3. ‘Judah, pray to me, and I will answer you. I will tell you important secrets. You have never heard these things before.’
4. The Lord is the God of Israel. He says these things about the houses in Jerusalem and the royal palaces of Judah. They have been torn down to be used against the attack by the Babylonian army.
5. The Lord says, ‘Some people will come to fight against the Babylonians. They will fill these houses with dead bodies. I killed those people in my hot anger. I have turned away from this city because of all the evil its people have done.
6. “‘But then I will bring health and heal the people there. I will let them enjoy peace and safety.
7. I will make good things happen to Judah and Israel again. I will make them strong as in the past.
8. They sinned against me. But I will wash away that sin. They did evil and turned away from me, but I will forgive them.
9. Then Jerusalem will be a wonderful place! People who live there will be happy. And people from all nations will praise it. This will happen because they will hear about the good things I am doing there. They will be surprised and shocked at the good things and peace I will bring to Jerusalem.’
10. “You are saying, ‘Our country is an empty desert. There are no people or animals living there.’ It is now quiet in the streets of Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah. There are no people or animals there either. But it will be noisy there soon!