1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : |
2 "This is what the LORD , the God of Israel, says: 'Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. |
3 The days are coming,' declares the LORD , 'when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity1 30:3 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,' says the LORD ." |
4 These are the words the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah: |
5 "This is what the LORD says: |
6 Ask and see:
Can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,
every face turned deathly pale? |
7 How awful that day will be!
None will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be saved out of it. |
8 " 'In that day,' declares the LORD Almighty,
'I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them. |
9 Instead, they will serve the LORD their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them. |
10 " 'So do not fear, O Jacob my servant;
do not be dismayed, O Israel,'
declares the LORD .
'I will surely save you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,
and no one will make him afraid. |
11 I am with you and will save you,'
declares the LORD .
'Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only with justice;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.' |
12 "This is what the LORD says: |
13 There is no one to plead your cause,
no remedy for your sore,
no healing for you. |
14 All your allies have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy would
and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many. |
15 Why do you cry out over your wound,
your pain that has no cure?
Because of your great guilt and many sins
I have done these things to you. |
16 " 'But all who devour you will be devoured;
all your enemies will go into exile.
Those who plunder you will be plundered;
all who make spoil of you I will despoil. |
17 But I will restore you to health
and heal your wounds,'
declares the LORD ,
'because you are called an outcast,
Zion for whom no one cares.' |
18 "This is what the LORD says: |
19 From them will come songs of thanksgiving
and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers,
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,
and they will not be disdained. |
20 Their children will be as in days of old,
and their community will be established before me;
I will punish all who oppress them. |
21 Their leader will be one of their own;
their ruler will arise from among them.
I will bring him near and he will come close to me,
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?'
declares the LORD . |
22 " 'So you will be my people,
and I will be your God.' " |
23 See, the storm of the LORD
will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked. |
24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand this. |
