11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

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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(A) My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.
“For(B) as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.

10 “For (C)as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 (D)So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me [a]void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall (E)prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

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

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 55:11 empty, without fruit

“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 they do not know (A)the thoughts of the Lord,
Nor do they understand His counsel;
For He will gather them (B)like 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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(A)Many, O Lord my God, are Your wonderful works
Which You have done;
(B)And Your thoughts toward us
Cannot be recounted to You in order;
If I would declare and speak of them,
They are more than can be numbered.

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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 unique, and who can make Him change?
And whatever (A)His soul desires, that He does.

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

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26 It is good that one should (A)hope (B)and 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 that are not yet done,
Saying, (B)‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,’
11 Calling a bird of prey (C)from the east,
The man (D)who executes My counsel, from a far country.
Indeed (E)I have spoken it;
I will also bring it to pass.
I have purposed it;
I will also 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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God, the True Shepherd

11 ‘For thus says the Lord God: “Indeed I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out. 12 As a (A)shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on (B)a cloudy and dark day. 13 And (C)I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, [a]in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 (D)I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. (E)There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord God. 16 (F)“I will seek what was lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and strengthen what was sick; but I will destroy (G)the fat and the strong, and feed them (H)in judgment.”

17 ‘And as for you, O My flock, thus says the Lord God: (I)“Behold, I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and goats. 18 Is it too little for you to have eaten up the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the [b]residue of your pasture—and to have drunk of the clear waters, that you must foul the residue with your feet? 19 And as for My flock, they eat what you have trampled with your feet, and they drink what you have fouled with your feet.”

20 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord God to them: (J)“Behold, I Myself will judge between the fat and the lean sheep. 21 Because you have pushed with side and shoulder, butted all the weak ones with your horns, and scattered them abroad, 22 therefore I will save My flock, and they shall no longer be a prey; and I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23 I will establish one (K)shepherd over them, and he shall feed them—(L)My servant David. He shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24 And (M)I, the Lord, will be their God, and My servant David (N)a prince among them; I, the Lord, have spoken.

25 (O)“I will make a covenant of peace with them, and (P)cause wild beasts to cease from the land; and they (Q)will dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods. 26 I will make them and the places all around (R)My hill (S)a blessing; and I will (T)cause showers to come down in their season; there shall be (U)showers of blessing. 27 Then (V)the trees of the field shall yield their fruit, and the earth shall yield her increase. They shall be safe in their land; and they shall know that I am the Lord, when I have (W)broken the bands of their yoke and delivered them from the hand of those who (X)enslaved them. 28 And they shall no longer be a prey for the nations, nor shall beasts of the land devour them; but (Y)they shall dwell safely, and no one shall make them afraid. 29 I will raise up for them a (Z)garden[c] of renown, and they shall (AA)no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, (AB)nor bear the shame of the Gentiles anymore. 30 Thus they shall know that (AC)I, the Lord their God, am with them, and they, the house of Israel, are (AD)My people,” says the Lord God.’

31 “You are My (AE)flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, and I am your God,” says the Lord God.

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Footnotes

  1. Ezekiel 34:13 Or by the streams
  2. Ezekiel 34:18 remainder
  3. Ezekiel 34:29 Lit. planting place

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:

‘Return, backsliding Israel,’ says the Lord;
‘I will not cause My anger to fall on you.
For I am (B)merciful,’ says the Lord;
‘I will not remain angry forever.
13 (C)Only acknowledge your iniquity,
That you have transgressed against the Lord your God,
And have (D)scattered your [a]charms
To (E)alien deities (F)under every green tree,
And you have not obeyed My voice,’ says the Lord.

14 “Return, O backsliding children,” says the Lord; (G)“for I am married to you. I will take you, (H)one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to (I)Zion. 15 And I will give you (J)shepherds according to My heart, who will (K)feed you with knowledge and understanding.

16 “Then it shall come to pass, when you are multiplied and (L)increased in the land in those days,” says the Lord, “that they will say no more, ‘The ark of the covenant of the Lord.’ (M)It shall not come to mind, nor shall they remember it, nor shall they visit it, nor shall it be made anymore.

17 “At that time Jerusalem shall be called The Throne of the Lord, and all the nations shall be gathered to it, (N)to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. No more shall they (O)follow[b] the dictates of their evil hearts.

18 “In those days (P)the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of (Q)the north to (R)the land that I have given as an inheritance to your fathers.

19 “But I said:

‘How can I put you among the children
And give you (S)a pleasant land,
A beautiful heritage of the hosts of nations?’

“And I said:

‘You shall call Me, (T)“My Father,”
And not turn away from Me.’

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 3:13 Lit. ways
  2. Jeremiah 3:17 walk after the stubbornness or imagination

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 Remnant of Israel Saved

31 “At (A)the same time,” says the Lord, (B)“I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be My people.”

Thus says the Lord:

“The people who survived the sword
Found grace in the wilderness—
Israel, when (C)I went to give him rest.”

The Lord has appeared [a]of old to me, saying:
“Yes, (D)I have loved you with (E)an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have (F)drawn you.
Again (G)I will build you, and you shall be rebuilt,
O virgin of Israel!
You shall again be adorned with your (H)tambourines,
And shall go forth in the dances of those who rejoice.
(I)You shall yet plant vines on the mountains of Samaria;
The planters shall plant and [b]eat them as ordinary food.
For there shall be a day
When the watchmen will cry on Mount Ephraim,
(J)‘Arise, and let us go up to Zion,
To the Lord our God.’ ”

For thus says the Lord:

(K)“Sing with gladness for Jacob,
And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘O Lord, save Your people,
The remnant of Israel!’
Behold, I will bring them (L)from the north country,
And (M)gather them from the ends of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child
And the one who labors with child, together;
A great throng shall return there.
(N)They shall come with weeping,
And with supplications I will lead them.
I will cause them to walk (O)by the rivers of waters,
In a straight way in which they shall not stumble;
For I am a Father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My (P)firstborn.

10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And declare it in the [c]isles afar off, and say,
‘He who scattered Israel (Q)will gather him,
And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’
11 For (R)the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And ransomed him (S)from the hand of one stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in (T)the height of Zion,
Streaming to (U)the goodness of the Lord
For wheat and new wine and oil,
For the young of the flock and the herd;
Their souls shall be like a (V)well-watered garden,
(W)And they shall sorrow no more at all.

13 “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together;
For I will turn their mourning to joy,
Will comfort them,
And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.
14 I will [d]satiate the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”

Mercy on Ephraim

15 Thus says the Lord:

(X)“A voice was heard in (Y)Ramah,
Lamentation and bitter (Z)weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted for her children,
Because (AA)they are no more.”

16 Thus says the Lord:

“Refrain your voice from (AB)weeping,
And your eyes from tears;
For your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord,
And they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 There is (AC)hope in your future, says the Lord,
That your children shall come back to their own border.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself:
‘You have (AD)chastised me, and I was chastised,
Like an untrained bull;
(AE)Restore me, and I will return,
For You are the Lord my God.
19 Surely, (AF)after my turning, I repented;
And after I was instructed, I struck myself on the thigh;
I was (AG)ashamed, yes, even humiliated,
Because I bore the reproach of my youth.’
20 Is Ephraim My dear son?
Is he a pleasant child?
For though I spoke against him,
I earnestly remember him still;
(AH)Therefore My [e]heart yearns for him;
(AI)I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord.

21 “Set up signposts,
Make landmarks;
(AJ)Set your heart toward the highway,
The way in which you went.
[f]Turn back, O virgin of Israel,
Turn back to these your cities.
22 How long will you (AK)gad about,
O you (AL)backsliding daughter?
For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth—
A woman shall encompass a man.”

Future Prosperity of Judah

23 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “They shall again use this speech in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I bring back their captivity: (AM)‘The Lord bless you, O home of justice, and (AN)mountain of holiness!’ 24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and (AO)in all its cities together, farmers and those going out with flocks. 25 For I have [g]satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul.”

26 After this I awoke and looked around, and my sleep was (AP)sweet to me.

27 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that (AQ)I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass, that as I have (AR)watched over them (AS)to pluck up, to break down, to throw down, to destroy, and to afflict, so I will watch over them (AT)to build and to plant, says the Lord. 29 (AU)In those days they shall say no more:

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
And the children’s teeth are set on edge.’

30 (AV)But every one shall die for his own iniquity; every man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth shall be set on edge.

A New Covenant

31 “Behold, the (AW)days are coming, says the Lord, when 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 (AX)I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, [h]though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. 33 (AY)But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: (AZ)I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their [i]hearts; (BA)and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 Lit. from afar
  2. Jeremiah 31:5 Lit. treat them as common
  3. Jeremiah 31:10 Or coastlands
  4. Jeremiah 31:14 Fill to the full
  5. Jeremiah 31:20 Lit. inward parts
  6. Jeremiah 31:21 Or Return
  7. Jeremiah 31:25 fully satisfied
  8. Jeremiah 31:32 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX, Syr. and I turned away from them
  9. Jeremiah 31:33 Lit. inward parts

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

God’s Spirit Poured Out

28 “And(A) it shall come to pass afterward
That (B)I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
(C)Your sons and your (D)daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
29 And also on My (E)menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

30 “And (F)I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:
Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
31 (G)The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
(H)Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.
32 And it shall come to pass
That (I)whoever calls on the name of the Lord
Shall be [a]saved.
For (J)in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be [b]deliverance,
As the Lord has said,
Among (K)the remnant whom the Lord calls.

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Footnotes

  1. Joel 2:32 Or delivered
  2. Joel 2:32 Or salvation

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.

God’s People Are Comforted(A)

40 “Comfort, yes, comfort My people!”
Says your God.
“Speak [a]comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her,
That her warfare is ended,
That her iniquity is pardoned;
(B)For she has received from the Lord’s hand
Double for all her sins.”

(C)The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
(D)“Prepare the way of the Lord;
(E)Make straight [b]in the desert
A highway for our God.
Every valley shall be exalted
And every mountain and hill brought low;
(F)The crooked places shall be made [c]straight
And the rough places smooth;
The (G)glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
And all flesh shall see it together;
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

The voice said, “Cry out!”
And [d]he said, “What shall I cry?”

(H)“All flesh is grass,
And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
Because the breath of the Lord blows upon it;
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers, the flower fades,
But (I)the word of our God stands forever.”

O Zion,
You who bring good tidings,
Get up into the high mountain;
O Jerusalem,
You who bring good tidings,
Lift up your voice with strength,
Lift it up, be not afraid;
Say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

10 Behold, the Lord God shall come [e]with a strong hand,
And (J)His arm shall rule for Him;
Behold, (K)His reward is with Him,
And His [f]work before Him.
11 He will (L)feed His flock like a shepherd;
He will gather the lambs with His arm,
And carry them in His bosom,
And gently lead those who are with young.

12 (M)Who has measured the [g]waters in the hollow of His hand,
Measured heaven with a [h]span
And calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
Weighed the mountains in scales
And the hills in a balance?
13 (N)Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord,
Or as His counselor has taught Him?
14 With whom did He take counsel, and who instructed Him,
And (O)taught Him in the path of justice?
Who taught Him knowledge,
And showed Him the way of understanding?

15 Behold, the nations are as a drop in a bucket,
And are counted as the small dust on the scales;
Look, He lifts up the isles as a very little thing.
16 And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn,
Nor its beasts sufficient for a burnt offering.
17 All nations before Him are as (P)nothing,
And (Q)they are counted by Him less than nothing and worthless.

18 To whom then will you (R)liken God?
Or what likeness will you compare to Him?
19 (S)The workman molds an image,
The goldsmith overspreads it with gold,
And the silversmith casts silver chains.
20 Whoever is too impoverished for such [i]a contribution
Chooses a tree that will not rot;
He seeks for himself a skillful workman
(T)To prepare a carved image that will not totter.

21 (U)Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
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 like grasshoppers,
Who (V)stretches out the heavens like a curtain,
And spreads them out like a (W)tent to dwell in.
23 He [j]brings the (X)princes to nothing;
He makes the judges of the earth useless.

24 Scarcely shall they be planted,
Scarcely shall they be sown,
Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth,
When He will also blow on them,
And they will wither,
And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.

25 “To(Y) whom then will you liken Me,
Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes on high,
And see who has created these things,
Who brings out their host by number;
(Z)He calls them all by name,
By the greatness of His might
And the strength of His power;
Not one is missing.

27 (AA)Why do you say, O Jacob,
And speak, O Israel:
“My way is hidden from the Lord,
And my just claim is passed over by my God”?
28 Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
(AB)His understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who (AC)wait on the Lord
(AD)Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 40:2 Lit. to the heart of
  2. Isaiah 40:3 So with MT, Tg., Vg.; LXX omits in the desert
  3. Isaiah 40:4 Or a plain
  4. Isaiah 40:6 So with MT, Tg.; DSS, LXX, Vg. I
  5. Isaiah 40:10 in strength
  6. Isaiah 40:10 recompense
  7. Isaiah 40:12 So with MT, LXX, Vg.; DSS adds of the sea; Tg. adds of the world
  8. Isaiah 40:12 A span .5 cubit, 9 inches; or the width of His hand
  9. Isaiah 40:20 an offering
  10. Isaiah 40:23 reduces

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