10. The Lord proclaims: You have said about this place, "It is a wasteland, without humans or animals." Yet in the ravaged and uninhabited towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem,
11. the sounds of joy and laughter and the voices of the bride and the bridegroom will again be heard. So will the voices of those who say, as thank offerings are brought to the Lord’s temple, "Give thanks to the Lord of heavenly forces, for the Lord is good and his kindness lasts forever." I will bring back the captives of this land as they were before, says the Lord.
12. The Lord of heavenly forces proclaims: This wasteland, without humans or animals—and all its towns—will again become pastures for shepherds to care for their flocks.
13. Shepherds will again count their flocks in the towns of the highlands, the western foothills and the arid southern plain, in the land of Benjamin, as well as in the outlying areas of Jerusalem and the towns of Judah, says the Lord.
14. The time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill my gracious promise with the people of Israel and Judah.
15. In those days and at that time, I will raise up a righteous branch from David’s line, who will do what is just and right in the land.
16. In those days, Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is what he will be called: The Lord Is Our Righteousness.
17. The Lord proclaims: David will always have one of his descendants sit on the throne of the house of Israel.
18. And the levitical priests will always have someone in my presence to make entirely burned offerings and grain offerings, and to present sacrifices.
19. Then the Lord’s word came to Jeremiah: