Restoration for Israel and Judah
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The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:
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2For behold, days are coming, declares the LORD, 3when I will restore 4the fortunes of my people, 5Israel and Judah, says the LORD, 6and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it."
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"Thus says the LORD: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace.
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Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child? 8Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach 9like a woman in labor? 10Why has every face turned pale?
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Alas! 11That day is so great 12there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.
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"And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the LORD of hosts, that I will 13break his 14yoke from off your neck, and I will 15burst your bonds, 16and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him.a
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18"Then fear not, 19O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, 20I will save you from far away, 21and your offspring from the land of their captivity. 22Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid.
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23For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD; 24I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. 25I will 26discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.
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30All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of 31an enemy, the punishment 32of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, 33because your sins are flagrant.
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34Why do you cry out over your hurt? 35Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, 36because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you.
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37Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and 38all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; 39those who plunder you shall be plundered, 40and all who prey on you I will make a prey.
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41For I will restore 42health to you, and 43your wounds I will heal, declares the LORD, because 44they have called you an outcast: 45'It is Zion, for whom no one cares!'
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"Thus says the LORD: Behold, 46I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on 47its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be.
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48Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. 49I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small.
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50Their children shall be as they were of old, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all who oppress them.
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51Their prince shall be one of themselves; 52their ruler shall come out from their midst; 53I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me, 54for who would dare of himself to approach me? declares the LORD.
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.
(English Standard Version - The Holy Bible Online)