Jeremiah 30
1 This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:
The word that came to Jeremiah from Yhwh, saying,
2 This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Write down in a book everything I've told you.
Thus speaketh Yhwh God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
3 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.
For, lo, the days come, saith Yhwh, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith Yhwh: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4 This what the Lord said about Israel and Judah.
And these are the words that Yhwh spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5 This is what the Lord says: Hear the cries of panic, cries of fear, not peace.
For thus saith Yhwh; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
6 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?
Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 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.
Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.
8 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.
For it shall come to pass in that day, saith Yhwh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
9 They will serve the Lord their God, and their king, David's descendant whom I will give them.
But they shall serve Yhwh their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10 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.
Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith Yhwh; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
11 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.
For I am with thee, saith Yhwh, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet will I not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
12 This is what the Lord says: You have a wound that cannot be healed, you have a terrible injury.
For thus saith Yhwh, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
13 There's no one to take care of your case, no cure for your sores, no healing for you.
There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
14 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.
All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
15 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.
Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
16 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.
Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
17 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.
For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith Yhwh; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
18 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.
Thus saith Yhwh; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
19 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.
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children will be looked after like they used to be. I will make their nation strong again, and punish anyone who attacks them.
Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
21 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.
And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith Yhwh.
22 You will be my people, and I will be your God.
And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23 Watch out! The Lord has sent out a furious storm, a tornado swirling around the heads of the wicked.
Behold, the whirlwind of Yhwh goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
24 The Lord's anger won't fade until he's finished doing everything he wants. Only then will you really understand.
The fierce anger of Yhwh shall not return, until he have done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.
