Israel and Judah Restored
30 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying: 2 Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3 For surely the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah. The Lord says, I also will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4 These are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah. 5 For thus says the Lord:
I have heard a sound of trembling,
of fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask now, and see,
can a male labor with child?
Why do I see every man
with his hands on his loins, as a woman in labor,
and all faces turned pale?
7 Alas! for that day is great,
so that no one is like it;
it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble,
but he shall be saved out of it.
8 For it shall come to pass in that day, says the Lord of Hosts,
that I shall break his yoke from off their neck
and tear away their bonds,
and strangers shall 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 Therefore do not fear, O My servant Jacob,
says the Lord,
nor be dismayed, O Israel;
for I will save you from afar,
and your seed from the land of their captivity.
And Jacob shall return and shall be in rest and be quiet,
and no one shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with you, says the Lord,
to save you.
Although I make a full end of all nations
wherever I have scattered you,
yet I will not make a full end of you.
But I will correct you in measure
and will not leave you altogether unpunished.
12 For thus says the Lord:
Your bruise is incurable
and your wound is severe.
13 There is no one to plead your cause
that you may be bound up.
You have no healing medicines.
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 chastisement of a cruel one,
because of the multitude of your iniquities, because your sins are numerous.
15 Why do you cry because of your affliction?
Your sorrow is incurable.
Because of the multitude of your iniquities, because 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 become plunder,
and all who prey upon you I will give for prey.
17 For I will restore health to you,
and I will heal you of your wounds,
says the Lord,
because they called you an outcast, saying,
“This is Zion whom no man cares for.”
18 Thus says the Lord:
I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents
and have mercy on his dwelling places;
and the city will be built upon her own heap,
and the palace will remain on its rightful place.
19 Out of them will proceed thanksgiving
and the voice 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 Their children also will be as before,
and their congregation will be established before Me;
and I will punish all who oppress them.
21 Their leader shall be one of them,
and their ruler shall proceed from their midst;
and I will cause him to draw near and he will approach Me;
for who is this that dares
to approach Me?
says the Lord.
22 You shall be My people,
and I will be your God.
23 Look, the whirlwind of the Lord
goes forth with fury,
a continuing whirlwind;
it will fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return
until He has done it
and until He has performed the intentions of His heart.
In the latter days
you will understand it.