The Father Promises to Restore His Family
30 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from our Father:
2 This is what our Father of Israel says: Write down all the words I have spoken to you in a book. 3 For look — the days are coming, declares our Father, when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah, says our Father, and I will bring them back to the land I gave their ancestors, and they will take possession of it.
4 These are the words our Father spoke concerning Israel and Judah:
5 This is what our Father says: We have heard a cry of terror — dread, and no peace. 6 Ask now and see: can a male give birth? Why then do I see every strong man with his hands on his sides like a woman in labor, and every face turned pale? 7 How dreadful that day is! There is none like it. It is a time of distress for Jacob — yet out of it he will be saved. 8 On that day, declares the Father of heaven's armies, I will break the yoke from your neck and snap your bonds, and foreigners will no longer enslave him. 9 Instead they will serve our Father, and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant, declares our Father, and do not be dismayed, Israel; for look — I will save you from far away, and your children from the land of their captivity. Jacob will return to quiet and ease, and no one will make him afraid. 11 For I am with you to save you, declares our Father. Though I completely destroy all the nations among whom I scattered you, I will not completely destroy you. But I will discipline you with justice, and I will not leave you entirely unpunished.
12 For this is what our Father says: Your injury is incurable, your wound is severe. 13 There is no one to plead your case; for your wound there is no medicine, no healing for you. 14 All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you. For I have struck you as an enemy strikes, with the discipline of a cruel person, because your guilt is great and your sins are many. 15 Why do you cry out over your injury? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great and your sins are many, I have done these things to you. 16 Therefore all who devour you will be devoured, and all your foes — every one of them — will go into captivity; those who plunder you will be plundered, and all who prey on you I will hand over as prey. 17 For I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares our Father, because they called you an outcast: "This is Zion — no one cares for her."
18 This is what our Father says: Look — I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents, and my heart will be moved with compassion for his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace will stand where it belongs. 19 Out of them will come thanksgiving and the sounds of celebration. I will multiply them, and they will not be few; I will honor them, and they will not be small. 20 Their children will be as they were of old, and their assembly will be established before me, and I will punish all who oppress them. 21 Their leader will be one of their own, and their ruler will come from among them. I will bring him near, and he will approach me — for who would otherwise dare to risk his life to approach me? declares our Father. a a v21 The ruler who alone is brought near to draw close to our Father points ahead to Jesus, the one who opens the way to the Father for all his children. 22 And you will be my children, and I will be your Father.
23 Look — the storm of our Father! Wrath has gone out, a sweeping tempest; it will whirl down on the head of the wicked. 24 The burning anger of our Father will not turn back until he has carried out and fulfilled the purposes of his heart. In the days to come you will understand this.