^{1 Ref} Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still shut up in the place of the armed watchmen, saying,

^{2 Ref} These are the words of the Lord, who is doing it, the Lord who is forming it, to make it certain; the Lord is his name;

^{3 Ref} Let your cry come to me, and I will give you an answer, and let you see great things and secret things of which you had no knowledge.

^{4 Ref} For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has said about the houses of this town and the houses of the kings of Judah, which have been broken down to make earthworks and ...;

^{5 Ref} ... and to make them full of the dead bodies of men whom I have put to death in my wrath and in my passion, and because of whose evil-doing I have kept my face covered from this town.

^{6 Ref} See, I will make it healthy and well again, I will even make them well; I will let them see peace and good faith in full measure.

^{7 Ref} And I will let the fate of Judah and of Israel be changed, building them up as at first.

^{8 Ref} And I will make them clean from all their sin, with which they have been sinning against me; I will have forgiveness for all their sins, with which they have been sinning against me, and with which they have done evil against me.

^{9 Ref} And this town will be to me for a name of joy, for a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth, who, hearing of all the good which I am doing for them, will be shaking with fear because of all the good and the peace which I am doing for it.

^{10 Ref} This is what the Lord has said: There will again be sounding in this place, of which you say, It is a waste, without man and without beast; even in the towns of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem which are waste and unpeopled, without man and without beast,

^{11 Ref} Happy sounds, the voice of joy, the voice of the newly-married man and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who say, Give praise to the Lord of armies, for the Lord is good, for his mercy is unchanging for ever: the voices of those who go with praise into the house of the Lord. For I will let the land come back to its first condition, says the Lord.

^{12 Ref} This is what the Lord of armies has said: Again there will be in this place, which is a waste, without man and without beast, and in all its towns, a resting-place where the keepers of sheep will make their flocks take rest.

^{13 Ref} In the towns of the hill-country, in the towns of the lowland, and in the towns of the South and in the land of Benjamin and in the country round Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah, the flocks will again go under the hand of him who is numbering them, says the Lord.

^{14 Ref} See, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will give effect to the good word which I have said about the people of Israel and the people of Judah.

^{15 Ref} In those days and at that time, I will let a Branch of righteousness come up for David; and he will be a judge in righteousness in the land.

^{16 Ref} In those days, Judah will have salvation and Jerusalem will be safe: and this is the name which will be given to her: The Lord is our righteousness.

^{17 Ref} For the Lord has said, David will never be without a man to take his place on the seat of the kingdom of Israel;

^{18 Ref} And the priests and the Levites will never be without a man to come before me, offering burned offerings and perfumes and meal offerings and offerings of beasts at all times.

¹⁹ And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,

^{20 Ref} The Lord has said: If it is possible for my agreement of the day and the night to be broken, so that day and night no longer come at their fixed times,

^{21 Ref} Then my agreement with my servant David may be broken, so that he no longer has a son to take his place on the seat of the kingdom; and my agreement with the Levites, the priests, my servants.

^{22 Ref} As it is not possible for the army of heaven to be numbered, or the sand of the sea measured, so will I make the seed of my servant David, and the Levites my servants.

²³ And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying,

^{24 Ref} Have you taken note of what these people have said, The two families, which the Lord took for himself, he has given up? This they say, looking down on my people as being, in their eyes, no longer a nation.

^{25 Ref} The Lord has said, If I have not made day and night, and if the limits of heaven and earth have not been fixed by me,

^{26 Ref} Then I will give up caring for the seed of Jacob and of David my servant, so that I will not take of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will let their fate be changed and will have mercy on them.

^{1 Ref} And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah a second time -- and he `is' yet detained in the court of the prison -- saying:

^{2 Ref} Thus said Jehovah its maker, Jehovah its former, at establishing it, Jehovah `is' His name:

^{3 Ref} Call unto Me, and I do answer thee, yea, I declare to thee great and fenced things -- thou hast not known them.

^{4 Ref} For thus said Jehovah, God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, that are broken down for the mounts, and for the tool;

^{5 Ref} they are coming in to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the carcases of men, whom I have smitten in Mine anger, and in My fury, and `for' whom I have hidden My face from this city, because of all their evil:

^{6 Ref} Lo, I am increasing to it health and cure, And have healed them, and revealed to them The abundance of peace and truth.

^{7 Ref} And I have turned back the captivity of Judah, And the captivity of Israel, And I have built them as at the first,

^{8 Ref} And cleansed them from all their iniquity, That they have sinned against Me, And I have pardoned all their iniquities, That they have sinned against Me, And that they transgressed against Me.

^{9 Ref} And it hath been to Me for a name of joy, For praise, and for beauty, to all nations of the earth, Who hear of all the good that I am doing them, And they have feared, And they have trembled for all the good, And for all the peace, that I am doing to it.

^{10 Ref} Thus said Jehovah: Again heard in this place of which ye are saying, Waste it `is', without man and without beast, In cities of Judah, and in streets of Jerusalem, That are desolated, without man, And without inhabitant, and without beast,

^{11 Ref} Is a voice of joy and a voice of gladness, Voice of bridegroom, and voice of bride, The voice of those saying, Thank Jehovah of Hosts, for Jehovah `is' good, For His kindness `is' to the age, Who are bringing in thanksgiving to the house of Jehovah, For I turn back the captivity of the land, As at the first, said Jehovah.

^{12 Ref} Thus said Jehovah of Hosts: Again there is in this place -- that is waste, Without man and beast, And in all its cities -- a habitation of shepherds, Causing the flock to lie down.

^{13 Ref} In the cities of the hill-country, In the cities of the low country, And in the cities of the south, And in the land of Benjamin, And in the suburbs of Jerusalem, And in the cities of Judah, Again doth the flock pass by under the hands of the numberer, said Jehovah.

^{14 Ref} Lo, days are coming, an affirmation of Jehovah, And I have established the good word That I spake unto the house of Israel, And concerning the house of Judah.

^{15 Ref} In those days, and at that time, I cause to shoot up to David a shoot of righteousness, And he hath done judgment and righteousness in the earth.

^{16 Ref} In those days is Judah saved, And Jerusalem doth dwell confidently, And this `is' he whom Jehovah proclaimeth to her: `Our Righteousness.'

^{17 Ref} For thus said Jehovah: `Not cut off to David is one sitting on the throne of the house of Israel,

^{18 Ref} And to the priests -- the Levites, Not cut off from before Me is one, Causing a burnt-offering to ascend, And perfuming a present, and making sacrifice -- all the days.'

¹⁹ And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying,

^{20 Ref} `Thus said Jehovah: If ye do break My covenant of the day, And My covenant of the night, So that they are not daily and nightly in their season,

^{21 Ref} Also My covenant is broken with David My servant, So that he hath not a son reigning on his throne, And with the Levites the priests, My ministers.

^{22 Ref} As the host of the heavens is not numbered, Nor the sand of the sea measured, So I multiply the seed of David My servant, And the Levites My ministers.'

²³ And there is a word of Jehovah unto Jeremiah, saying:

^{24 Ref} `Hast thou not considered what this people have spoken, saying: The two families on which Jehovah fixed, He doth reject them, And my people they despise -- So that they are no more a people before them!

^{25 Ref} Thus said Jehovah: If My covenant `is' not daily and nightly, The statutes of heaven and earth I have not appointed --

^{26 Ref} Also the seed of Jacob, and David My servant, I reject, Against taking from his seed rulers For the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, For I turn back `to' their captivity, and have pitied them.'

^{1 Ref} Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

^{2 Ref} Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;

^{3 Ref} Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

^{4 Ref} For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

^{5 Ref} They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

^{6 Ref} Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

^{7 Ref} And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

^{8 Ref} And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

^{9 Ref} And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

^{10 Ref} Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,

^{11 Ref} The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

^{12 Ref} Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

^{13 Ref} In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.

^{14 Ref} Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.

^{15 Ref} In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.

^{16 Ref} In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

^{17 Ref} For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;

^{18 Ref} Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.

¹⁹ And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,

^{20 Ref} Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;

^{21 Ref} Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.

^{22 Ref} As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.

²³ Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,

^{24 Ref} Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.

^{25 Ref} Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;

^{26 Ref} Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.