1. The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2. “the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book.
3. For, behold, the days come,’ says the Lord, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says the Lord. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”
4. These are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5. For the Lord says:“We have heard a voice of trembling;a voice of fear, and not of peace.
6. Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child.Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail,and all faces are turned pale?
7. Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it.It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;but he will be saved out of it.
8. It will come to pass in that day, says the Lord of Hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck,and will burst your bonds.Strangers will no more make them their bondservants;
9. but they will serve the Lord their God,and David their king,whom I will raise up to them.
10. Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says the Lord.Don’t be dismayed, Israel.For, behold, I will save you from afar,and save your offspring from the land of their captivity.Jacob will return,and will be quiet and at ease.No one will make him afraid.
11. For I am with you, says the Lord, to save you;for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you,but I will not make a full end of you;but I will correct you in measure,and will in no way leave you unpunished.”
12. For the Lord says,“Your hurt is incurable.Your wound is grievous.
13. There is no one to plead your cause,that you may be bound up.You have no healing medicines.
14. All your lovers have forgotten you.They don’t seek you.For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,with the chastisement of a cruel one,for the greatness of your iniquity,because your sins were increased.
15. Why do you cry over your injury?Your pain is incurable.For the greatness of your iniquity,because your sins have increased,I have done these things to you.
16. Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured.All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity.Those who plunder you will be plunder.I will make all who prey on you become prey.