| NET Bible | International Standard Version |
| 1The LORD spoke to Jeremiah. | 1This message came from the LORD to Jeremiah: |
| 2"The LORD God of Israel says, 'Write everything that I am about to tell you in a scroll. | 2"This is what the LORD God of Israel says: 'Write all the words that I've spoken to you in a book. |
| 3For I, the LORD, affirm that the time will come when I will reverse the plight of my people, Israel and Judah,' says the LORD. 'I will bring them back to the land I gave their ancestors and they will take possession of it once again.'" | 3Indeed, the time 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.'" |
| 4So here is what the LORD has to say about Israel and Judah. | 4These are the words that the LORD spoke about Israel and Judah: |
| 5Yes, here is what he says: "You hear cries of panic and of terror; there is no peace in sight. | 5"Indeed, this is what the LORD says: 'We have heard a sound of terror and of fear, and there is no peace. |
| 6Ask yourselves this and consider it carefully: Have you ever seen a man give birth to a baby? Why then do I see all these strong men grabbing their stomachs in pain like a woman giving birth? And why do their faces turn so deathly pale? | 6Ask 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? |
| 7Alas, what a terrible time of trouble it is! There has never been any like it. It is a time of trouble for the descendants of Jacob, but some of them will be rescued out of it. | 7Oh how terrible! That time will be worse than any like it. It will be a time of trouble for Jacob, but he will be rescued from it. |
| 8When the time for them to be rescued comes," says the LORD who rules over all, "I will rescue you from foreign subjugation. I will deliver you from captivity. Foreigners will then no longer subjugate them. | 8On that day,' declares the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, 'I'll break the yoke from your neck and will tear off your restraints. Foreigners will no longer make you serve them. |
| 9But they will be subject to the LORD their God and to the Davidic ruler whom I will raise up as king over them. | 9Rather, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. |
| 10So I, the LORD, tell you not to be afraid, you descendants of Jacob, my servants. Do not be terrified, people of Israel. For I will rescue you and your descendants from a faraway land where you are captives. The descendants of Jacob will return to their land and enjoy peace. They will be secure and no one will terrify them. | 10My 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. |
| 11For I, the LORD, affirm that I will be with you and will rescue you. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you. But I will not completely destroy you. I will indeed discipline you, but only in due measure. I will not allow you to go entirely unpunished." | 11For 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.' |
| 12Moreover, the LORD says to the people of Zion, "Your injuries are incurable; your wounds are severe. | 12"For this is what the LORD says: 'Your injury won't heal; your wound is severe. |
| 13There is no one to plead your cause. There are no remedies for your wounds. There is no healing for you. | 13There is no one to plead your cause. There is no medicine for your sore; no healing for you. |
| 14All your allies have abandoned you. They no longer have any concern for you. For I have attacked you like an enemy would. I have chastened you cruelly. For your wickedness is so great and your sin is so much. | 14All 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 because your wickedness is great, and your sins are numerous. |
| 15Why do you complain about your injuries, that your pain is incurable? I have done all this to you because your wickedness is so great and your sin is so much. | 15Why 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. |
| 16But all who destroyed you will be destroyed. All your enemies will go into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered. I will cause those who pillaged you to be pillaged. | 16In 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. |
| 17Yes, I will restore you to health. I will heal your wounds. I, the LORD, affirm it! For you have been called an outcast, Zion, whom no one cares for." | 17Indeed, 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, "It is Zion, no one cares for her!"'" |
| 18The LORD says, "I will restore the ruined houses of the descendants of Jacob. I will show compassion on their ruined homes. Every city will be rebuilt on its former ruins. Every fortified dwelling will occupy its traditional site. | 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 will sit on its rightful place. |
| 19Out of those places you will hear songs of thanksgiving and the sounds of laughter and merriment. I will increase their number and they will not dwindle away. I will bring them honor and they will no longer be despised. | 19Thanksgiving 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. |
| 20The descendants of Jacob will enjoy their former privileges. Their community will be reestablished in my favor and I will punish all who try to oppress them. | 20Their children will be as they were before, and their congregation will be established before me. I'll punish all who oppress them. |
| 21One of their own people will be their leader. Their ruler will come from their own number. I will invite him to approach me, and he will do so. For no one would dare approach me on his own. I, the LORD, affirm it! | 21Their leader will be one of their own, 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. |
| 22Then you will again be my people and I will be your God. | 22You will be my people, and I'll be your God.'" |
| 23Just watch! The wrath of the LORD will come like a storm. Like a raging storm it will rage down on the heads of those who are wicked. | 23Look, the storm of the LORD! His wrath has gone forth, a twisting storm. It will swirl around the head of the wicked. |
| 24The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has fully carried out his intended purposes. In days to come you will come to understand this. | 24The 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. |
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