Study Desk

The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

"This is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: '^(C1)Write all the words which I have spoken to you in a book.

'For behold, ^(C1)days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will ^(C2)restore the fortunes of My people ^(C3)Israel and Judah.' The LORD says, 'I will also ^(C4)bring them back to the land that I gave to their forefathers, and they shall take possession of it.'"

Now these are the words which the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah:

"For this is what the LORD says: '^(F1)I have heard a sound of ^(C1)terror, Of fear, and there is no peace.

-'Ask now, and see If a male can give birth. Why do I see every man With his hands on his waist, ^(C1)as a woman in childbirth? And why have all faces turned pale?

-'Woe, for that ^(C1)day is great, There is ^(C2)none like it; And it is the time of Jacob's ^(C3)distress, Yet he will be ^(C4)saved from it.

'It shall come about on that day,' declares the LORD of armies, 'that I will ^(C1)break his yoke from ^(F1)their necks and will tear to pieces ^(F2)their ^(C2)restraints; and strangers will no longer ^(C3)make ^(F3)them their slaves.

'But they shall serve the LORD their God and ^(C1)David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

-'And ^(C1)do not fear, Jacob My servant,' declares the LORD, 'And do not be dismayed, Israel; For behold, I am going to save you ^(C2)from far away, And your ^(F1)descendants from the land of their captivity. And Jacob will return and be ^(C3)at peace, without anxiety, And ^(C4)no one will make him afraid.

-'For ^(C1)I am with you,' declares the LORD, 'to save you; For I will completely ^(C2)destroy all the nations where I have scattered you, Only I will ^(C3)not destroy you completely. But I will ^(C4)discipline you fairly And will by no means leave you unpunished.'

"For this is what the LORD says: 'Your broken limb is irreparable, And your ^(C1)wound is incurable.

-'There is no one to plead your cause; No healing for your sore, ^(C1)No recovery for you.

-'All your ^(C1)lovers have forgotten you, They do not seek you; For I have ^(C2)wounded you with the wound of an enemy, With the ^(C3)punishment of a ^(C4)cruel one, Because your ^(C5)wrongdoing is great, And your ^(C6)sins are numerous.

-'Why do you cry out over your injury? Your pain is incurable. Because your wrongdoing is great And your sins are numerous, I have done these things to you.

-'Therefore all who ^(C1)devour you will be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, ^(C2)will go into captivity; And those who plunder you will become plunder, And all who plunder you I will turn into plunder.

-'For I will ^(F1)restore you to ^(F2)(C1)health And I will heal you of your wounds,' declares the LORD, 'Because they have called you an ^(C2)outcast, saying: "It is Zion; no one ^(F3)cares for her."'

"This is what the LORD says: 'Behold, I will ^(C1)restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And ^(C2)have compassion on his dwellings; And the ^(C3)city will be rebuilt on its ruins, And the ^(C4)palace will stand on its rightful place.

-'From them will come a ^(C1)song of thanksgiving And the voices of those who ^(F1)(C2)celebrate; And I will ^(C3)multiply them and they will not decrease; I will ^(C4)honor them and they will not be insignificant.

-'^(F1)Their children also will be as before, And ^(F2)their congregation will be ^(C1)established before Me; And I will punish all ^(F2)their oppressors.

-'^(F1)Their ^(C1)leader shall be one of them, And ^(F1)their ruler will come out from ^(F1)their midst; And I will ^(C2)bring him near and he shall approach Me; For ^(F2)who would dare to risk his life to ^(C3)approach Me?' declares the LORD.

'You shall be ^(C1)My people, And I will be your God.'"

Behold, the ^(C1)tempest of the LORD! Wrath has gone forth, A ^(F1)sweeping tempest; It will whirl upon the head of the wicked.

The ^(C1)fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back Until He has performed and accomplished The intent of His heart. In the ^(C2)latter days you will understand this.