Deliverance from Captivity Promised

      1The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book. 3‘For behold, days are coming,’ declares the LORD, ‘when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ The LORD says, ‘I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.’”

      4Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah:

      5“For thus says the LORD,
            ‘I have heard a sound of terror,
            Of dread, and there is no peace.

      6‘Ask now, and see
            If a male can give birth.
            Why do I see every man
            With his hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth?
            And why have all faces turned pale?

      7‘Alas! for that day is great,
            There is none like it;
            And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,
            But he will be saved from it.

      8‘It shall come about on that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds; and strangers will no longer make them their slaves. 9‘But they shall serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

      10‘Fear not, O Jacob My servant,’ declares the LORD,
            ‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel;
            For behold, I will save you from afar
            And your offspring from the land of their captivity.
            And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease,
            And no one will make him afraid.

      11‘For I am with you,’ declares the LORD, ‘to save you;
            For I will destroy completely all the nations where I have scattered you,
            Only I will not destroy you completely.
            But I will chasten you justly
            And will by no means leave you unpunished.’

      12“For thus says the LORD,
            ‘Your wound is incurable
            And your injury is serious.

      13‘There is no one to plead your cause;
            No healing for your sore,
            No recovery for you.

      14‘All your lovers have forgotten you,
            They do not seek you;
            For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,
            With the punishment of a cruel one,
            Because your iniquity is great
            And your sins are numerous.

      15‘Why do you cry out over your injury?
            Your pain is incurable.
            Because your iniquity is great
            And your sins are numerous,
            I have done these things to you.

      16‘Therefore all who devour you will be devoured;
            And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity;
            And those who plunder you will be for plunder,
            And all who prey upon you I will give for prey.

      17‘For I will restore you to health
            And I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares the LORD,
            ‘Because they have called you an outcast, saying:
            “It is Zion; no one cares for her.”’

Restoration of Jacob

18“Thus says the LORD,
            ‘Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob
            And have compassion on his dwelling places;
            And the city will be rebuilt on its ruin,
            And the palace will stand on its rightful place.

      19‘From them will proceed thanksgiving
            And the voice of those who celebrate;
            And I will multiply them and they will not be diminished;
            I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant.

      20‘Their children also will be as formerly,
            And their congregation shall be established before Me;
            And I will punish all their oppressors.

      21‘Their leader shall be one of them,
            And their ruler shall come forth from their midst;
            And I will bring him near and he shall approach Me;
            For who would dare to risk his life to approach Me?’ declares the LORD.

      22‘You shall be My people,
            And I will be your God.’”

      23Behold, the tempest of the LORD!
            Wrath has gone forth,
            A sweeping tempest;
            It will burst on the head of the wicked.

      24The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back
            Until He has performed and until He has accomplished
            The intent of His heart;
            In the latter days you will understand this.