301 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord , saying , 2 "Thus says the Lord , the God of Israel , ' Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book . 3 'For behold , days are coming ,' declares the Lord , 'when I will restore the fortunes of My people Israel and Judah .' The Lord says , 'I will also bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers and they shall possess it.' " 4 Now these are the words which the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah : 5 "For thus says the Lord , 'I have heard a sound of terror , Of dread , and there is no peace . 6 'Ask now , and see If a male can give birth . Why do I see every man With his hands on his loins , as a woman in childbirth ? And why have 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 'It shall come about on that day ,' declares the Lord of hosts , 'that I will break his yoke from off their neck and will tear off their bonds ; and strangers will 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 ' Fear not, O Jacob My servant ,' declares the Lord , 'And do not be dismayed , O Israel ; For behold , I will save you from afar And your offspring from the land of their captivity . And Jacob will return and will be quiet and at ease , And no one will make him afraid . 11 'For I am with you,' declares the Lord , 'to save you; For I will destroy e completely all the nations where e I have scattered you, Only I will not destroy e you completely . But I will chasten you justly And will by no means leave you unpunished .' 12 "For thus says the Lord , 'Your wound is incurable And your injury is serious . 13 'There is no one to plead your cause ; No healing for your sore , No recovery for you. 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 punishment of a cruel one , Because your iniquity is great And your sins are numerous . 15 'Why do you cry out over your injury ? Your pain is incurable . Because your iniquity is great And 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 be for plunder , And all who prey upon you I will give for prey . 17 'For I will restore you to health And I will heal you of your wounds ,' declares the Lord , 'Because they have called you an outcast , saying: "It is Zion ; no one cares for her."'
18 "Thus says the Lord , 'Behold , I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have compassion on his dwelling places ; And the city will be rebuilt on its ruin , And the palace will stand on its rightful place . 19 'From them will proceed thanksgiving And the voice of those who celebrate ; And I will multiply them and they will not be diminished ; I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant . 20 'Their children also will be as formerly , And their congregation shall be established before Me; And I will punish all their oppressors . 21 'Their leader shall be one of them, And their ruler shall come forth from their midst ; And I will bring him near and he shall approach Me; For who would dare to risk his life to approach Me?' declares the Lord . 22 'You shall be My people , And I will be your God .' " 23 Behold , the tempest of the Lord ! Wrath has gone forth , A sweeping tempest ; It will burst on the head of the wicked . 24 The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back Until He has performed and until He has accomplished The intent of His heart ; In the latter days you will understand this.
