A Message of Consolation
30 This message came from the Lord to Jeremiah: 2 “This is what the Lord God of Israel says: ‘Write all the words that I’ve spoken to you in a book. 3 Indeed, the time[a] will come,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I’ll restore the security of my people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. ‘I’ll bring them back to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they’ll possess it.’”
4 These are the words that the Lord spoke about Israel and Judah:
5 “Indeed, this is what the Lord says:
‘We have heard a sound of terror
and of fear, and there is no peace.
6 Ask about this and think about it—
Can a man give birth to a child?
Why then do I see every strong man
with his hands on his thighs
like a woman giving birth,
and all their faces have turned pale?
7 Oh how terrible! That time[b] will be worse
than any like it.
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be rescued from it.
8 On that day,’ declares the Lord
of the Heavenly Armies,
‘I’ll break the yoke[c] from your neck
and will tear off your restraints.[d]
Foreigners will no longer make you[e] serve them.[f]
9 Rather, they will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
10 ‘My servant Jacob, don’t be afraid,’ declares the Lord,
‘and Israel, don’t be dismayed.
For I’ll deliver you from a distant place
and your descendants from the land of their captivity.
Jacob will return. He will be undisturbed and secure,
and no one will cause him to fear.
11 For I’ll be with you to save you,’
declares the Lord.
‘For I’ll put an end to all the nations
where I scattered you;
but I won’t make an end of you.
I’ll discipline you justly,
but I certainly won’t leave you unpunished.’
The Healing of Zion’s Wounds
12 “For this is what the Lord says:
‘Your injury won’t heal;
your wound is severe.
13 There is no one to plead your cause.
There is no medicine for your sore;[g]
no healing for you.
14 All your lovers have forgotten you;
they don’t seek you.
Indeed, I’ve struck you down
with the blow of an enemy,
with the punishment of a cruel foe[h]
because your wickedness is great,
and your sins are numerous.
15 Why do you cry out because of your injury?
Your wound won’t heal.
Because your wickedness is severe,
and your sins are numerous,
I’ve done all these things to you.
16 In addition, all who devour you will be devoured,
and all your oppressors—all of them—
will go into captivity.
Those who plunder you will become plunder,
and all who spoil you will become spoil.
17 Indeed, I’ll bring you healing,
and I’ll heal you of your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because they have called you an outcast
and have said,[i] “It is Zion, no one cares for her!”’”[j]
Jacob’s Restoration
18 “This is what the Lord says:
‘I’m going to restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob
and have compassion on his dwellings.
A city will be rebuilt on its ruins
and a palace[k] will sit on its rightful place.
19 Thanksgiving and the sounds of laughter
will come out of them.
I’ll cause them to increase in numbers and not decrease.
I’ll honor them and not make them insignificant.
20 Their[l] children will be as they were before,
and their congregation will be established before me.
I’ll punish all who oppress them.
21 Their leader will be one of their own,[m]
and their ruler will come from among them.
I’ll bring him near, and he will approach me,
for who would otherwise dare to approach me?’
declares the Lord.
22 ‘You will be my people,
and I’ll be your God.’”
The Coming Judgment
23 Look, the storm of the Lord!
His[n] wrath has gone forth, a twisting storm.
It will swirl around the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the Lord won’t turn back
until he has accomplished and established the plan of his heart.
In the days to come, you will understand this.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 30:3 Lit. days
- Jeremiah 30:7 Lit. day
- Jeremiah 30:8 Lit. his yoke
- Jeremiah 30:8 Or cords
- Jeremiah 30:8 Lit. him (i.e. Jacob)
- Jeremiah 30:8 I.e. enslave you
- Jeremiah 30:13 Lit. for a sore
- Jeremiah 30:14 Lit. cruel one
- Jeremiah 30:17 The Heb. lacks and have said
- Jeremiah 30:17 Or seeks her
- Jeremiah 30:18 Or fortress
- Jeremiah 30:20 Lit. his children and so through v. 21
- Jeremiah 30:21 Lit. of them
- Jeremiah 30:23 The Heb. lacks His