovah God promised his worshippers that he had a peaceful future in mind for them. Although written to people in the past, these words still describe God’s thoughts. He is “the God who gives hope.” (Romans 15:13) In fact, he recorded such promises in the Bible so that “we might have hope” for a better future.—Romans 15:4.

 These words were part of a letter sent to the Israelites in Babylon, who had been taken captive from Jerusalem. b (Jeremiah 29:1) God told the exiles that they would remain in captivity for a long time and that they should build homes, plant gardens, and raise families. (Jeremiah 29:4-9) However, God added: “When 70 years at Babylon are fulfilled, I will turn my attention to you, and I will make good my promise by bringing you back to [Jerusalem].” (Jeremiah 29:10) God thus guaranteed that he would not forget them and that their hope of returning home would come true.—Jeremiah 31:16, 17.

 God kept his promise to the Israelites. As he had foretold, Babylon was conquered by Persian King Cyrus. (Isaiah 45:1, 2; Jeremiah 51:30-32) Thereafter, Cyrus allowed the Jews to return to their homeland. After 70 years of captivity, they were back in Jerusalem.—2 Chronicles 36:20-23; Ezra 3:1.

 The fulfilled promise of Jeremiah 29:11 assures those who hope in God’s promises today. These promises include earth-wide peace by means of the Kingdom of God under Christ Jesus.—Psalm 37:10, 11, 29; Isaiah 55:11; Matthew 6:10.

 Misconception: God will prosper his worshippers with material riches.

 Fact: The word “prosper” found in some Bibles at Jeremiah 29:11 is translated from a Hebrew word that means “peace, health, and well-being.” According to the context, God promised to give the exiled Israelites not wealth but peace and welfare. They would continue to exist as a people and would one day return to Jerusalem.—Jeremiah 29:4-10.