Promises of Hope
30 These are the words that the Lord spoke to Jeremiah. 2 The Lord, the God of Israel, said: “Jeremiah, write in a ·book [scroll] all the words I have spoken to you. 3 The days will come when I will ·bring Israel and Judah back from captivity [restore the fortunes of my people of Israel and Judah],” says the Lord. “I will ·return [restore] them to the land I gave their ancestors, and they will ·own [possess] it!” says the Lord.
4 The Lord spoke this message about the people of Israel and Judah: 5 This is what the Lord said:
“We hear ·people crying from [L the voice/sound of] fear.
·They are afraid; there [L …and of dread, and there] is no peace.
6 Ask this question, and ·consider it [L see]:
·A man cannot [L Can a man…?] have a baby.
So why do I see every strong man
·holding his stomach in pain [L with his hands on his side/loins] like a woman ·having a baby [in labor; 13:21; 22:23; 49:24; 50:43; Is. 21:2–3; 26:16–21; 66:7–14]?
Why is everyone’s face turning white [C like a dead or frightened person’s face]?
7 This will be a ·terrible [L great] day!
There will never be another time like this.
This is a time of ·great trouble [distress] for the people of Jacob,
but they will be ·saved [rescued] from it.”
8 The Lord ·All-Powerful [Almighty; of Heaven’s Armies; T of hosts] says, “·At that time [L In that day]
I will break the yoke from ·their [or your] necks
and ·tear [snap] off the ropes that hold ·them [or you].
·Foreign people [L Strangers] will never again make my people slaves.
9 They will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will ·send to [L raise up for] them.
10 “So people of Jacob, my servants, don’t be afraid.
Israel, don’t be ·frightened [terrified],” says the Lord.
“I will soon ·save [rescue] you from that faraway place.
I will ·save [rescue] your ·family [L seed] from that land of your captivity.
The people of Jacob will be at rest again;
no one will frighten them.
11 I am with you and will ·save [rescue] you,”
says the Lord.
“I will ·completely destroy [bring to an end] all those nations
where I scattered you,
but I will not ·completely destroy you [bring you to an end].
I will ·punish [discipline] you ·fairly [with justice],
but I will ·still punish you [L not leave you unpunished; 46:27–28].”
12 This is what the Lord said:
“Your wound cannot be cured;
your injury will not heal [8:22; 10:19; Mic. 1:9; Nah. 3:19].
13 There is no one to ·argue your case [uphold your cause]
and no ·cure [medicine] for your sores.
So you will not be healed.
14 All your lovers [C allied nations] have forgotten you.
They don’t ·care about [L seek] you.
I have ·hurt you [struck you a blow] as an enemy would.
I ·punished [disciplined] you ·very hard [harshly],
because your ·guilt [iniquity] was so great
and your sins were so many.
15 Why are you crying out about your injury?
There is no cure for your pain.
I did these things to you because of your great ·guilt [iniquity],
because of your many sins.
16 But all those ·nations that destroyed you will now be destroyed [L who consumed/devoured you will be consumed/devoured].
All your ·enemies [foes] will become ·captives in other lands [exiles].
Those who ·stole from [L plunder] you will ·have their own things stolen [L be plundered].
Those who took things from you in war will have their own things taken.
17 I will bring back your health
and heal your injuries,” says the Lord,
“because ·other people forced you away [L they called you ‘driven out’/‘an outcast’].
They said about you, ‘No one ·cares about [L seeks] ·Jerusalem [L Zion; C the location of the Temple]!’”
18 This is what the Lord said:
“I ·will soon make the tents of Jacob’s people as they used to be [L am restoring the fortunes of the tents of Jacob],
and I will have ·pity [compassion] on their houses.
The city will be rebuilt on its ·hill of ruins [mound],
and the king’s palace will stand in its ·proper [traditional] place.
19 ·People in those places will sing songs of praise [L Praise/Thanks will go out from them; Ps. 126].
There will be the sound of laughter.
I will ·give them many children [L multiply them]
so ·their number will not be small [L they will not diminish; Gen. 12:1–3; 22:17; 32:12; 41:49].
I will bring ·honor [glory] to them
so no one will ·look down on [belittle] them.
20 Their ·descendants [children] will be as they were in the old days.
·I will set them up as a strong people [L Their congregation will be established] before me,
and I will punish ·the nations who have hurt them [their oppressors].
21 ·One of their own people will lead them [L Their noble one will be of them];
their ruler will come from among them [Deut. 17:14–20].
·He will come near to me when I invite him [L I will bring him near and he will approach me].
Who would dare to ·come to [approach] me uninvited?” says the Lord.
22 “So you will be my people,
and I will be your God [C they will be in a covenant relationship; Hos. 2:23].”
23 Look! It is a ·storm [whirlwind] from the Lord!
·He is angry and has gone out to punish the people [L Wrath has gone out].
·Punishment will come like a storm [L A whirling storm/tempest comes]
·crashing down on the evil people [L swirling around the heads of the wicked; 23:19].
24 The Lord will stay angry
until he performs and accomplishes
the ·intentions [plans] of his ·heart [mind].
·When that day comes [L In future days],
you will understand this.