³ Then the Lord your God will ·give you back your freedom [restore your fortunes]. He will ·feel sorry for [have mercy on] you, and he will bring you back again from the nations where he scattered you [2 Chr. 36:22–23; Ezra 1:1—2:70]. ⁴ He may ·send [drive] you to the ends of the ·earth [^Lheavens], but he will gather you and bring you back from there, ⁵ back to the land that belonged to your ·ancestors [fathers]. It will be yours. He will give you success, and there will be more of you than there were of your ·ancestors [fathers]. ⁶ The Lord your God will ·prepare you and your descendants [^Lcircumcise your heart and the heart of your seed] to love him with ·your whole being [^Lall your heart/mind and all your soul] so that you will live.

¹¹ ·At that time [^LIn that day] the Lord will ·again [^Lagain a second time; ^Cthe first time was the Exodus from Egypt] ·reach out and take [^Lreclaim/acquire with his hand the remnant of] his people who ·are left alive [remain] in Assyria, North Egypt, ·South Egypt [^LPathros], Cush, Elam, ·Babylonia [^LShinar], Hamath, and all the ·islands [or coastlands] of the sea.

⁵ “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I sent the people of Judah out of their country to live in the country of Babylon. I ·think of [regard] those people as good, like these good figs. ⁶ I will ·look after them [^Lset my eyes on them for good] and ·bring them back [return them] to this land [^Cof Judah]. I will not tear them down, but I will build them up. I will not pull them up, but I will plant them [^Cso they can grow]. ⁷ I will ·make them want [^Lgive them a heart] to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, because they will return to me with their whole hearts.

²¹ [^LFor] To me ·the only important thing about living [^Lto live] is Christ, and ·dying would be profit for me [^Lto die is gain/profit]. ²² If I continue living in my ·body [flesh], ·I will be able to work for the Lord [^Lthis is productive/fruitful work for me]. I do not know what to choose—living or dying. ²³ ·It is hard to choose [I am torn/hard pressed] between the two. I ·want [desire; long] to leave this life and be with Christ, which is much better, ²⁴ but ·you need me here [or it is better for you that I remain] in ·my body [the flesh]. ²⁵ Since I am sure of this, I know I will stay with you ·to help you grow and have [^Lfor your progress/success and] joy in your faith. ²⁶ [^L…so that] ·You will be very happy [or Because of me, your confidence/pride will increase; ^LYour boasting in me will abound] in Christ Jesus when I am with you again.