1 T he word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

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 which I have spoken to you.

Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.

3 F or the days are coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will bring back My people Israel and Judah from where they are held.’ The Lord says, ‘I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers before them, and it will be theirs.’”

For, note well, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will release from captivity My people Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.

4 T hese are the words which the Lord spoke about Israel and Judah:

And these are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah:

5 “ The Lord says, ‘I have heard cries of much trouble, of being afraid, and there is no peace.

Thus says the Lord: We have heard a voice of trembling and panic—of terror, and not peace.

6 A sk now and see, can a man give birth to a child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his body like a woman giving birth? Why have all faces turned white?

Ask now and see whether a man can give birth to a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor? Why are all faces turned pale?

7 T hat day will be very bad! There is none like it. It is the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he will be saved out of it.

Alas! for that day will be great, so that none will be like it; it will be the time of Jacob’s trouble, but he will be saved out of it.

8 O n that day,’ says the Lord of All, ‘I will break the cross-bar off from their neck, and will tear off their chains. Strangers will no longer make them their servants.

For it will come to pass in that day, says the Lord of hosts, that I will break yoke from your neck, and I will burst your bonds; and strangers will no more make slaves of.

9 B ut they will serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

But they will serve the Lord their God and David’s their King, Whom I will raise up for them.

10 S o do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant,’ says the Lord, ‘and do not be troubled, O Israel, for see, from far away I will save you and your children from the land where they are being held. Jacob will return and have quiet rest, and no one will make him afraid.

Therefore fear not, O My servant Jacob, says the Lord, nor be dismayed or cast down, O Israel; for behold, I will save you out of a distant land and your posterity from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease, and none will make him afraid or cause him to be terrorized and to tremble.

11 F or I am with you to save you,’ says the Lord. ‘I will make a complete end of all the nations where I have sent you. I will not make a complete end of you, but I will give you the right punishment. I will not let you go without being punished.’

For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you; for I will make a full and complete end of all the nations to which I have scattered you, but I will not make a full and complete end of you. But I will correct you in measure and with judgment and will in no sense hold you guiltless or leave you unpunished.

12 “ For the Lord says, ‘Your hurt cannot be healed. Your hurt is very bad.

For thus says the Lord: Your hurt is incurable and your wound is grievous.

13 T here is no one to ask for you in your cause, no help for your hurt, no healing for you.

There is none to plead your cause; for your wound you have no healing, no binding plaster.

14 A ll your lovers have forgotten you. They do not care about you. For I have hurt you as if you were hurt by one who hates you. You have been punished without pity, because you have much guilt. You have done many sins.

All your lovers (allies) have forgotten you; they neither seek, inquire of, or require you. For I have hurt you with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel and merciless foe, because of the greatness of your perversity and guilt, because your sins are glaring and innumerable.

15 W hy do you cry out because of your hurt? Your pain cannot be healed. Because you have much guilt and have done many sins, I have done these things to you.

Why do you cry out because of your hurt ? Your pain is deadly (incurable). Because of the greatness of your perversity and guilt, because your sins are glaring and innumerable, I have done these things to you.

16 B ut all who destroy you will be destroyed. Every one of those who hate you will be taken away against their will. Those who rob you will be robbed, and all who hurt you will be hurt.

Therefore all who devour you will be devoured; and all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity. And they who despoil you will become a spoil, and all who prey upon you will I give for a prey.

17 F or I will heal you. I will heal you where you have been hurt,’ says the Lord, ‘because they have said that you are not wanted. They have said, “It is Zion. No one cares for her.”’

For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord, because they have called you an outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no one seeks after and for whom no one cares!

18 “ The Lord says, ‘I will bring the tents of Jacob back from Babylon, and will have pity on his houses. The city will be built up again on its broken walls. And the king’s house will stand where it used to be.

Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will release from captivity the tents of Jacob and have mercy on his dwelling places; the city will be rebuilt on its own moundlike site, and the palace will be dwelt in after its former fashion.

19 T he people who live there will give much thanks and happy voices will be heard. And I will add to their numbers. They will not be made less. I will honor them, and they will be important.

Out of them will come songs of thanksgiving and the voices of those who make merry. And I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will also glorify them, and they will not be small.

20 T heir children will be as they were before. They will be a strong people before Me. And I will punish all those who make it hard for them.

Their children too shall be as in former times, and their congregation shall be established before Me, and I will punish all who oppress them.

21 T heir leader will be one of them. Their ruler will come from among them. I will bring him near, and he will come close to Me. For who would have the strength of heart to come near Me on his own?’ says the Lord.

And their prince will be one of them, and their ruler will come from the midst of them. I will cause him to draw near and he will approach Me, for who is he who would have the boldness and would dare to approach Me? says the Lord.

22 ‘ And you will be My people, and I will be your God.’”

Then you will be My people, and I will be your God.

23 S ee the storm of the Lord! Anger has gone out, a very bad storm. It will break upon the heads of the sinful.

Behold, the tempest of the Lord has gone forth with wrath, a sweeping and gathering tempest; it shall whirl and burst upon the heads of the wicked.

24 T he burning anger of the Lord will not turn back until He has done what He has planned in His heart to do. In days to come you will understand this.

The fierce anger and indignation of the Lord shall not turn back until He has executed and accomplished the thoughts and intents of His mind and heart. In the latter days you shall understand this.