耶利米书 30-33
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
上帝应许拯救祂的子民
30 耶和华对耶利米说: 2 “以下是以色列的上帝耶和华的话,你要把我对你说的话写在书卷上。 3 耶和华说,‘看啊,时候将到,我要使我被掳的子民——以色列人和犹大人回到故土,回到我赐给他们祖先的土地上。这是耶和华说的。’”
4 以下是耶和华论到以色列和犹大的话。
5 耶和华说:“我听见惊恐不安的喊叫声。
6 你们去问问,
男人能分娩吗?
为什么我看见男人们都双手捂着肚子,
好像分娩的妇人脸色铁青呢?
7 唉!无比可怕的日子快来了,
那将是雅各子孙的苦难之日,
但他们必得拯救。”
8 万军之耶和华说:“那日,我要折断他们颈上的轭,砍断他们的锁链,使他们不再受外族人奴役。 9 他们要事奉我——他们的上帝耶和华,听从我为他们选立来继承大卫宝座的王。
10 “我的仆人雅各啊,不要害怕;
以色列人啊,不要惊骇。
这是耶和华说的。
因为我必从远方,
从你们流亡之地拯救你们,
使你们重归故土,得享安宁,
不受他人惊吓。
11 因为我与你们同在,
要拯救你们。
这是耶和华说的。
我要彻底毁灭列国,
就是我曾使你们流亡的地方。
但我不会彻底毁灭你们,
也不会饶过你们,
我必公正地惩治你们。”
12 耶和华说:
“你们的创伤无法医治,
你们的伤口无法痊愈。
13 没有人帮助你们,
你们的伤处无药可治,
你们无法痊愈。
14 你们的盟友都忘了你们,
对你们漠不关心。
我要像你们的仇敌一样击打你们,
残酷地惩罚你们,
因为你们罪大恶极,罪过无数。
15 你们为何因自己无法医治的创伤而哭泣呢?
因为你们罪大恶极,罪过无数,
我才这样惩罚你们。
16 然而,毁灭你们的必被毁灭,
与你们为敌的必被掳走,
掳掠你们的必被掳掠,
抢夺你们的必被抢夺。
17 虽然你们这些锡安人无家可归,
无人关心,
但我要医治你们的创伤,
使你们康复。
这是耶和华说的。”
18 耶和华说:
“看啊,我要使雅各的子孙复兴,
我要怜悯他们,
使他们在废墟上重建家园,
重修宫殿。
19 那里必传出感谢和欢乐的声音。
我必使他们的人口增加,
不再减少;
我必使他们得享尊荣,
不再受歧视。
20 他们的儿女要如往日一样兴旺,
我要使他们的国家坚立,
我要惩罚所有压迫他们的人。
21 他们的首领将是自己的同胞,
他们的元首将出自本族。
他必应我的邀请来到我面前,
因为无人敢贸然来到我面前。
这是耶和华说的。
22 他们要做我的子民,
我要做他们的上帝。”
23 看啊,耶和华的怒气必如风暴一样横扫过来,
刮到恶人头上。
24 耶和华不完成祂心中的计划,
祂的烈怒必不止息。
将来有一天,你们会明白。
以色列人必回归
31 耶和华说:“那时,我要做以色列各宗族的上帝,他们必做我的子民。
2 “逃脱刀兵之灾的以色列人必在旷野蒙恩,
找到安息之所。
这是耶和华说的。”
3 从前,耶和华向以色列显现,说:
“我以永远不变的爱爱你,
我以慈爱吸引你到我身边。
4 以色列人啊,
我要重建你们的家园,
你们要再次拿起铃鼓与欢乐的人一同跳舞。
5 你们将在撒玛利亚的山上重新栽种葡萄园,
享受园中的果实。
6 有一天,看守园子的人要在以法莲的山上呼喊,
‘我们上锡安朝见我们的上帝耶和华吧!’”
7 耶和华说:
“你们要为雅各欢呼歌唱,
向列国之首喝采。
你们要传扬颂赞,说,
‘耶和华啊,
求你拯救以色列剩余的子民!’
8 看啊,我要从北方,
从地极招聚他们,
其中有瞎子、跛子、孕妇和产妇,
他们要成群结队地回到这里。
9 我必引领他们回来,
他们必一路含泪祷告。
我要使他们走在溪水边,
行在平坦的路上,
他们必不会跌倒,
因为我是以色列的父亲,
以法莲是我的长子。
10 “列国啊,你们要听耶和华的话,
要在远方的海岛宣扬,
‘祂从前驱散以色列人,
如今必再聚集、保护他们,
好像牧人看守自己的羊群一样。’
11 耶和华必拯救雅各的子孙,
从强敌手中救出他们。
12 他们必来到锡安山上欢呼,
为耶和华所赐的五谷、新酒、
油、羔羊和牛犊而欢欣。
他们就像水源充足的田园,
一无所缺。
13 那时,少女要欢然起舞,
老人和青年要一起快乐。
我要使他们转忧为喜,
我要安慰他们,使他们欢喜,
不再忧愁。
14 我要使祭司有充足的供应,
使我的子民饱享美物。
这是耶和华说的。”
15 耶和华说:
“在拉玛有痛哭哀号的声音,
是拉结在为儿女哀痛,
不肯接受安慰,
因为他们都死了。”
16 耶和华说:
“不要哭泣,不要流泪,
因为你的劳苦必有回报,
你的儿女必从敌国回来。
这是耶和华说的。
17 你将来必有盼望,
你的儿女必重返家园。
这是耶和华说的。
18 我听见以法莲[a]在为自己悲叹,
‘我们就像未经驯服的牛犊,
你管教我们,使我们顺服,
求你使我们回到你身边,
重新复兴,
因为你是我们的上帝耶和华。
19 我们曾经离开你,
但我们后悔了;
我们醒悟之后捶胸顿足,
痛悔不已,
因早年的所作所为而羞愧难当。’”
20 耶和华说:“以法莲不是我的爱子吗?
他不是我喜悦的孩子吗?
我虽然常常责备他,
但仍然惦记着他。
我深深地想念他,
我必怜悯他。
21 “以色列人啊,
你们要为自己设置路标,
竖起路牌,
牢记你们走过的大道。
以色列人啊,
回来吧!回到你们的城邑吧!
22 不忠贞的子民啊!
你们四处流浪要到何时呢?
耶和华在地上行了一件新事——女子将要护卫男子。”
23 以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说:“我使被掳的犹大人回到故乡后,他们要在犹大各城邑再次呼喊,
“‘公义的居所啊,
圣山啊,愿耶和华赐福给你!’
24 “农夫和牧人必住在犹大的各城邑。 25 我要使疲乏的人振作起来,使苦闷的人快乐起来。”
26 这时,我醒过来,觉得这一觉实在香甜。
27 耶和华说:“看啊,时候将到,我要使以色列和犹大人丁兴旺,牲畜繁多。 28 我曾决意铲除、拆毁、推翻、剿灭他们,降灾给他们,将来我必塑造、栽培他们。这是耶和华说的。 29 那时,人再不会说,
“‘父亲吃酸葡萄,
儿子的牙酸倒了。’
30 因为各人都要承担自己的罪,谁吃酸葡萄,谁的牙酸倒。” 31 耶和华说:“看啊,时候将到,我要与以色列家和犹大家另立新约, 32 这约不同于我与他们祖先所立的约,就是我牵着他们祖先的手领他们离开埃及时所立的。虽然我是他们的丈夫,他们却违背了我的约。这是耶和华说的。”
33 耶和华说:“那些日子以后,我将与以色列家立这样的约,我要把我的律法放在他们脑中,写在他们心上。我要做他们的上帝,他们要做我的子民。 34 谁都无需再教导他的邻居和弟兄,说,‘你要认识耶和华’,因为他们无论尊卑都必认识我。我要赦免他们的过犯,忘掉他们的罪恶。这是耶和华说的。”
35 使阳光白天照耀、
星月晚上发光、
大海波涛汹涌的万军之耶和华说:
36 “只要天地之律还在,
以色列邦国必永续不断。
这是耶和华说的。”
37 耶和华说:
“正如无人能量度高天,
探测大地的根基,
同样我也决不会因以色列人的所作所为而弃绝他们。
这是耶和华说的。”
38 耶和华说:“看啊,时候将到,从哈楠业楼直到角门,整个耶路撒冷城要重建起来归给耶和华。 39 城界要向外延伸到迦立山,再转到歌亚。 40 甚至抛尸、倒灰的整个山谷,以及从汲沦溪到东边马门拐角的所有田地都要归给耶和华作圣地,永不再被倾覆、毁灭。”
耶利米买田
32 犹大王西底迦第十年,就是尼布甲尼撒执政第十八年,耶和华的话传给了耶利米。 2 那时,巴比伦王的军队正围攻耶路撒冷。耶利米先知被囚禁在犹大王宫中护卫兵的院子里。 3 犹大王西底迦囚禁了他,责问他为什么预言说:“耶和华说,‘看啊,我要让巴比伦王攻占这座城。 4 犹大王西底迦逃不出迦勒底人的手,必成为巴比伦王的阶下囚,被他审问、 5 遣送到巴比伦,住在那里一直到死。你们和迦勒底人作战注定要失败。这是耶和华说的。’”
6 耶利米说:“耶和华对我说, 7 ‘看啊,你叔父沙龙的儿子哈拿篾会去找你,让你买下他在亚拿突的那块田地,说你是他的近亲,理当买下它。’” 8 果然如耶和华所言,我堂兄弟哈拿篾到护卫兵的院子里对我说:“我在便雅悯境内的亚拿突有一块田,求你买下它,因为你理当买下它。求你买下吧!”我知道这是耶和华的旨意。 9-10 于是,我从堂兄弟哈拿篾手里买了亚拿突的那块田。我当着证人的面签订了契约,封好,秤了二百克银子给他。 11 地契上列明了详细条款,一份加了封印,一份没有加。 12 我当着堂兄弟哈拿篾、证人和护卫兵院子里所有犹大人的面,把地契交给玛西雅的孙子、尼利亚的儿子巴录。 13 我当众对巴录说: 14 “以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华吩咐你把封印的和没有封印的两份地契放在一个瓦瓶里,长期保存。 15 因为以色列的上帝——万军之耶和华说,将来必有人在这里重新买房屋、田地和葡萄园。”
16 我把地契交给尼利亚的儿子巴录之后,便向耶和华祷告说: 17 “主耶和华啊,看啊,你伸出大能的臂膀创造天地,你无所不能。 18 你恩待千万人,也向后世的子孙追讨他们祖先所犯的罪。伟大全能的上帝啊!你名叫万军之耶和华。 19 你的计划充满智慧,你的作为奇妙无比,你鉴察世人,按照各人的行为施行赏罚。 20 你曾在埃及行神迹奇事,现今仍在以色列和世界各地行神迹奇事,使自己威名远扬,直到今日。 21 你伸出臂膀用大能的手行神迹奇事及可畏的事,领你的子民出了埃及。 22 你信守对他们祖先的应许,赐给他们这奶蜜之乡。 23 他们得到这块土地之后,却不听你的话,也不遵行你的律法,对你的吩咐置若罔闻,因此你使他们大祸临头。 24 看啊,敌人已经修筑高台要攻打这城,这城要因战争、饥荒和瘟疫而落入迦勒底人手中。你所说的都应验了,你也看见了。 25 主耶和华啊!虽然这城快要落入迦勒底人手中了,可是你还要让我在证人面前买下这块地。”
26 耶和华对耶利米说: 27 “看啊,我是耶和华,是全人类的上帝,难道有我做不到的事吗? 28 看啊,我要把这城交在巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒和他率领的迦勒底人手中,让他们攻取这城。这是耶和华说的。 29 他们必放火焚城,把城中的房屋付之一炬,城中的居民曾在房顶上向巴力烧香、向假神奠酒,惹我发怒。 30 以色列人和犹大人从一开始就行我视为恶的事,他们的所作所为惹我发怒。这是耶和华说的。 31 这城自从建立以来一直惹我发怒,以致我不得不毁灭它。 32 以色列和犹大的君王、首领、祭司、先知、百姓和耶路撒冷居民的恶行令我怒不可遏。 33 他们不是面向我而是背对我,我不厌其烦地教导他们,他们却不肯听,不受教。 34 他们把可憎的神像放在我的殿中,玷污了我的殿; 35 他们在欣嫩子谷为巴力建丘坛,用自己的儿女作祭物献给摩洛,使犹大陷入罪中——我从未吩咐他们做如此邪恶的事,连想都没想过。 36 耶利米啊,你们说这座城要因战争、饥荒和瘟疫而落入巴比伦王手中,但以色列的上帝耶和华说, 37 ‘看啊,我极其愤怒地把他们驱散到各地,我也必招聚他们,领他们回到故土,使他们安居乐业。 38 他们要做我的子民,我要做他们的上帝。 39 我要使他们永远全心全意地敬畏我,使他们和子孙得到福乐。 40 我要与他们立永远的约,永远恩待他们,使他们对我心存敬畏,不再背弃我。 41 我必以恩待他们为乐,全心全意在这地方培育他们。
42 “‘我曾降下这一切灾祸给他们,我也要把我应许的福乐赐给他们。这是耶和华说的。 43 耶利米啊,你们说这地方落在了迦勒底人手中,变得一片荒凉,人兽绝迹。但将来这地方必再有人置买田产。 44 在便雅悯境内,耶路撒冷周围和犹大的城邑,以及山区、丘陵、南部的城邑中,必有人置买田地,签订地契,盖封印,请人作证,因为我必使被掳的人回到故土。这是耶和华说的。’”
应许以色列人必复兴
33 耶利米被囚禁在护卫兵院子里的时候,耶和华第二次对他说: 2 “耶和华创造大地,使其成形、根基稳固,祂名叫耶和华。祂说, 3 ‘你呼求我,我就回应你,并且把你不知道的伟大、奥妙之事告诉你。 4 以色列的上帝耶和华说,耶路撒冷城中的房屋和王宫被拆毁,用来修建防卫工事, 5 城中的人与迦勒底人争战只会使自己的房屋堆满死尸,因为我要在愤怒中毁灭他们。他们作恶多端,我必掩面不理这城。 6 但有一天,我必使这城复兴,医治她的创伤,使她繁荣昌盛。 7 我要使被掳的犹大人和以色列人回到故土,重建家园。 8 我要除去他们的一切罪恶,赦免他们的一切罪过。 9 这城要使我在天下万国面前得到尊崇、颂赞和荣耀。万民听见我使这城繁荣昌盛,都恐惧战栗。’”
10 耶和华说:“你们说犹大的城邑和耶路撒冷的街道一片荒凉、人畜绝迹, 11 但这些地方必传出欢乐声、新郎新娘的欢笑声和在耶和华殿中献感恩祭者的歌唱声,
“‘要感谢万军之耶和华,
因为耶和华是美善的,
祂的慈爱永远长存’。
因为我必使被掳的人回到故土,重建家园。这是耶和华说的。”
12 万军之耶和华说:“在这一片荒凉、人畜绝迹的地方,在它所有城邑的周围必再有供牧人放羊的草场。 13 在山区、丘陵和南地的城邑,以及便雅悯、耶路撒冷周围和犹大的城邑必有人清点羊群。这是耶和华说的。” 14 耶和华说:“看啊,时候将到,我要实现我给以色列人和犹大人的美好应许。 15 那时,我要使大卫公义的苗裔兴起,他要在地上秉公行义。 16 那时,犹大必得到拯救,耶路撒冷必安享太平并被称为‘耶和华是我们的义’。 17 因为耶和华说,‘我应许大卫的后裔必永远统治以色列, 18 做祭司的利未人必永远在我面前献燔祭、素祭等祭物。’”
19 耶和华对耶利米说: 20 “这是耶和华说的,‘除非你们能废除我与白昼黑夜所立的约,叫白昼黑夜不再按时更替, 21 才能废除我与我仆人大卫所立的约,使他的王位后继无人,也才能废除我与事奉我的利未祭司所立的约。 22 我要使我仆人大卫的后裔和事奉我的利未人像天上的星和海边的沙一样不可胜数。’”
23 耶和华对耶利米说: 24 “你听见了吗?人们说,‘耶和华已经弃绝了祂所拣选的以色列和犹大两个国家。’他们藐视我的子民,视他们为亡国之民。 25 然而,耶和华说,‘正如我决不废弃我所定的昼夜交替和天地运行之律, 26 我也决不弃绝雅各的后裔,不弃绝我仆人大卫的后裔。我必让大卫的后裔做王统治亚伯拉罕、以撒和雅各的子孙,因为我必使被掳的人回到故土,恩待他们。’”
Footnotes
- 31:18 “以法莲”是北国以色列的主要支派,常用来代指北国以色列。
Jeremiah 30-33
King James Version
30 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying,
2 Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book.
3 For, lo, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel and Judah, saith the Lord: and I will cause them to return to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it.
4 And these are the words that the Lord spake concerning Israel and concerning Judah.
5 For thus saith the Lord; We have heard a voice of trembling, of fear, and not of peace.
6 Ask ye now, and see whether a man doth travail with child? wherefore do I see every man with his hands on his loins, as a woman in travail, and all faces are turned into paleness?
7 Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble, but he shall be saved out of it.
8 For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him:
9 But they shall serve the Lord their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
10 Therefore fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith the Lord; neither be dismayed, O Israel: for, lo, I will save thee from afar, and thy seed from the land of their captivity; and Jacob shall return, and shall be in rest, and be quiet, and none shall make him afraid.
11 For I am with thee, saith the Lord, to save thee: though I make a full end of all nations whither I have scattered thee, yet I will not make a full end of thee: but I will correct thee in measure, and will not leave thee altogether unpunished.
12 For thus saith the Lord, Thy bruise is incurable, and thy wound is grievous.
13 There is none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.
14 All thy lovers have forgotten thee; they seek thee not; for I have wounded thee with the wound of an enemy, with the chastisement of a cruel one, for the multitude of thine iniquity; because thy sins were increased.
15 Why criest thou for thine affliction? thy sorrow is incurable for the multitude of thine iniquity: because thy sins were increased, I have done these things unto thee.
16 Therefore all they that devour thee shall be devoured; and all thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into captivity; and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all that prey upon thee will I give for a prey.
17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the Lord; because they called thee an Outcast, 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 mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.
21 And their nobles shall be of themselves, and their governor shall proceed from the midst of them; and I will cause him to draw near, and he shall approach unto me: for who is this that engaged his heart to approach unto me? saith the Lord.
22 And ye shall be my people, and I will be your God.
23 Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, a continuing whirlwind: it shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
24 The fierce anger of the Lord shall not return, until he hath done it, and until he have performed the intents of his heart: in the latter days ye shall consider it.
31 At the same time, saith the Lord, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people.
2 Thus saith the Lord, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest.
3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things.
6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the Lord our God.
7 For thus saith the Lord; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O Lord, save thy people, the remnant of Israel.
8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither.
9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
10 Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.
11 For the Lord hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the Lord, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all.
13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the Lord.
15 Thus saith the Lord; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not.
16 Thus saith the Lord; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the Lord; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the Lord, that thy children shall come again to their own border.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.
19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.
20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.
21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.
22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.
23 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness.
24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks.
25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.
26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
27 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast.
28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the Lord.
29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children's teeth are set on edge.
30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.
31 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah:
32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the Lord:
33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.
34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the Lord: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
35 Thus saith the Lord, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The Lord of hosts is his name:
36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the Lord, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever.
37 Thus saith the Lord; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the Lord.
38 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that the city shall be built to the Lord from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner.
39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath.
40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the Lord; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.
32 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadrezzar.
2 For then the king of Babylon's army besieged Jerusalem: and Jeremiah the prophet was shut up in the court of the prison, which was in the king of Judah's house.
3 For Zedekiah king of Judah had shut him up, saying, Wherefore dost thou prophesy, and say, Thus saith the Lord, Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the king of Babylon, and he shall take it;
4 And Zedekiah king of Judah shall not escape out of the hand of the Chaldeans, but shall surely be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon, and shall speak with him mouth to mouth, and his eyes shall behold his eyes;
5 And he shall lead Zedekiah to Babylon, and there shall he be until I visit him, saith the Lord: though ye fight with the Chaldeans, ye shall not prosper.
6 And Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying,
7 Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it.
8 So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the Lord, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord.
9 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver.
10 And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.
11 So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:
12 And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison.
13 And I charged Baruch before them, saying,
14 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.
15 For thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.
16 Now when I had delivered the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, I prayed unto the Lord, saying,
17 Ah Lord God! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
18 Thou shewest lovingkindness unto thousands, and recompensest the iniquity of the fathers into the bosom of their children after them: the Great, the Mighty God, the Lord of hosts, is his name,
19 Great in counsel, and mighty in work: for thine eyes are open upon all the ways of the sons of men: to give every one according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings:
20 Which hast set signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, even unto this day, and in Israel, and among other men; and hast made thee a name, as at this day;
21 And hast brought forth thy people Israel out of the land of Egypt with signs, and with wonders, and with a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm, and with great terror;
22 And hast given them this land, which thou didst swear to their fathers to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey;
23 And they came in, and possessed it; but they obeyed not thy voice, neither walked in thy law; they have done nothing of all that thou commandedst them to do: therefore thou hast caused all this evil to come upon them:
24 Behold the mounts, they are come unto the city to take it; and the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans, that fight against it, because of the sword, and of the famine, and of the pestilence: and what thou hast spoken is come to pass; and, behold, thou seest it.
25 And thou hast said unto me, O Lord God, Buy thee the field for money, and take witnesses; for the city is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
26 Then came the word of the Lord unto Jeremiah, saying,
27 Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
28 Therefore thus saith the Lord; Behold, I will give this city into the hand of the Chaldeans, and into the hand of Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, and he shall take it:
29 And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.
30 For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the Lord.
31 For this city hath been to me as a provocation of mine anger and of my fury from the day that they built it even unto this day; that I should remove it from before my face,
32 Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done to provoke me to anger, they, their kings, their princes, their priests, and their prophets, and the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.
33 And they have turned unto me the back, and not the face: though I taught them, rising up early and teaching them, yet they have not hearkened to receive instruction.
34 But they set their abominations in the house, which is called by my name, to defile it.
35 And they built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin.
36 And now therefore thus saith the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
37 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:
38 And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:
39 And I will give them one heart, and one way, that they may fear me for ever, for the good of them, and of their children after them:
40 And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from them, to do them good; but I will put my fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from me.
41 Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart and with my whole soul.
42 For thus saith the Lord; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them.
43 And fields shall be bought in this land, whereof ye say, It is desolate without man or beast; it is given into the hand of the Chaldeans.
44 Men shall buy fields for money, and subscribe evidences, and seal them, and take witnesses in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, and in the cities of the mountains, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south: for I will cause their captivity to return, saith the Lord.
33 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 Thus saith the Lord the maker thereof, the Lord that formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;
3 Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
4 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 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 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 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
8 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 For thus saith the Lord; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
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