1 Yahweh Will Return the Fortunes of His People The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2 “Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, ‘Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.
3 For behold, days are coming,’ declares Yahweh, ‘when I will 30:3Or restore return the 30:3Or captivity fortunes of My people Israel and Judah.’ Yahweh says, ‘I will also cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.’ ”
4 Now these are the words which Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah:
5 “For thus says Yahweh,‘We have heard a sound of trembling,Of dread, and there is no peace.
6 ‘Ask now, and seeIf a male can give birth.Why do I see every manWithhis hands on his loins, as a woman in childbirth?Andwhyhave all faces turned pale?
7 ‘Alas! For that day is great,There is none like it;And it is the time of Jacob’s distress,But he will be saved from it.
8 ‘And it will be in that day,’ declares Yahweh of hosts, ‘thatI will break his yoke from off your neck and will tear off your bonds; and strangers will no longer make 30:8Lit him their slave them their slaves.
9 But they shall be a slave to Yahweh their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
10 ‘Fear not, O Jacob My 30:10Or slave, cf.30:8, 9;see Foreword, “The Terminology of Slave” servant,’ declares Yahweh,‘And do not be dismayed, O Israel;For behold, I will save you from afarAnd your seed from the land of their captivity.And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease,And no one will make him tremble.
11 ‘For I am with you,’ declares Yahweh, ‘to save you;For I will make a complete destruction of all the nations where I have scattered you,Only I will not make a complete destruction of you.But I will chasten you justlyAnd will by no means leave you unpunished.’
12 “For thus says Yahweh,‘Your injury is incurable,And your wound is desperately sick.
13 ‘There is no one to plead your cause;Nohealing foryoursore,No recovery for you.
14 ‘All your lovers have forgotten you;They do not seek you;For I have 30:14Lit struck wounded you with the wound of an enemy,With the punishment of a cruel one,Because your iniquity is numerousAndyour sins are mighty.
15 ‘Why do you cry out over your injury?Your pain is incurable.Because your iniquity is numerousAndyour sins are mighty,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 take you as spoil will be spoil,And all who plunder you I will give as plunder.
17 ‘For I will 30:17 Lit cause to go up restore you to 30:17 Or healing health,And I will heal you of your wounds,’ declares Yahweh,‘Because they have called you a banished one, saying:“It is Zion; no one is seeking her.” ’
18 “Thus says Yahweh,‘Behold, I will 30:18Or restore return the 30:18Or captivity fortunes of the tents of JacobAnd have compassion on his dwelling places;And the city will be rebuilt on its ruin,And the palace will sit on its just place.
19 ‘From them will come forth thanksgivingAnd the voice of those who 30:19Or dance celebrate;And I will multiply them, and they will not decrease;I will also honor them, and they will not be insignificant.
20 ‘ 30:20Lit His Their children also will be as formerly,And 30:20Lit his their congregation shall be established before Me;And I will punish all 30:20Lit his their oppressors.
21 ‘And 30:21Lit his their mighty one shall be one of them,And 30:21Lit his their ruler shall come forth from 30:21Lit his their midst;And I will bring Him near, and He shall approach Me;For who woulddareto give his heart as security to approach Me?’ declares Yahweh.
22 ‘You shall be My people,And I will be your God.’ ”
23 ¶Behold, the storm of Yahweh!Wrath has gone forth,A 30:23Or raging sweeping storm;It will burst on the head of the wicked.
24 The burning anger of Yahweh will not turn backUntil He has done and until He has establishedThe intent of His heart;In the last days you will understand this.