30 1 The return of the people from Babylon. 16 He menaceth the enemies,  18 and comforteth the Church.

The word, that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,

Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee, in [a]a book.

For lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: for I will restore them unto the land, that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.

Again, these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel, and concerning Judah.

For thus saith the Lord, We have heard a [b]terrible voice, of fear and not of peace.

Demand now and behold, if man travail with child: wherefore do I behold every man with his hands on his loins as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into a paleness?

Alas, for this [c]day is great: none hath been like it: it is even the time of Jacob’s trouble, yet shall he be delivered from it.

[d]For in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, I will break [e]his yoke from off thy neck, and break thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves [f]of him.

But they shall serve the Lord their God, and [g]David their King, whom I will raise up unto them.

10 Therefore fear not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord, neither be afraid, O Israel: for lo, I will deliver thee from a far country, and thy seed from the land of their captivity, and Jacob shall turn again, and shall be in rest and prosperity, and none shall make him afraid.

11 For I am with thee saith the Lord, to save thee: though I utterly destroy all the nations where I have scattered thee, yet will I not utterly destroy thee, but I will correct thee by judgment, and not utterly cut thee off.

12 For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruising is incurable, and thy wound is dolorous.

13 There is none to judge thy cause, or to lay a plaster: there are no medicines, nor help for thee.

14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee: they seek thee not: for I have stricken thee with the wound of an enemy, and with a sharp chastisement for the multitude of thine iniquities, because thy sins were increased.

15 Why cryest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable, for the multitude of thine iniquities: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.

16 [h]Therefore all they that devour thee, shall be devoured, and all thine enemies everyone shall go into captivity, and they that spoil thee, shall be spoiled, and all they that rob thee, will I give to be robbed.

17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord, because they called thee, The castaway, saying, This is Zion whom no man seeketh after.

18 Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have compassion on his dwelling places, and the city shall be built upon her own heap, [i]and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.

19 And out of them shall proceed [j]thanksgiving, and the voice of them that are joyous, and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few: I will also glorify them, and they shall not be diminished.

20 Their children also shall be as afore time, and their congregation shall be established before me: and I will visit all that vex them.

21 And their [k]noble ruler shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them, and I will cause him to draw near and approach unto me: for who is this that directeth his [l]heart to come unto me, saith the Lord?

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

23 Behold, [m]the tempest of the Lord goeth forth with wrath: the whirlwind that hangeth over, shall light upon the head of the wicked.

24 The fierce wrath of the Lord shall not return, until he have done, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the [n]latter days ye shall understand it.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 30:2 Because they should be assured and their posterity confirmed in the hope of this deliverance promised.
  2. Jeremiah 30:5 He showeth that before that this deliverance shall come, the Chaldeans should be extremely afflicted by their enemies, and that they should be in such perplexity and sorrow as a woman in her travail, as Isa. 13:8.
  3. Jeremiah 30:7 Meaning, that the time of their captivity should be grievous.
  4. Jeremiah 30:8 When I shall visit Babylon.
  5. Jeremiah 30:8 Of the King of Babylon.
  6. Jeremiah 30:8 To wit, of Jacob.
  7. Jeremiah 30:9 That is, Messiah which should come of the stock of David, according to the flesh and should be the true pastor, as Ezek. 34:23, who is set forth and his kingdom that should be everlasting in the person of David, Hos. 3:5.
  8. Jeremiah 30:16 Herein is commended God’s great mercy toward his, who doth not destroy them for their sins, but correct and chastise them till he have purged and pardoned them, and so burneth the rods by the which he did punish them, Isa. 33:1.
  9. Jeremiah 30:18 Meaning, that the city and the Temple should be restored to their former estate.
  10. Jeremiah 30:19 He showeth how the people shall with praise and thanksgiving acknowledge these benefits.
  11. Jeremiah 30:21 Meaning, Zerubbabel, who was the figure of Christ, in whom this was accomplished.
  12. Jeremiah 30:21 Signifying, that Christ doth willingly submit himself to the obedience of God his father.
  13. Jeremiah 30:23 Lest the wicked hypocrites should flatter themselves with these promises, the Prophets showeth what shall be their portion.
  14. Jeremiah 30:24 When this Messiah and deliverer is sent.

Restoration of Israel

30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write(A) in a book all the words I have spoken to you. The days(B) are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring(C) my people Israel and Judah back from captivity[a] and restore(D) them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”

These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Cries of fear(E) are heard—
    terror, not peace.
Ask and see:
    Can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
    with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor,(F)
    every face turned deathly pale?(G)
How awful that day(H) will be!
    No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble(I) for Jacob,
    but he will be saved(J) out of it.

“‘In that day,’ declares the Lord Almighty,
    ‘I will break the yoke(K) off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;(L)
    no longer will foreigners enslave them.(M)
Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
    and David(N) their king,(O)
    whom I will raise up for them.

10 “‘So do not be afraid,(P) Jacob my servant;(Q)
    do not be dismayed, Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I will surely save(R) you out of a distant place,
    your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,(S)
    and no one will make him afraid.(T)
11 I am with you(U) and will save you,’
    declares the Lord.
‘Though I completely destroy all the nations
    among which I scatter you,
    I will not completely destroy(V) you.
I will discipline(W) you but only in due measure;
    I will not let you go entirely unpunished.’(X)

12 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘Your wound(Y) is incurable,
    your injury beyond healing.(Z)
13 There is no one to plead your cause,(AA)
    no remedy for your sore,
    no healing(AB) for you.
14 All your allies(AC) have forgotten you;
    they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy(AD) would
    and punished you as would the cruel,(AE)
because your guilt is so great
    and your sins(AF) so many.
15 Why do you cry out over your wound,
    your pain that has no cure?(AG)
Because of your great guilt and many sins
    I have done these things to you.(AH)

16 “‘But all who devour(AI) you will be devoured;
    all your enemies will go into exile.(AJ)
Those who plunder(AK) you will be plundered;
    all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
17 But I will restore you to health
    and heal(AL) your wounds,’
declares the Lord,
‘because you are called an outcast,(AM)
    Zion for whom no one cares.’(AN)

18 “This is what the Lord says:

“‘I will restore the fortunes(AO) of Jacob’s tents(AP)
    and have compassion(AQ) on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt(AR) on her ruins,
    and the palace will stand in its proper place.
19 From them will come songs(AS) of thanksgiving(AT)
    and the sound of rejoicing.(AU)
I will add to their numbers,(AV)
    and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honor,(AW)
    and they will not be disdained.
20 Their children(AX) will be as in days of old,
    and their community will be established(AY) before me;
    I will punish(AZ) all who oppress them.
21 Their leader(BA) will be one of their own;
    their ruler will arise from among them.(BB)
I will bring him near(BC) and he will come close to me—
    for who is he who will devote himself
    to be close to me?’
declares the Lord.
22 “‘So you will be my people,(BD)
    and I will be your God.(BE)’”

23 See, the storm(BF) of the Lord
    will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
    on the heads of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger(BG) of the Lord will not turn back(BH)
    until he fully accomplishes
    the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
    you will understand(BI) this.

Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 30:3 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah