1The message that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying,
2“Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.
3For look, the days are coming,’ says Yahweh, ‘when I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from captivity,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will bring them back to the land I gave to their ancestors, and they will possess it.’”
4These are the words Yahweh spoke about Israel and Judah.
5Yahweh says: “We have heard cries of trembling and fear, not of peace.
6Stop and consider if a man can give birth. So why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, like a woman in labor? And why are all faces pale?
7Oh no! That day will be terrible, unlike any other. It is a time of extreme trouble for Jacob, but he will be rescued from it.
8On that day, says Yahweh of Armies, I will break the yoke from your neck and shatter your chains. Foreigners will no longer make them their slaves.
9Instead, they will serve Yahweh their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.
10So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, says Yahweh. Do not be discouraged, Israel. Look, I will save you from distant lands and your descendants from the land where they are captive. Jacob will return and live in peace and security, and no one will make him afraid.
11For I am with you to save you, says Yahweh. I will completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you. But I will not completely destroy you. Instead, I will discipline you fairly and will not let you go unpunished.”
12For Yahweh says, “Your injury is incurable, and your wound is severe.
13There is no one to defend your cause or to bandage your wounds. You have no healing medicine.
14All your allies have forgotten you. They do not look for you. I have wounded you as an enemy would, with the punishment of a cruel one, because your wickedness was great and your sins increased.
15Why do you complain about your injury? Your pain is incurable. Because your wickedness was great and your sins increased, I have done these things to you.
16Therefore, all who devour you will be devoured, and all your enemies, every one of them, will be taken captive. Those who plunder you will be plundered, and I will hand over all who prey on you as prey.
17For I will restore your health and heal your wounds,” says Yahweh, “because they have called you an outcast, saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no one cares about.’”
18Yahweh says: “Look, I will bring back the captives to Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwelling places. The city will be rebuilt on its own hill, and the palace will be lived in again in its proper place.
19From them will come thanksgiving and the sound of joyful people. I will make them numerous, and they will not be few. I will also make them honored, and they will not be insignificant.
20Their children will be as they were before, and their community will be established before me. I will punish all who oppress them.
21Their leader will be one of their own, and their ruler will come from among them. I will call him near, and he will approach me. For who would dare to approach me?” says Yahweh.
22“You will be my people, and I will be your God.”
23Look, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out, a swirling storm. It will burst on the heads of the wicked.
24Yahweh’s intense anger will not stop until he has carried out his plans. In the future, you will understand this.