Jeremiah 30

1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

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

2 Thus speaketh the LORD God of Israel, saying, Write for thee all the words that I have spoken to thee in a book.

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

3 For lo, the days come, saith the LORD; that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the LORD: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall 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 And these [are] the words that the LORD spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah.

This what the Lord said about Israel and Judah.

5 For thus saith the LORD; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.

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

6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? Why do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?

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 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.

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 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more bring him into subjection:

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 But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up to them.

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

10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the LORD; 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 quiet, and none shall 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 thee, saith the LORD, 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.

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 thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise [is] incurable, [and] thy 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] none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.

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

14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisements of a cruel one, for the multitude of thy iniquity; [because] thy sins were increased.

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 criest thou for thy affliction? thy sorrow [is] incurable for the multitude of thy iniquity: [because] thy sins were increased, I have done these things to thee.

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 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thy adversaries, every one of them shall go into captivity; and they that plunder thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.

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 For I will restore health to thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, [saying], This [is] Zion, whom no man seeketh after.

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 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places; and the city shall be built upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after its manner.

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 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.

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 also shall be as in former time, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

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 And their nobles shall be from themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach time: for who [is] this that engaged his heart to approach to me? saith the LORD.

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 ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.

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

23 Behold, the whirlwind of the LORD goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head 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 shall not return, until he hath done [it], and until he hath performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.

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