1 The word that came to Jeremiah from Yahweh, saying, 2 "Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘Write all the words that I have spoken to you in a book. 3 For, behold, the days come,’ says Yahweh, ‘that I will reverse the captivity of my people Israel and Judah,’ says Yahweh. ‘I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they will possess it.’"

4 These are the words that Yahweh spoke concerning Israel and concerning Judah. 5 For Yahweh says:

"We have heard a voice of trembling;

a voice of fear, and not of peace.

6 Ask now, and see whether a man travails with child.

Why do I see every man with his hands on his waist, as a woman in travail,

and all faces are turned pale?

7 Alas, for that day is great, so that none is like it!

It is even the time of Jacob’s trouble;

but he will be saved out of it.

8 It will come to pass in that day, says Yahweh of Armies, that I will break his yoke from off your neck,

and will burst your bonds.

Strangers will no more make them their bondservants;

9 but they will serve Yahweh their God,

and David their king,

whom I will raise up to them.

10 Therefore don’t be afraid, O Jacob my servant, says Yahweh.

Don’t be dismayed, Israel.

For, behold, I will save you from afar,

and save your offspring from the land of their captivity.

Jacob will return,

and will be quiet and at ease.

No one will make him afraid.

11 For I am with you, says Yahweh, to save you;

for I will make a full end of all the nations where I have scattered you,

but I will not make a full end of you;

but I will correct you in measure,

and will in no way leave you unpunished."

12 For Yahweh says,

"Your hurt is incurable.

Your wound is grievous.

13 There is no one to plead your cause,

that you may be bound up.

You have no healing medicines.

14 All your lovers have forgotten you.

They don’t seek you.

For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy,

with the chastisement of a cruel one,

for the greatness of your iniquity,

because your sins were increased.

15 Why do you cry over your injury?

Your pain is incurable.

For the greatness of your iniquity,

because your sins have increased,

I have done these things to you.

16 Therefore all those who devour you will be devoured.

All your adversaries, everyone of them, will go into captivity.

Those who plunder you will be plunder.

I will make all who prey on you become prey.

17 For I will restore health to you,

and I will heal you of your wounds," says Yahweh,

"because they have called you an outcast,

saying, ‘It is Zion, whom no man seeks after.’"

18 Yahweh says:

"Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob’s tents,

and have compassion on his dwelling places.

The city will be built on its own hill,

and the palace will be inhabited in its own place.

19 Thanksgiving will proceed out of them

with the voice of those who make merry.

I will multiply them,

and they will not be few;

I will also glorify them,

and they will not be small.

20 Their children also will be as before,

and their congregation will be established before me.

I will punish all who oppress them.

21 Their prince will be one of them,

and their ruler will proceed from among them.

I will cause him to draw near,

and he will approach me;

for who is he who has had boldness to approach me?" says Yahweh.

22 "You shall be my people,

and I will be your God.

23 Behold, Yahweh’s storm, his wrath, has gone out,

a sweeping storm;

it will burst on the head of the wicked.

24 The fierce anger of Yahweh will not return until he has accomplished,

and until he has performed the intentions of his heart.

In the latter days you will understand it."

1 Die woord wat van die HERE tot Jeremia gekom het.

2 So spreek die HERE, die God van Israel: Skryf vir jou in 'n boek al die woorde wat Ek met jou gespreek het;

3 want kyk, daar kom dae, spreek die HERE, dat Ek die lot van my volk Israel en Juda sal verander, sê die HERE; en Ek sal hulle terugbring in die land wat Ek aan hulle vaders gegee het, en hulle sal dit in besit neem.

4 En dit is die woorde wat die HERE gespreek het oor Israel en Juda:

5 Want so sê die HERE: Ons het 'n stem van verskrikking gehoor; daar is vrees en geen vrede nie!

6 Vra tog, en kyk of 'n manspersoon baar? Waarom sien ek elke man met sy hande op sy heupe soos een wat baar, en is alle aangesigte in bleekheid verander?

7 Wee, want die dag is groot, sonder weerga! En dit is 'n tyd van benoudheid vir Jakob; maar hy sal daaruit verlos word.

8 En op die dag, spreek die HERE van die leërskare, sal Ek sy juk verbreek van jou nek af en jou stroppe stukkend ruk; en vreemdes sal hom nie meer diensbaar maak nie.

9 Maar hulle sal die HERE hulle God dien en hulle koning Dawid wat Ek vir hulle sal verwek.

10 Jy dan, wees nie bevrees nie, o my kneg Jakob, spreek die HERE; en wees nie verskrik nie, o Israel! Want kyk, Ek verlos jou uit ver plekke en jou nageslag uit die land van hulle gevangenskap; en Jakob sal terugkom en stil en gerus wees sonder dat iemand hom skrikmaak.

11 Want Ek is met jou, spreek die HERE, om jou te verlos. Want Ek sal 'n einde maak aan al die nasies waarheen Ek jou verstrooi het; maar aan jou sal Ek geen einde maak nie, maar Ek sal jou tugtig met mate, al sal Ek jou sekerlik nie ongestraf laat bly nie.

12 Want so sê die HERE: Jou verbreking is ongeneeslik, jou wond is smartlik.

13 Niemand verskaf reg aan jou nie; daar is geen medisyne vir die sweer, geen genesing vir jou nie.

14 Al jou minnaars het jou vergeet, hulle vra nie na jou nie; want Ek het jou geslaan soos 'n vyand slaan, met 'n wrede tugtiging, omdat jou ongeregtigheid groot is, geweldig jou sondes.

15 Wat skreeu jy vanweë jou verbreking, jou smart wat ongeneeslik is? Omdat jou ongeregtigheid groot is, geweldig jou sondes, het Ek jou hierdie dinge aangedoen.

16 Daarom, almal wat jou opeet, sal opgeëet word; en al jou teëstanders sal almal saam in gevangenskap gaan; en hulle wat jou plunder, sal geplunder word, en Ek sal almal wat jou buitmaak, oorgee as 'n buit.

17 Want Ek sal genesing vir jou tot stand laat kom en jou van jou wonde gesond maak, spreek die HERE; omdat hulle jou noem: die verjaagde. Dit is Sion, sê hulle, niemand vra na haar nie.

18 So sê die HERE: Kyk, Ek verander die lot van die tente van Jakob en sal My oor sy wonings ontferm; en die stad sal op sy puinhoop herbou word, en die paleis sal op sy regte plek staan.

19 En uit hulle sal danksegging uitgaan en 'n stem van spelers; en Ek sal hulle vermenigvuldig, en hulle sal nie verminder nie; en Ek sal hulle verheerlik, en hulle sal nie gering word nie.

20 En sy seuns sal wees soos in die voortyd, en sy vergadering sal voor my aangesig bestendig wees; en Ek sal besoeking doen oor al sy verdrukkers.

21 En sy maghebber sal uit hom afkomstig wees, en sy heerser uit sy midde voortkom; en Ek sal hom laat aankom, en hy sal nader kom na My toe. Want wie is hy tog wat sy lewe daaraan waag om nader te kom na My toe? spreek die HERE.

22 En julle sal vir My 'n volk wees, en Ek sal vir julle 'n God wees.

23 Kyk, 'n storm van die HERE, grimmigheid het uitgegaan, 'n dwarrelstorm! Op die hoof van die goddelose mense breek dit los.

24 Die toorngloed van die HERE sal nie afgewend word nie, totdat Hy uitgevoer en tot stand gebring het die raadslae van sy hart; aan die einde van die dae sal julle dit verstaan.