The book of Jeremiah was written during the end of the reign of kings and the subsequent capture of the Judeans by Babylon. Jeremiah prophesies the judgment to come for the Jewish people, who had strayed from God, and laments their stubborn unwillingness to repent. Although this book contains prophecies of destruction and retribution, the forgiveness of God for the truly repentant is clearly manifested and predicts a hopeful outlook for the future.