³⁷ I ·forced them [drove them out] from their land, because I was furious and very angry with them. But soon I will gather them from all the lands where I ·forced them to go [drove them out], and I will ·bring them back [restore them] to this place, where they may live in ·safety [confidence]. ³⁸ They [^Cpeople of Israel and Judah] will be my people, and I will be their God. ³⁹ I will ·make them truly want to be one people with one goal [^Lgive them one heart and one way/path]. They will truly want to ·worship [^Lfear] me all their ·lives [^Ldays], for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

⁴⁰ “I will ·make [^Lcut] an ·agreement with them that will last forever [^Leternal covenant with them; 31:31–34; Is. 55:3; 61:8; Ezek. 16:60; 37:27]. I will never turn away from them; I will always do good to them. I will ·make them want to respect me [^Lplace my fear in their hearts] so they will never ·turn away [depart] from me. ⁴¹ I will enjoy doing good to them. And with ·my whole being [^Lall my heart and all my soul] I will ·surely [^Lin faithfulness] plant them in this land.”

⁴² This is what the Lord says: “I have brought this great ·disaster [harm; trouble] to this people [^Cthe people of Israel and Judah]. In the same way I will bring the good things that I promise to do for them. ⁴³ You are saying, ‘This land is an ·empty desert [desolation], without people or animals. It has been handed over to the ·Babylonians [^LChaldeans].’ But in the future, people will again buy fields in this land. ⁴⁴ They will use their ·money [silver] to buy fields. They will ·sign [^Lwrite] and seal their ·agreements [scrolls] and call in witnesses. They will again buy fields in the land of Benjamin, in the area around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the mountains, in the ·western hills [^LShephelah], and in ·southern Judah [^Lthe Negev]. I will ·make everything as good for them as it once was [restore their fortunes],” says the Lord.