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The Lord's Promises to His People

30 The Lord, the God of Israel, said to me, “Write down in a book everything that I have told you, because the time is coming when I will restore my people, Israel and Judah. I will bring them back to the land that I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it again. I, the Lord, have spoken.”

The Lord says to the people of Israel and Judah,

“I heard a cry of terror,
    a cry of fear and not of peace.
Now stop and think!
    Can a man give birth to a child?
Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach
    like a woman in labor?
    Why is everyone so pale?
A terrible day is coming;
    no other day can compare with it—
    a time of distress for my people,
    but they will survive.”

The Lord Almighty says, “When that day comes, I will break the yoke that is around their neck and remove their chains, and they will no longer be the slaves of foreigners. Instead, they will serve me, the Lord their God, and a descendant of David, whom I will enthrone as king.

10 (A)“My people, do not be afraid;
    people of Israel, do not be terrified.
I will rescue you from that faraway land,
    from the land where you are prisoners.
You will come back home and live in peace;
    you will be secure, and no one will make you afraid.
11 I will come to you and save you.
I will destroy all the nations
    where I have scattered you,
    but I will not destroy you.
I will not let you go unpunished;
    but when I punish you, I will be fair.
I, the Lord, have spoken.”

12 The Lord says to his people,

“Your wounds are incurable,
    your injuries cannot be healed.
13 There is no one to take care of you,
    no remedy for your sores,
    no hope of healing for you.
14 All your lovers have forgotten you;
    they no longer care about you.
I have attacked you like an enemy;
    your punishment has been harsh
    because your sins are many
    and your wickedness is great.
15 Complain no more about your injuries;
    there is no cure for you.
I punished you like this
    because your sins are many
    and your wickedness is great.
16 But now, all who devour you will be devoured,
    and all your enemies will be taken away as prisoners.
All who oppress you will be oppressed,
    and all who plunder you will be plundered.
17 I will make you well again;
    I will heal your wounds,
    though your enemies say,
‘Zion is an outcast;
    no one cares about her.’
I, the Lord, have spoken.”

18 The Lord says,

“I will restore my people to their land
    and have mercy on every family;
Jerusalem will be rebuilt,
    and its palace restored.
19 The people who live there will sing praise;
    they will shout for joy.
By my blessing they will increase in numbers;
    my blessing will bring them honor.
20 I will restore the nation's ancient power
    and establish it firmly again;
    I will punish all who oppress them.
21-22 Their ruler will come from their own nation,
    their prince from their own people.
He will approach me when I invite him,
    for who would dare come uninvited?
They will be my people,
    and I will be their God.
I, the Lord, have spoken.”

23-24 The Lord's anger is a storm, a furious wind that will rage over the heads of the wicked. It will not end until he has done all that he intends to do. In days to come his people will understand this clearly.

Restoration of Israel

30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write(A) in a book all the words I have spoken to you. The days(B) are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring(C) my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[a] and restore(D) them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”

These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Cries of fear(E) are heard—
    terror, not peace.
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,(F)
    every face turned deathly pale?(G)
How awful that day(H) will be!
    No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble(I) for Jacob,
    but he will be saved(J) out of it.

“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
    ‘I will break the yoke(K) off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;(L)
    no longer will foreigners enslave them.(M)
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
    and David(N) their king,(O)
    whom I will raise up for them.

10 “‘So do not be afraid,(P) Jacob my servant;(Q)
    do not be dismayed, Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save(R) you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,(S)
    and no one will make him afraid.(T)
11 I am with you(U) and will save you,’
    declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations
    among which I scatter you,
    I will not completely destroy(V) you.
I will discipline(W) you but only in due measure;
    I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’(X)

12 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Your wound(Y) is incurable,
    your injury beyond healing.(Z)
13 There is no one to plead your cause,(AA)
    no remedy for your sore,
    no healing(AB) for you.
14 All your allies(AC) have forgotten you;
    they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy(AD) would
    and punished you as would the cruel,(AE)
because your guilt is so great
    and your sins(AF) so many.
15 Why do you cry out over your wound,
    your pain that has no cure?(AG)
Because of your great guilt and many sins
    I have done these things to you.(AH)

16 “‘But all who devour(AI) you will be devoured;
    all your enemies will go into exile.(AJ)
Those who plunder(AK) you will be plundered;
    all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
17 But I will restore you to health
    and heal(AL) your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,(AM)
    Zion for whom no one cares.’(AN)

18 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘I will restore the fortunes(AO) of Jacob’s tents(AP)
    and have compassion(AQ) on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt(AR) on her ruins,
    and the palace will stand in its proper place.
19 From them will come songs(AS) of thanksgiving(AT)
    and the sound of rejoicing.(AU)
I will add to their numbers,(AV)
    and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,(AW)
    and they will not be disdained.
20 Their children(AX) will be as in days of old,
    and their community will be established(AY) before me;
    I will punish(AZ) all who oppress them.
21 Their leader(BA) will be one of their own;
    their ruler will arise from among them.(BB)
I will bring him near(BC) 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,(BD)
    and I will be your God.(BE)’”

23 See, the storm(BF) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger(BG) of the Lord will not turn back(BH)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand(BI) this.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 30:3 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah