Jeremiah - The Old Testament

¹ The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, as follows,

² 'Yahweh, God of Israel, says this, "Write for yourself in a book all the words I have spoken to you.

³ For look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall bring back the captives of my people Israel (and Judah), Yahweh says. I shall make them come back and take possession of the country I gave to their ancestors." '

⁴ These are the words Yahweh spoke about Israel (and Judah):

⁵ Yahweh says this: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, not of peace.

⁶ Now ask and see: can a man bear children? Then why do I see each man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labour? Why has every face grown pale?

⁷ Disaster! This is the great day, no other like it: a time of distress for Jacob, though he will be saved from it.

⁸ (That day, Yahweh Sabaoth declares, I shall break the yoke now on your neck and snap your chains; and foreigners will enslave you no more,

⁹ but Israel and Judah will serve Yahweh their God, and David their king whom I shall raise up for them.)

¹⁰ So do not be afraid, my servant Jacob, Yahweh declares, Israel, do not be alarmed: for look, I shall rescue you from distant countries and your descendants from the country where they are captive. Jacob will return and be at peace, secure, with no one to trouble him.

¹¹ For I am with you to save you, Yahweh declares, I shall make an end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I shall not make an end of you, only discipline you in moderation, not to let you go quite unpunished.

¹² Yes, Yahweh says this: Your wound is incurable, your injury past healing.

¹³ There is no one to plead your cause; for an ulcer there are remedies, but for you no cure at all.

¹⁴ All your lovers have forgotten you, they look for you no more. Yes, I have struck you as an enemy strikes, with cruel punishment (because of your great guilt and countless sins).

¹⁵ Why cry out because of your wound? Your pain is incurable! Because of your great guilt and countless sins, I have treated you like this.

¹⁶ But all those who devoured you will be devoured, all your enemies, all, go into captivity, those who despoiled you will be despoiled, and all who pillaged you be pillaged.

¹⁷ For I shall restore you to health and heal your wounds, Yahweh declares, you who used to be called 'Outcast', 'Zion for whom no one cares'.

¹⁸ Yahweh says this: Look, I shall restore the tents of Jacob and take pity on his dwellings: the town will be rebuilt on its mound, the stronghold where it ought to stand.

¹⁹ From them will come thanksgiving and shouts of joy. I shall make them increase, they will not decrease; I shall make them honoured, no more to be humbled.

²⁰ Their sons will be as once they were, their community fixed firmly before me, and I shall punish all their oppressors.

²¹ Their prince will be one of their own, their ruler come from their own people, and I shall permit him to approach me freely; for who, otherwise, would be so bold as to approach me, Yahweh demands?

²² You will be my people and I shall be your God.

²³ Look, Yahweh's hurricane, his wrath, bursts out, a roaring hurricane, to burst on the heads of the wicked;

²⁴ Yahweh's burning anger will not turn aside until he has performed, has carried out, what he has in mind. In the final days, you will understand this.