1. Jeremiah received the Lord’s word:
2. The Lord, the God of Israel, proclaims: Write down in a scroll all the words I have spoken to you.
3. The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from captivity, says the Lord. I will bring them home to the land that I gave to their ancestors, and they will possess it.
4. Here are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah:
5. The Lord proclaims:I hear screams of panic and terror;no one is safe.
6. Ask and see:Can men bear children?Then why do I see every manbent over in pain, as if he’s in labor?Why have all turned pale?
7. That day is awful, beyond words.A time of unspeakable painfor my people Jacob.But they will be delivered from it.
8. At that time, I will break the yoke off their necks and remove their shackles. Foreigners will no longer enslave them, declares the Lord of heavenly forces.
9. They will serve the Lord their God and the king whom I will raise up for them from David’s family.
10. So don’t be afraid, my servant Jacob,declares the Lord, Don’t lose hope, Israel.I will deliver you from faraway placesand your children from the land of their exile.My people Jacob will again be safe and sound,with no one harassing them.
11. I am with you and will rescue you,declares the Lord.I will put an end to all the nationswhere I have scattered you.But I won’t put an end to you.I won’t let you remain unpunished:I will discipline you as you deserve.
12. This is what the Lord says:Your injury is incurable;your illness is grave.
13. No one comes to your aid;no one attends to your wound;your disease is incurable.
14. All your lovers disregard you;they write you off as a lost cause,because I have dealt harshly with youas an enemy would,because your guilt is greatand your sins are many.