Study Desk

"For thus says Yahweh, ‘When seventy years have been fulfilled for Babylon, I will visit you and establish My good word to you, to return you to this place.

For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares Yahweh, ‘plans for peace and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope.

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

"Because you have said, ‘Yahweh has raised up prophets for us in Babylon'—

for thus says Yahweh concerning the king who sits on the throne of David and concerning all the people who live in this city, your brothers who did not go with you into exile—

For he has sent to us in Babylon, saying, ‘The exile will be long; build houses and live in them and plant gardens and eat their fruit.'"'"

For behold, days are coming,' declares Yahweh, ‘when I will return the 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.'"

"For thus says Yahweh,‘We have heard a sound of trembling,Of dread, and there is no peace.

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.

But they shall be a slave to Yahweh their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

Fear not, O Jacob My 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.

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.'

"For thus says Yahweh,‘Your injury is incurable,And your wound is desperately sick.

There is no one to plead your cause;No healing for your sore,No recovery for you.

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 numerousAnd your sins are mighty.

For I will restore you to 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."'

And their mighty one 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 give his heart as security to approach Me?' declares Yahweh.

For there will be a day when watchmenOn the hills of Ephraim call out,‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,To Yahweh our God.'"

For thus says Yahweh,"Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,And shout among the head of the nations;Make it heard, give praise, and say,‘O Yahweh, save Your people,The remnant of Israel.'

With weeping they will come,And by supplication I will lead them;I will make them walk by streams of waters,On a straight path in which they will not stumble;For I am a father to Israel,And Ephraim is My firstborn."