Jeremiah 30

1 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:

2 “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you.

This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Write down in a book everything I've told you.

3 For behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will restore from captivity My people Israel and Judah, declares the LORD. I will restore them to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’”

Look, the time is coming, declares the Lord, when I will bring back my people Israel and Judah from captivity, declares the Lord. I will bring them back to the country I gave to their forefathers, and they will own it again.

4 These are the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and Judah.

This what the Lord said about Israel and Judah.

5 Yes, this is what the LORD says: “A cry of panic is heard— a cry of terror, not of peace.

This is what the Lord says: Hear the cries of panic, cries of fear, not peace.

6 Ask now, and see: Can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor and every face turned pale?

Think about it! Can men give birth? No. So why do I see every man holding his stomach with his hands like a woman in labor. Why is every face white as a sheet?

7 How awful that day will be! None will be like it! It is the time of Jacob’s distress, but he will be saved out of it.

What a terrible day it will be—a day like never before! This is the time of trouble for Jacob's descendants, but they will be rescued from it.

8 On that day, declares the LORD of Hosts, I will break the yoke off their necks and tear off their bonds, and no longer will strangers enslave them.

On that day, declares the Lord Almighty, I will break the yoke from their necks and tear off their chains. Foreigners won't make them slaves anymore.

9 Instead, they will serve the LORD their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them.

They will serve the Lord their God, and their king, David's descendant whom I will give them.

10 As for you, O Jacob My servant, do not be afraid, declares the LORD, and do not be dismayed, O Israel. For I will surely save you out of a distant place, your descendants from the land of their captivity! Jacob will return to quiet and ease, with no one to make him afraid.

As far as you're concerned, my servant Jacob, don't be afraid, declares the Lord, Israel, don't be discouraged. I promise to save you from your distant places of exile, your descendants from the countries where they're being held captive. The descendants of Jacob will go home to a quiet and comfortable life, free from any threats.

11 For I am with you to save you, declares the LORD. Though I will completely destroy all the nations to which I have scattered you, I will not completely destroy you. Yet I will discipline you justly, and will by no means leave you unpunished.”

I am with you and I will save you, declares the Lord. Even though I'm going to completely destroy all the nations where I scattered you, I won't completely destroy you. However, I will discipline you as you deserve, and you can be sure I won't leave you unpunished.

12 For this is what the LORD says: “Your injury is incurable; your wound is grievous.

This is what the Lord says: You have a wound that cannot be healed, you have a terrible injury.

13 There is no one to plead your cause, no remedy for your sores, no recovery for you.

There's no one to take care of your case, no cure for your sores, no healing for you.

14 All your lovers have forgotten you; they no longer seek you, for I have struck you as an enemy would, with the discipline of someone cruel, because of your great iniquity and your numerous sins.

All your lovers have forgotten about you; they don't bother looking for you anymore, because I have beaten you as if I were your enemy, the discipline of a cruel person, because of how wicked you are, because of your many sins.

15 Why do you cry out over your wound? Your pain has no cure! Because of your great iniquity and your numerous sins I have done these things to you.

Why are you crying over your wound? You pain can't be cured. I did this to you because of how wicked you are, because of your many sins.

16 Nevertheless, all who devour you will be devoured, and all your adversaries—every one of them— will go off into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered, and all who raided you will be raided.

Even so, everyone who destroys you will be destroyed. All your enemies, every last one, will be sent into exile. Those who plundered you will be plundered, and all who robbed you will be robbed.

17 But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.”

But I will give you back your health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord, because people say you've been abandoned and that no one cares about you, Zion.

18 This is what the LORD says: “I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and have compassion on his dwellings. And the city will be rebuilt on her own ruins, and the palace will stand in its rightful place.

This is what the Lord says: I will bring Jacob's descendants back to their homes and have mercy on their families. The city will be rebuilt on top of its ruins, and the palace once again stand where it should.

19 Thanksgiving will proceed from them, a sound of celebration. I will multiply them, and they will not be decreased; I will honor them, and they will not be belittled.

People will be singing songs of thanks, the sounds of celebration. I will increase their number—they will not become less. I will honor them—they will not be treated as insignificant.

20 Their children will be as in days of old, and their congregation will be established before Me; and I will punish all their oppressors.

Their children will be looked after like they used to be. I will make their nation strong again, and punish anyone who attacks them.

21 Their leader will be one of their own, and their ruler will arise from their midst. And I will bring him near, and he will approach Me, for who would dare on his own to approach Me?”

Their leader will be from their own country, their ruler will be chosen from among them. I will invite him to come close to me, and he will do so, for would anyone dare to approach me without being asked? declares the Lord.

22 “And you will be My people, and I will be your God.”

You will be my people, and I will be your God.

23 Behold, the storm of the LORD has gone out with fury, a whirlwind swirling down upon the heads of the wicked.

Watch out! The Lord has sent out a furious storm, a tornado swirling around the heads of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back until He has fully accomplished the purposes of His heart. In the days to come you will understand this.

The Lord's anger won't fade until he's finished doing everything he wants. Only then will you really understand.