Jeremiah, 30

1. The following message came to Jeremiah from the LORD:

1. The word which came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, as follows,

2. Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel: Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.

2. 'Yahweh, God of Israel, says this, "Write for yourself in a book all the words I have spoken to you.

3. For behold, the days will come, says the LORD, when I will change the lot of my people (of Israel and Judah, says the LORD), and bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers; they shall have it as their possession.

3. For look, the days are coming, Yahweh declares, when I shall bring back the captives of my people Israel (and Judah), Yahweh says. I shall make them come back and take possession of the country I gave to their ancestors." '

4. These are the words which the LORD spoke to Israel and to Judah:

4. These are the words Yahweh spoke about Israel (and Judah):

5. thus says the LORD: A cry of dismay we hear; fear reigns, not peace.

5. Yahweh says this: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, not of peace.

6. Inquire, and see: since when do men bear children? Why, then, do I see all these men, with their hands on their loins like women in childbirth? Why have all their faces turned deathly pale?

6. Now ask and see: can a man bear children? Then why do I see each man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labour? Why has every face grown pale?

7. How mighty is that day-- none like it! A time of distress for Jacob, though he shall be saved from it.

7. Disaster! This is the great day, no other like it: a time of distress for Jacob, though he will be saved from it.

8. On that day, says the LORD of hosts, "I will break his yoke from off your necks and snap your bonds." Strangers shall no longer enslave them;

8. (That day, Yahweh Sabaoth declares, I shall break the yoke now on your neck and snap your chains; and foreigners will enslave you no more,

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

9. but Israel and Judah will serve Yahweh their God, and David their king whom I shall raise up for them.)

10. But you, my servant Jacob, fear not, says the LORD, be not dismayed, O Israel! Behold, I will deliver you from the far-off land, your descendants, from their land of exile; Jacob shall again find rest, shall be tranquil and undisturbed,

10. So do not be afraid, my servant Jacob, Yahweh declares, Israel, do not be alarmed: for look, I shall rescue you from distant countries and your descendants from the country where they are captive. Jacob will return and be at peace, secure, with no one to trouble him.

11. for I am with you, says the LORD, to deliver you. I will make an end of all the nations among which I have scattered you; but of you I will not make an end. I will chastise you as you deserve, I will not let you go unpunished.

11. For I am with you to save you, Yahweh declares, I shall make an end of all the nations where I have driven you, but I shall not make an end of you, only discipline you in moderation, not to let you go quite unpunished.

12. For thus says the LORD: Incurable is your wound, grievous your bruise;

12. Yes, Yahweh says this: Your wound is incurable, your injury past healing.

13. There is none to plead your cause, no remedy for your running sore, no healing for you.

13. There is no one to plead your cause; for an ulcer there are remedies, but for you no cure at all.

14. All your lovers have forgotten you, they do not seek you. I struck you as an enemy would strike, punished you cruelly;

14. All your lovers have forgotten you, they look for you no more. Yes, I have struck you as an enemy strikes, with cruel punishment (because of your great guilt and countless sins).

15. Why cry out over your wound? your pain is without relief. Because of your great guilt, your numerous sins, I have done this to you.

15. Why cry out because of your wound? Your pain is incurable! Because of your great guilt and countless sins, I have treated you like this.

16. Yet all who devour you shall be devoured, all your enemies shall go into exile. All who plunder you shall be plundered, all who pillage you I will hand over to pillage.

16. But all those who devoured you will be devoured, all your enemies, all, go into captivity, those who despoiled you will be despoiled, and all who pillaged you be pillaged.

17. For I will restore you to health; of your wounds I will heal you, says the LORD. "The outcast" they have called you, "with no avenger."

17. For I shall restore you to health and heal your wounds, Yahweh declares, you who used to be called 'Outcast', 'Zion for whom no one cares'.

18. Thus says the LORD: See! I will restore the tents of Jacob, his dwellings I will pity; City shall be rebuilt upon hill, and palace restored as it was.

18. Yahweh says this: Look, I shall restore the tents of Jacob and take pity on his dwellings: the town will be rebuilt on its mound, the stronghold where it ought to stand.

19. From them will resound songs of praise, the laughter of happy men. I will make them not few, but many; they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.

19. From them will come thanksgiving and shouts of joy. I shall make them increase, they will not decrease; I shall make them honoured, no more to be humbled.

20. His sons shall be as of old, his assembly before me shall stand firm; I will punish all his oppressors.

20. Their sons will be as once they were, their community fixed firmly before me, and I shall punish all their oppressors.

21. His leader shall be one of his own, and his rulers shall come from his kin. When I summon him, he shall approach me; how else should one take the deadly risk of approaching me? says the LORD.

21. Their prince will be one of their own, their ruler come from their own people, and I shall permit him to approach me freely; for who, otherwise, would be so bold as to approach me, Yahweh demands?

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

22. You will be my people and I shall be your God.

23. See, the storm of the LORD! His wrath breaks forth In a whirling storm that bursts upon the heads of the wicked.

23. Look, Yahweh's hurricane, his wrath, bursts out, a roaring hurricane, to burst on the heads of the wicked;

24. The anger of the LORD will not abate until he has done and fulfilled what he has determined in his heart. When the time comes, you will fully understand.

24. Yahweh's burning anger will not turn aside until he has performed, has carried out, what he has in mind. In the final days, you will understand this.