Study Desk

Promise of Restoration

While Jeremiah was still confined^(a) in the courtyard^(b) of the guard, the word of the Lord came to him a second time:^(c)

"This is what the Lord says, he who made the earth,^(d) the Lord who formed it and established it—the Lord is his name:^(e)

‘Call^(f) to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable^(g) things you do not know.'

For this is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says about the houses in this city and the royal palaces of Judah that have been torn down to be used against the siege^(h) ramps⁽ⁱ⁾ and the sword

in the fight with the Babylonians^[a]: ‘They will be filled with the dead bodies of the people I will slay in my anger and wrath.^(j) I will hide my face^(k) from this city because of all its wickedness.

"‘Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal^(l) my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace^(m) and security.

I will bring Judah⁽ⁿ⁾ and Israel back from captivity^[b](o) and will rebuild^(p) them as they were before.^(q)

I will cleanse^(r) them from all the sin they have committed against me and will forgive^(s) all their sins of rebellion against me.

Then this city will bring me renown,^(t) joy, praise^(u) and honor^(v) before all nations on earth that hear of all the good things I do for it; and they will be in awe and will tremble^(w) at the abundant prosperity and peace I provide for it.'

"This is what the Lord says: ‘You say about this place, "It is a desolate waste, without people or animals."^(x) Yet in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are deserted,^(y) inhabited by neither people nor animals, there will be heard once more

the sounds of joy and gladness,^(z) the voices of bride and bridegroom, and the voices of those who bring thank offerings^(aa) to the house of the Lord , saying, "Give thanks to the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is good;^(ab) his love endures forever."^(ac) For I will restore the fortunes^(ad) of the land as they were before,^(ae)' says the Lord .

"This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In this place, desolate^(af) and without people or animals^(ag)—in all its towns there will again be pastures for shepherds to rest their flocks.^(ah)

In the towns of the hill^(ai) country, of the western foothills and of the Negev,^(aj) in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hand^(ak) of the one who counts them,' says the Lord .

"‘The days are coming,' declares the Lord , ‘when I will fulfill the good promise^(al) I made to the people of Israel and Judah.

"‘In those days and at that time I will make a righteous^(am) Branch^(an) sprout from David's line;^(ao) he will do what is just and right in the land.

In those days Judah will be saved^(ap) and Jerusalem will live in safety.^(aq) This is the name by which it^[c] will be called:^(ar) The Lord Our Righteous Savior.'^(as)

For this is what the Lord says: ‘David will never fail^(at) to have a man to sit on the throne of Israel,

nor will the Levitical^(au) priests^(av) ever fail to have a man to stand before me continually to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings and to present sacrifices.^(aw)'"

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

"This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can break my covenant with the day^(ax) and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time,^(ay)

then my covenant^(az) with David my servant—and my covenant with the Levites^(ba) who are priests ministering before me—can be broken and David will no longer have a descendant to reign on his throne.^(bb)

I will make the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who minister before me as countless^(bc) as the stars in the sky and as measureless as the sand on the seashore.'"

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

"Have you not noticed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two kingdoms^[d](bd) he chose'? So they despise^(be) my people and no longer regard them as a nation.^(bf)

This is what the Lord says: ‘If I have not made my covenant with day and night^(bg) and established the laws^(bh) of heaven and earth,^(bi)

then I will reject^(bj) the descendants of Jacob^(bk) and David my servant and will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes^[e](bl) and have compassion^(bm) on them.'"

God Rejects Zedekiah's Request

The word came to Jeremiah from the Lord when King Zedekiah^(a) sent to him Pashhur^(b) son of Malkijah and the priest Zephaniah^(c) son of Maaseiah. They said:

"Inquire^(d) now of the Lord for us because Nebuchadnezzar^[a](e) king of Babylon^(f) is attacking us. Perhaps the Lord will perform wonders^(g) for us as in times past so that he will withdraw from us."

But Jeremiah answered them, "Tell Zedekiah,

‘This is what the Lord , the God of Israel, says: I am about to turn^(h) against you the weapons of war that are in your hands, which you are using to fight the king of Babylon and the Babylonians^[b] who are outside the wall besieging⁽ⁱ⁾ you. And I will gather them inside this city.

I myself will fight^(j) against you with an outstretched hand^(k) and a mighty arm^(l) in furious anger and in great wrath.

I will strike^(m) down those who live in this city—both man and beast—and they will die of a terrible plague.⁽ⁿ⁾

After that, declares the Lord , I will give Zedekiah^(o) king of Judah, his officials and the people in this city who survive the plague,^(p) sword and famine, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon^(q) and to their enemies^(r) who want to kill them.^(s) He will put them to the sword;^(t) he will show them no mercy or pity or compassion.'^(u)

"Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life^(v) and the way of death.

Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.^(w) But whoever goes out and surrenders^(x) to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; they will escape with their lives.^(y)

I have determined to do this city harm^(z) and not good, declares the Lord . It will be given into the hands^(aa) of the king of Babylon, and he will destroy it with fire.'^(ab)

"Moreover, say to the royal house^(ac) of Judah, ‘Hear the word of the Lord .

This is what the Lord says to you, house of David: "‘Administer justice^(ad) every morning; rescue from the hand of the oppressor^(ae) the one who has been robbed, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire^(af) because of the evil^(ag) you have done— burn with no one to quench^(ah) it.

I am against^(ai) you, Jerusalem, you who live above this valley^(aj) on the rocky plateau, declares the Lord — you who say, "Who can come against us? Who can enter our refuge?"^(ak)

I will punish you as your deeds^(al) deserve, declares the Lord . I will kindle a fire^(am) in your forests^(an) that will consume everything around you.'"