New Living Translation | International Standard Version |
1While Jeremiah was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, the LORD gave him this second message: | 1This message from the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard: |
2“This is what the LORD says—the LORD who made the earth, who formed and established it, whose name is the LORD: | 2"This is what the LORD says who made the earth, the LORD who formed it in order to establish it—whose name is the LORD— |
3Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come. | 3Call to me and I'll answer you, and will tell you about great and hidden things that you don't know.' |
4For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: You have torn down the houses of this city and even the king’s palace to get materials to strengthen the walls against the siege ramps and swords of the enemy. | 4For this is what the LORD God of Israel says about the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to defend against the siege ramps and the sword, |
5You expect to fight the Babylonians, but the men of this city are already as good as dead, for I have determined to destroy them in my terrible anger. I have abandoned them because of all their wickedness. | 5The Chaldeans are coming to fight and to fill those houses with the dead bodies of the people that I've struck down in my anger and wrath, for I've hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness. |
6“Nevertheless, the time will come when I will heal Jerusalem’s wounds and give it prosperity and true peace. | 6"'Look, I'll bring restoration and healing to it, and I'll heal them. I'll reveal to them an abundance of peace and faithfulness. |
7I will restore the fortunes of Judah and Israel and rebuild their towns. | 7I'll restore the security of Judah and Israel and rebuild them as they were at first. |
8I will cleanse them of their sins against me and forgive all their sins of rebellion. | 8I'll cleanse them from all their sin that they have committed against me, and I'll forgive all their sins that they committed against me and by which they rebelled against me. |
9Then this city will bring me joy, glory, and honor before all the nations of the earth! The people of the world will see all the good I do for my people, and they will tremble with awe at the peace and prosperity I provide for them. | 9Jerusalem will be for me a name of joy, praise, and glory to all the nations of the earth that hear about all the good that I'm doing for them. They'll fear and tremble because of all the good and because of all the peace that I'm bringing to Jerusalem.' |
10“This is what the LORD says: You have said, ‘This is a desolate land where people and animals have all disappeared.’ Yet in the empty streets of Jerusalem and Judah’s other towns, there will be heard once more | 10"This is what the LORD says: 'You are saying about this place, "It is a ruin without people and without animals." Yet in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem which are desolate places without inhabitants and without animals, there will again be heard |
11the sounds of joy and laughter. The joyful voices of bridegrooms and brides will be heard again, along with the joyous songs of people bringing thanksgiving offerings to the LORD. They will sing, ‘Give thanks to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, for the LORD is good. His faithful love endures forever!’ For I will restore the prosperity of this land to what it was in the past, says the LORD. | 11the sounds of rejoicing and gladness, the sounds of the bridegroom and the bride, and the sounds of those saying, "Give thanks to the LORD of the Heavenly Armies, for the LORD is good, and his gracious love lasts forever," as they bring thanksgiving offerings to the LORD's Temple. For I'll restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,' declares the LORD. |
12“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: This land—though it is now desolate and has no people and animals—will once more have pastures where shepherds can lead their flocks. | 12"This is what the LORD of the Heavenly Armies says: 'In this place that is now a ruin without people or animals, and in all its towns there will again be pasture for shepherds resting their flocks. |
13Once again shepherds will count their flocks in the towns of the hill country, the foothills of Judah, the Negev, the land of Benjamin, the vicinity of Jerusalem, and all the towns of Judah. I, the LORD, have spoken! | 13In the towns of the hill country, in the towns of the Shephelah, in the towns of the Negev, in the territory of Benjamin, in the areas around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them,' says the LORD." |
14“The day will come, says the LORD, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them. | 14"'Look, the time is coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I'll fulfill the good promise that I spoke concerning the house of Israel and Judah. |
15“In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. | 15In those days and at that time I'll cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he will uphold justice and righteousness in the land. |
16In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this will be its name: ‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’ | 16At that time Judah will be delivered and Jerusalem will dwell in safety. And this is the name people will call it, "The LORD is Our Righteousness."' |
17For this is what the LORD says: David will have a descendant sitting on the throne of Israel forever. | 17For this is what the LORD says: 'David will never be without a man sitting on the throne of the house of Israel, |
18And there will always be Levitical priests to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings and sacrifices to me.” | 18nor will the Levitical priests be without a man offering up burnt offerings, bringing in grain offerings, and offering sacrifices continuously before me.'" |
19Then this message came to Jeremiah from the LORD: | 19This message from the LORD came to Jeremiah: |
20“This is what the LORD says: If you can break my covenant with the day and the night so that one does not follow the other, | 20"This is what the LORD says: 'If you could break my covenant with the day and night so that day and night wouldn't occur at the proper time, |
21only then will my covenant with my servant David be broken. Only then will he no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne. The same is true for my covenant with the Levitical priests who minister before me. | 21then my covenant with my servant David might also be broken so that he wouldn't have a son sitting on his throne, and so also with my servants the Levitical priests. |
22And as the stars of the sky cannot be counted and the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so I will multiply the descendants of my servant David and the Levites who minister before me.” | 22As the heavenly bodies cannot be counted, and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I'll multiply the descendants of my servant David and the descendants of Levi who serve me.'" |
23The LORD gave another message to Jeremiah. He said, | 23This message from the LORD came to Jeremiah: |
24“Have you noticed what people are saying?—‘The LORD chose Judah and Israel and then abandoned them!’ They are sneering and saying that Israel is not worthy to be counted as a nation. | 24"Haven't you noticed what these people have been saying?—'The LORD rejected the two families that he had chosen!' They have contempt for my people and no longer consider them a nation. |
25But this is what the LORD says: I would no more reject my people than I would change my laws that govern night and day, earth and sky. | 25This is what the LORD says: 'If I had not established my covenant for day and night and the laws that govern the heavens and earth, |
26I will never abandon the descendants of Jacob or David, my servant, or change the plan that David’s descendants will rule the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Instead, I will restore them to their land and have mercy on them.” | 26then I might reject the descendants of Jacob and my servant David by not taking some of his descendants as rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed, I'll restore their fortunes, and I'll have compassion on them.'" |
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. | The Holy Bible: International Standard Version® Release 2.1 Copyright © 1996-2012 The ISV Foundation ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. |
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