11 (A)For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare[a] and not for evil, (B)to give you a future and a hope.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 29:11 Or peace

11 For I know the plans(A) I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper(B) you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.(C)

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For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
(A)For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 (B)“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    (C)giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but (D)it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

12 (E)“For you shall go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
(F)the mountains and the hills before you
    shall break forth into singing,
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

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“For my thoughts(A) are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”(B)
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,(C)
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.(D)
10 As the rain(E) and the snow
    come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
    without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,(F)
    so that it yields seed(G) for the sower and bread for the eater,(H)
11 so is my word(I) that goes out from my mouth:
    It will not return to me empty,(J)
but will accomplish what I desire
    and achieve the purpose(K) for which I sent it.
12 You will go out in joy(L)
    and be led forth in peace;(M)
the mountains and hills
    will burst into song(N) before you,
and all the trees(O) of the field
    will clap their hands.(P)

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11 (A)The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
    the plans of his heart to all generations.

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11 But the plans of the Lord stand firm(A) forever,
    the purposes(B) of his heart through all generations.

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12 But (A)they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,
    that (B)he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.

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12 But they do not know
    the thoughts of the Lord;
they do not understand his plan,(A)
    that he has gathered them like sheaves to the threshing floor.

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You have multiplied, O Lord my God,
    your (A)wondrous deeds and your (B)thoughts toward us;
    none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
    yet they are (C)more than can be told.

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Many, Lord my God,
    are the wonders(A) you have done,
    the things you planned for us.
None can compare(B) with you;
    were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
    they would be too many(C) to declare.

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13 But he is unchangeable,[a] and (A)who can turn him back?
    What he (B)desires, that he does.

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Footnotes

  1. Job 23:13 Or one

13 “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him?(A)
    He does whatever he pleases.(B)

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26 (A)It is good that one should wait quietly
    for the salvation of the Lord.

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26 it is good to wait quietly(A)
    for the salvation of the Lord.(B)

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10 (A)declaring the end from the beginning
    and from ancient times things not yet done,
saying, (B)‘My counsel shall stand,
    and I will accomplish all my purpose,’
11 (C)calling a bird of prey from the east,
    the man of my counsel from a far country.
(D)I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass;
    I have purposed, and I will do it.

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10 I make known the end from the beginning,(A)
    from ancient times,(B) what is still to come.(C)
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,(D)
    and I will do all that I please.’
11 From the east I summon(E) a bird of prey;(F)
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned,(G) that I will do.(H)

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The Lord God Will Seek Them Out

11 “For thus says the Lord God: (A)Behold, I, I (B)myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on (C)a day of clouds and (D)thick darkness. 13 And I will bring them out from the peoples (E)and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on (F)the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 (G)I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. (H)There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 (I)I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, (J)and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord God. 16 (K)I will seek the lost, (L)and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and (M)the fat and the strong I will destroy.[a] I will feed them in justice.

17 “As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord God: (N)Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and (O)male goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of (P)clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19 And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

20 “Therefore, thus says the Lord God to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you push with side and shoulder, and (Q)thrust at all the (R)weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22 I will rescue[b] my flock; (S)they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 And (T)I will set up over them one shepherd, (U)my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And (V)I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. (W)I am the Lord; I have spoken.

The Lord's Covenant of Peace

25 (X)“I will make with them a covenant of peace and (Y)banish wild beasts from the land, (Z)so that they may dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 And I will make them and the places all around my hill (AA)a blessing, and (AB)I will send down the showers in their season; they shall be (AC)showers of blessing. 27 (AD)And the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield its increase, (AE)and they shall be secure in their land. And (AF)they shall know that I am the Lord, when (AG)I break the bars of their yoke, and (AH)deliver them from the hand of those who enslaved them. 28 (AI)They shall no more be a prey to the nations, (AJ)nor shall the beasts of the land devour them. (AK)They shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid. 29 And I will provide for them (AL)renowned plantations so that (AM)they shall no more be consumed with hunger in the land, and no longer (AN)suffer the reproach of the nations. 30 And they shall know that (AO)I am the Lord their God with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Lord God. 31 And you are my sheep, (AP)human sheep of my pasture, and I am your God, declares the Lord God.”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:16 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate I will watch over
  2. Ezekiel 34:22 Or save

11 “‘For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search for my sheep(A) and look after them. 12 As a shepherd(B) looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness.(C) 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather(D) them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land.(E) I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land.(F) 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel(G) will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture(H) on the mountains of Israel.(I) 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down,(J) declares the Sovereign Lord.(K) 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up(L) the injured and strengthen the weak,(M) but the sleek and the strong I will destroy.(N) I will shepherd the flock with justice.(O)

17 “‘As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats.(P) 18 Is it not enough(Q) for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet?(R) Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?

20 “‘Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep.(S) 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns(T) until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another.(U) 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend(V) them; he will tend them and be their shepherd.(W) 24 I the Lord will be their God,(X) and my servant David(Y) will be prince among them.(Z) I the Lord have spoken.(AA)

25 “‘I will make a covenant(AB) of peace(AC) with them and rid the land of savage beasts(AD) so that they may live in the wilderness and sleep in the forests in safety.(AE) 26 I will make them and the places surrounding my hill a blessing.[a](AF) I will send down showers in season;(AG) there will be showers of blessing.(AH) 27 The trees will yield their fruit(AI) and the ground will yield its crops;(AJ) the people will be secure(AK) in their land. They will know that I am the Lord, when I break the bars of their yoke(AL) and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.(AM) 28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety,(AN) and no one will make them afraid.(AO) 29 I will provide for them a land renowned(AP) for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine(AQ) in the land or bear the scorn(AR) of the nations.(AS) 30 Then they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them and that they, the Israelites, are my people, declares the Sovereign Lord.(AT) 31 You are my sheep,(AU) the sheep of my pasture,(AV) and I am your God, declares the Sovereign Lord.’”

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:26 Or I will cause them and the places surrounding my hill to be named in blessings (see Gen. 48:20); or I will cause them and the places surrounding my hill to be seen as blessed

12 Go, and proclaim these words toward (A)the north, and say,

(B)“‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord.
I will not look on you in anger,
    for (C)I am merciful,
declares the Lord;
(D)I will not be angry forever.
13 (E)Only acknowledge your guilt,
    that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and scattered your favors among foreigners under (F)every green tree,
    and that you have not obeyed my voice,
declares the Lord.
14 (G)Return, O faithless children,
declares the Lord;
    (H)for I am your master;
I will take you, one from a city and two from a family,
    and I will bring you to Zion.

15 “‘And (I)I will give you shepherds after my own heart, (J)who will feed you with knowledge and understanding. 16 And when you have multiplied and been fruitful in the land, in those days, declares the Lord, they shall no more say, “The ark of the covenant of the Lord.” It shall not come to mind or be remembered or missed; it shall not be made again. 17 At that time Jerusalem shall be called the throne of the Lord, (K)and all nations shall gather to it, (L)to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 (M)In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land (N)of the north to (O)the land that I gave your fathers for a heritage.

19 “‘I said,
    How I would set you among my sons,
and give you a pleasant land,
    a heritage most beautiful of all nations.
And I thought you would (P)call me, My Father,
    and would not turn from following me.

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12 Go, proclaim this message toward the north:(A)

“‘Return,(B) faithless(C) Israel,’ declares the Lord,
    ‘I will frown on you no longer,
for I am faithful,’(D) declares the Lord,
    ‘I will not be angry(E) forever.
13 Only acknowledge(F) your guilt—
    you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
you have scattered your favors to foreign gods(G)
    under every spreading tree,(H)
    and have not obeyed(I) me,’”
declares the Lord.

14 “Return,(J) faithless people,” declares the Lord, “for I am your husband.(K) I will choose you—one from a town and two from a clan—and bring you to Zion. 15 Then I will give you shepherds(L) after my own heart,(M) who will lead you with knowledge and understanding. 16 In those days, when your numbers have increased greatly in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The ark(N) of the covenant of the Lord.’ It will never enter their minds or be remembered;(O) it will not be missed, nor will another one be made. 17 At that time they will call Jerusalem The Throne(P) of the Lord, and all nations(Q) will gather in Jerusalem to honor(R) the name of the Lord. No longer will they follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts.(S) 18 In those days the people of Judah will join the people of Israel,(T) and together(U) they will come from a northern(V) land to the land(W) I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.

19 “I myself said,

“‘How gladly would I treat you like my children
    and give you a pleasant land,(X)
    the most beautiful inheritance(Y) of any nation.’
I thought you would call me ‘Father’(Z)
    and not turn away from following me.

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The Lord Will Turn Mourning to Joy

31 (A)“At that time, declares the Lord, (B)I will be the God of all the clans of Israel, and they shall be my people.”

Thus says the Lord:
“The people who survived the sword
    found grace in the wilderness;
(C)when Israel sought for rest,
    the Lord appeared to him[a] from far away.
(D)I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore (E)I have continued (F)my faithfulness to you.
(G)Again I will build you, and you shall be built,
    O virgin Israel!
(H)Again you shall adorn yourself with tambourines
    and shall go forth in (I)the dance of the merrymakers.
(J)Again you shall plant vineyards
    on the mountains of Samaria;
the planters shall plant
    and shall enjoy the fruit.
For there shall be a day when watchmen will call
    in (K)the hill country of Ephraim:
(L)‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
    to the Lord our God.’”

For thus says the Lord:
(M)“Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
    and raise shouts for (N)the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
    (O)‘O Lord, save your people,
    the remnant of Israel.’
Behold, I will bring them (P)from the north country
    and (Q)gather them from (R)the farthest parts of the earth,
among them (S)the blind and the lame,
    the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together;
    a great company, they shall return here.
(T)With weeping they shall come,
    (U)and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,
I will make them (V)walk by brooks of water,
    (W)in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,
for (X)I am a father to Israel,
    and Ephraim is (Y)my firstborn.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
    and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, ‘He who scattered Israel will (Z)gather him,
    and will keep him (AA)as a shepherd keeps his flock.’
11 (AB)For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
    and has redeemed him from (AC)hands too strong for him.
12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
    (AD)and they shall be radiant (AE)over the goodness of the Lord,
(AF)over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
    and over the young of the flock and the herd;
(AG)their life shall be like a watered garden,
    (AH)and they shall languish no more.
13 (AI)Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
    and the young men and the old shall be merry.
(AJ)I will turn their mourning into joy;
    I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.
14 (AK)I will feast the soul of the priests with abundance,
    and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness,
declares the Lord.”

15 Thus says the Lord:
(AL)“A voice is heard in (AM)Ramah,
    lamentation and bitter weeping.
(AN)Rachel is weeping for her children;
    she refuses to be comforted for her children,
    (AO)because they are no more.”

16 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep your voice from weeping,
    and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the Lord,
    and (AP)they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 (AQ)There is hope for your future,
declares the Lord,
    and your children shall come back to their own country.
18 I have heard (AR)Ephraim grieving,
‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined,
    like an untrained calf;
(AS)bring me back that I may be restored,
    for you are the Lord my God.
19 For after (AT)I had turned away, I relented,
    and after I was instructed, (AU)I struck my thigh;
(AV)I was ashamed, and I was confounded,
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
20 (AW)Is Ephraim my dear son?
    (AX)Is he my darling child?
For as often as I speak against him,
    I do remember him still.
(AY)Therefore my heart[b] yearns for him;
    I will surely have mercy on him,
declares the Lord.

21 (AZ)“Set up road markers for yourself;
    make yourself guideposts;
(BA)consider well the highway,
    (BB)the road by which you went.
Return, O virgin Israel,
    return to these your cities.
22 (BC)How long will you waver,
    (BD)O faithless daughter?
For the Lord has created a new thing on the earth:
    a woman encircles a man.”

23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Once more they shall use these words in the land of Judah and in its cities, (BE)when I restore their fortunes:

(BF)“‘The Lord bless you, (BG)O habitation of righteousness,
    (BH)O holy hill!’

24 (BI)And Judah and all its cities shall dwell there together, and (BJ)the farmers and those who wander with their flocks. 25 For I will (BK)satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul I will replenish.”

26 At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.

27 (BL)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when (BM)I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with (BN)the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass that (BO)as I have watched over them (BP)to pluck up and break down, to overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, (BQ)so I will watch over them (BR)to build and to plant, declares the Lord. 29 In those days they shall no longer say:

(BS)“‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
    and the children's teeth are set on edge.’

30 (BT)But everyone shall die for his own iniquity. Each man who eats sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.

The New Covenant

31 (BU)“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make (BV)a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when (BW)I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, (BX)though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 (BY)For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: (BZ)I will put my law within them, and I will write it (CA)on their hearts. (CB)And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 Septuagint; Hebrew me
  2. Jeremiah 31:20 Hebrew bowels

31 “At that time,” declares the Lord, “I will be the God(A) of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”

This is what the Lord says:

“The people who survive the sword
    will find favor(B) in the wilderness;
    I will come to give rest(C) to Israel.”

The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:

“I have loved(D) you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn(E) you with unfailing kindness.
I will build you up again,
    and you, Virgin(F) Israel, will be rebuilt.(G)
Again you will take up your timbrels(H)
    and go out to dance(I) with the joyful.(J)
Again you will plant(K) vineyards
    on the hills of Samaria;(L)
the farmers will plant them
    and enjoy their fruit.(M)
There will be a day when watchmen(N) cry out
    on the hills of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Zion,
    to the Lord our God.’”(O)

This is what the Lord says:

“Sing(P) with joy for Jacob;
    shout for the foremost(Q) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
    Lord, save(R) your people,
    the remnant(S) of Israel.’
See, I will bring them from the land of the north(T)
    and gather(U) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind(V) and the lame,(W)
    expectant mothers and women in labor;
    a great throng will return.
They will come with weeping;(X)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead(Y) them beside streams of water(Z)
    on a level(AA) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,(AB)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:(AC)
‘He who scattered(AD) Israel will gather(AE) them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’(AF)
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem(AG) them from the hand of those stronger(AH) than they.
12 They will come and shout for joy(AI) on the heights(AJ) of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty(AK) of the Lord
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,(AL)
    the young of the flocks(AM) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,(AN)
    and they will sorrow(AO) no more.
13 Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning(AP) into gladness;
    I will give them comfort(AQ) and joy(AR) instead of sorrow.
14 I will satisfy(AS) the priests(AT) with abundance,
    and my people will be filled with my bounty,(AU)
declares the Lord.

15 This is what the Lord says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,(AV)
    mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,(AW)
    because they are no more.”(AX)

16 This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,(AY)
for your work will be rewarded,(AZ)
declares the Lord.
    “They will return(BA) from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope(BB) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children(BC) will return to their own land.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined(BD) me like an unruly calf,(BE)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore(BF) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
19 After I strayed,(BG)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat(BH) my breast.
I was ashamed(BI) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’(BJ)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child(BK) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember(BL) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion(BM) for him,”
declares the Lord.

21 “Set up road signs;
    put up guideposts.(BN)
Take note of the highway,(BO)
    the road that you take.
Return,(BP) Virgin(BQ) Israel,
    return to your towns.
22 How long will you wander,(BR)
    unfaithful(BS) Daughter Israel?
The Lord will create a new thing(BT) on earth—
    the woman will return to[b](BU) the man.”

23 This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity,[c](BV) the people in the land of Judah and in its towns will once again use these words: ‘The Lord bless(BW) you, you prosperous city,(BX) you sacred mountain.’(BY) 24 People will live(BZ) together in Judah and all its towns—farmers and those who move about with their flocks.(CA) 25 I will refresh the weary(CB) and satisfy the faint.”(CC)

26 At this I awoke(CD) and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant to me.

27 “The days are coming,”(CE) declares the Lord, “when I will plant(CF) the kingdoms of Israel and Judah with the offspring of people and of animals. 28 Just as I watched(CG) over them to uproot(CH) and tear down, and to overthrow, destroy and bring disaster,(CI) so I will watch over them to build and to plant,”(CJ) declares the Lord. 29 “In those days people will no longer say,

‘The parents(CK) have eaten sour grapes,
    and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’(CL)

30 Instead, everyone will die for their own sin;(CM) whoever eats sour grapes—their own teeth will be set on edge.

31 “The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
    “when I will make a new covenant(CN)
with the people of Israel
    and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant(CO)
    I made with their ancestors(CP)
when I took them by the hand
    to lead them out of Egypt,(CQ)
because they broke my covenant,
    though I was a husband(CR) to[d] them,[e]
declares the Lord.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
    after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds(CS)
    and write it on their hearts.(CT)
I will be their God,
    and they will be my people.(CU)

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 Or Lord has appeared to us from afar
  2. Jeremiah 31:22 Or will protect
  3. Jeremiah 31:23 Or I restore their fortunes
  4. Jeremiah 31:32 Hebrew; Septuagint and Syriac / and I turned away from
  5. Jeremiah 31:32 Or was their master

The Lord Will Pour Out His Spirit

28 [a] (A)“And it shall come to pass afterward,
    that (B)I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;
(C)your sons and (D)your daughters shall prophesy,
    your old men shall dream dreams,
    and your young men shall see visions.
29 (E)Even on the male and female servants
    in those days I will pour out my Spirit.

30 “And I will show (F)wonders in the heavens and (G)on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. 31 (H)The sun shall be turned to darkness, (I)and the moon to blood, (J)before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. 32 And it shall come to pass that (K)everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. (L)For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among (M)the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:28 Ch 3:1 in Hebrew

The Day of the Lord

28 “And afterward,
    I will pour out my Spirit(A) on all people.(B)
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,(C)
    your old men will dream dreams,(D)
    your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants,(E) both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.(F)
30 I will show wonders in the heavens(G)
    and on the earth,(H)
    blood and fire and billows of smoke.
31 The sun will be turned to darkness(I)
    and the moon to blood
    before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.(J)
32 And everyone who calls
    on the name of the Lord(K) will be saved;(L)
for on Mount Zion(M) and in Jerusalem
    there will be deliverance,(N)
    as the Lord has said,
even among the survivors(O)
    whom the Lord calls.[a](P)

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:32 In Hebrew texts 2:28-32 is numbered 3:1-5.

Comfort for God's People

40 (A)Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
(B)Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and cry to her
that (C)her warfare[a] is ended,
    that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
    double for all her sins.

(D)A voice cries:[b]
(E)“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
    (F)make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
(G)Every valley shall be lifted up,
    and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
    and the rough places a plain.
(H)And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
    and all flesh shall see it together,
    (I)for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The Word of God Stands Forever

A voice says, “Cry!”
    And I said,[c] “What shall I cry?”
(J)All flesh is grass,
    and all its beauty[d] is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades
    when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
    surely the people are grass.
(K)The grass withers, the flower fades,
    but the word of our God will stand forever.

The Greatness of God

Go on up to a high mountain,
    O Zion, (L)herald of good news;[e]
lift up your voice with strength,
    O Jerusalem, herald of good news;[f]
    lift it up, fear not;
say to the cities of Judah,
    “Behold your God!”
10 (M)Behold, the Lord God comes with might,
    and his arm rules for him;
(N)behold, his reward is with him,
    and his recompense before him.
11 (O)He will tend his flock like a shepherd;
    (P)he will gather the lambs in his arms;
(Q)he will carry them in his bosom,
    and gently lead those that are with young.

12 (R)Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
    and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
    and weighed the mountains in scales
    and the hills in a balance?
13 (S)Who has measured[g] the Spirit of the Lord,
    or what man shows him his counsel?
14 Whom did he consult,
    and who made him understand?
(T)Who taught him the path of justice,
    and taught him knowledge,
    and showed him the way of understanding?
15 Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
    and are accounted (U)as the dust on the scales;
    behold, he takes up (V)the coastlands like fine dust.
16 Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
    nor are (W)its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
17 (X)All the nations are as nothing before him,
    they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.

18 (Y)To whom then will you liken God,
    (Z)or what likeness compare with him?
19 (AA)An idol! A craftsman casts it,
    and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
    and casts for it silver chains.
20 (AB)He who is too impoverished for an offering
    chooses wood[h] that will not rot;
he seeks out a skillful craftsman
    to set up an idol that will not move.

21 (AC)Do you not know? Do you not hear?
    Has it not been told you from the beginning?
    Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth?
22 It is he who sits above the circle of the earth,
    and its inhabitants are (AD)like grasshoppers;
(AE)who stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
    and spreads them like a tent to dwell in;
23 (AF)who brings princes to nothing,
    and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.

24 Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown,
    scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth,
when he blows on them, and they wither,
    (AG)and the tempest carries them off like stubble.

25 (AH)To whom then will you compare me,
    that I should be like him? says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
    who created these?
(AI)He who brings out their host by number,
    calling them all by name;
by the greatness of his might
    and because he is strong in power,
    not one is missing.

27 Why do you say, O Jacob,
    and speak, O Israel,
(AJ)“My way is hidden from the Lord,
    (AK)and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is (AL)the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    (AM)his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but (AN)they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings (AO)like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:2 Or hardship
  2. Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one crying
  3. Isaiah 40:6 Revocalization based on Dead Sea Scroll, Septuagint, Vulgate; Masoretic Text And someone says
  4. Isaiah 40:6 Or all its constancy
  5. Isaiah 40:9 Or O herald of good news to Zion
  6. Isaiah 40:9 Or O herald of good news to Jerusalem
  7. Isaiah 40:13 Or has directed
  8. Isaiah 40:20 Or He chooses valuable wood

Comfort for God’s People

40 Comfort, comfort(A) my people,
    says your God.
Speak tenderly(B) to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service(C) has been completed,(D)
    that her sin has been paid for,(E)
that she has received from the Lord’s hand
    double(F) for all her sins.

A voice of one calling:
“In the wilderness prepare
    the way(G) for the Lord[a];
make straight(H) in the desert
    a highway for our God.[b](I)
Every valley shall be raised up,(J)
    every mountain and hill(K) made low;
the rough ground shall become level,(L)
    the rugged places a plain.
And the glory(M) of the Lord will be revealed,
    and all people will see it together.(N)
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”(O)

A voice says, “Cry out.”
    And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,(P)
    and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers(Q) and the flowers fall,
    because the breath(R) of the Lord blows(S) on them.
    Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers(T) fall,
    but the word(U) of our God endures(V) forever.(W)

You who bring good news(X) to Zion,
    go up on a high mountain.
You who bring good news to Jerusalem,[c](Y)
    lift up your voice with a shout,
lift it up, do not be afraid;
    say to the towns of Judah,
    “Here is your God!”(Z)
10 See, the Sovereign Lord comes(AA) with power,(AB)
    and he rules(AC) with a mighty arm.(AD)
See, his reward(AE) is with him,
    and his recompense accompanies him.
11 He tends his flock like a shepherd:(AF)
    He gathers the lambs in his arms(AG)
and carries them close to his heart;(AH)
    he gently leads(AI) those that have young.(AJ)

12 Who has measured the waters(AK) in the hollow of his hand,(AL)
    or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?(AM)
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
    or weighed the mountains on the scales
    and the hills in a balance?(AN)
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[d](AO) of the Lord,
    or instruct the Lord as his counselor?(AP)
14 Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him,
    and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,(AQ)
    or showed him the path of understanding?(AR)

15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
    they are regarded as dust on the scales;(AS)
    he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.(AT)
16 Lebanon(AU) is not sufficient for altar fires,
    nor its animals(AV) enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations(AW) are as nothing;(AX)
    they are regarded by him as worthless
    and less than nothing.(AY)

18 With whom, then, will you compare God?(AZ)
    To what image(BA) will you liken him?
19 As for an idol,(BB) a metalworker casts it,
    and a goldsmith(BC) overlays it with gold(BD)
    and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
    selects wood(BE) that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
    to set up an idol(BF) that will not topple.(BG)

21 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?(BH)
Has it not been told(BI) you from the beginning?(BJ)
    Have you not understood(BK) since the earth was founded?(BL)
22 He sits enthroned(BM) above the circle of the earth,
    and its people are like grasshoppers.(BN)
He stretches out the heavens(BO) like a canopy,(BP)
    and spreads them out like a tent(BQ) to live in.(BR)
23 He brings princes(BS) to naught
    and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.(BT)
24 No sooner are they planted,
    no sooner are they sown,
    no sooner do they take root(BU) in the ground,
than he blows(BV) on them and they wither,(BW)
    and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.(BX)

25 “To whom will you compare me?(BY)
    Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.(BZ)
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:(CA)
    Who created(CB) all these?
He who brings out the starry host(CC) one by one
    and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,(CD)
    not one of them is missing.(CE)

27 Why do you complain, Jacob?
    Why do you say, Israel,
“My way is hidden from the Lord;
    my cause is disregarded by my God”?(CF)
28 Do you not know?
    Have you not heard?(CG)
The Lord is the everlasting(CH) God,
    the Creator(CI) of the ends of the earth.(CJ)
He will not grow tired or weary,(CK)
    and his understanding no one can fathom.(CL)
29 He gives strength(CM) to the weary(CN)
    and increases the power of the weak.
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
    and young men(CO) stumble and fall;(CP)
31 but those who hope(CQ) in the Lord
    will renew their strength.(CR)
They will soar on wings like eagles;(CS)
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.(CT)

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:3 Or A voice of one calling in the wilderness: / “Prepare the way for the Lord
  2. Isaiah 40:3 Hebrew; Septuagint make straight the paths of our God
  3. Isaiah 40:9 Or Zion, bringer of good news, / go up on a high mountain. / Jerusalem, bringer of good news
  4. Isaiah 40:13 Or mind