Jeremiah 33
New American Standard Bible
Restoration Promised
33 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still (A)confined in the courtyard of the guard, saying, 2 “This is what (B)the Lord says, He who made [a]the earth, the Lord who formed it to create it, He whose name is the (C)Lord: 3 ‘(D)Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you (E)great and [b]mighty things, (F)which you do not know.’ 4 For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel says concerning the (G)houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah which have been torn down to make a defense against the (H)assault ramps and the sword: 5 ‘While they are coming to (I)fight the Chaldeans and to fill [c]their houses with the bodies of people whom I have struck down in My anger and My wrath, and I have (J)hidden My face from this city because of all their wickedness: 6 Behold, I am going to bring to it (K)healing and a remedy, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an (L)abundance of peace and truth. 7 And I will (M)restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and will (N)rebuild them as they were at first. 8 And I will (O)cleanse them from all their wrongdoing by which they have sinned against Me, and I will forgive all their wrongdoings by which they have sinned against Me and revolted against Me. 9 [d]It will be to Me a (P)name of joy, praise, and glory before (Q)all the nations of the earth, which will hear of all the (R)good that I do for them, and they will be (S)frightened and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it.’
10 “This is what the Lord says: ‘Yet again there will be heard in this place, of which you say, “It is a (T)waste, without man and without animal,” that is, in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are (U)deserted, without man and without inhabitant and without animal, 11 the voice of (V)joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the voice of those who say,
“(W)Give thanks to the Lord of armies,
For the Lord is good,
For His mercy is everlasting,”
as they bring a (X)thanksgiving offering into the house of the Lord. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as they were at first,’ says the Lord.
12 “This is what the Lord of armies says: ‘There will again be in this place which is waste, (Y)without man or animal, and in all its cities, a pasture for shepherds who rest their (Z)flocks. 13 In the (AA)cities of the hill country, in the cities of the lowland, in the cities of the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, in the areas surrounding Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, the flocks will again (AB)pass under the hands of the one who counts them,’ says the Lord.
The Davidic Kingdom
14 ‘Behold, (AC)days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will (AD)fulfill the good word which I have spoken concerning the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will make a (AE)righteous Branch of David sprout; and He shall execute (AF)justice and righteousness on the earth. 16 In those days (AG)Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety; and this is the name by which it will be called: the (AH)Lord is our righteousness.’ 17 For this is what the Lord says: ‘[e]David shall (AI)not lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel; 18 [f]and the (AJ)Levitical priests shall not lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to (AK)prepare sacrifices [g]continually.’”
19 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 20 “This is what the Lord says: ‘If you can (AL)break My covenant for the day and My covenant for the night, so that day and night do not occur at their proper time, 21 then (AM)My covenant with David My servant may also be broken, so that he will not have a son to reign on his throne, and with the Levitical priests, My ministers. 22 As the (AN)heavenly [h]lights cannot be counted, and the (AO)sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will (AP)multiply the [i]descendants of My servant David and the (AQ)Levites who serve Me.’”
23 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah, saying, 24 “Have you not observed what these people have asserted, saying, ‘The (AR)two families which the Lord chose, He has (AS)rejected them’? So they (AT)despise My people as no longer being a nation [j]in their sight. 25 This is what the Lord says: ‘If My (AU)covenant for day and night does not continue, and I have (AV)not established the [k]fixed patterns of heaven and earth, 26 then I would (AW)reject the [l]descendants of Jacob and David My servant, so as not to take from his [m]descendants (AX)rulers over the [n]descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But I will (AY)restore their fortunes and have (AZ)mercy on them.’”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 33:2 Lit it
- Jeremiah 33:3 Or incomprehensible
- Jeremiah 33:5 Lit them
- Jeremiah 33:9 I.e., This city
- Jeremiah 33:17 Lit There shall not be cut off for David
- Jeremiah 33:18 Lit there shall not be cut off for the Levitical priests
- Jeremiah 33:18 Lit all the days
- Jeremiah 33:22 Lit host; i.e., sun, stars, etc.
- Jeremiah 33:22 Lit seed
- Jeremiah 33:24 Lit to their faces
- Jeremiah 33:25 Lit statutes
- Jeremiah 33:26 Lit seed
- Jeremiah 33:26 Lit seed
- Jeremiah 33:26 Lit seed
Jeremiah 33
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Healing after Punishment
33 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the court of the guard:(A) 2 Thus says the Lord who makes it, the Lord who forms it to establish it—the Lord is his name:(B) 3 Call to me, and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.(C) 4 For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege ramps and before the sword:[a](D) 5 They are coming to fight the Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of those whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness.(E) 6 I am going to bring it recovery and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them abundance[b] of prosperity and security.(F) 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and rebuild them as they were at first.(G) 8 I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.(H) 9 And this city[c] shall be to me a name of joy, a praise, and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them; they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.(I)
10 Thus says the Lord: In this place of which you say, “It is a waste without humans or animals,” in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without inhabitants, human or animal, there shall once more be heard 11 the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord:
“Give thanks to the Lord of hosts,
for the Lord is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!”
For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord.(J)
12 Thus says the Lord of hosts: In this place that is waste, without humans or animals, and in all its towns there shall again be pasture for shepherds resting their flocks.(K) 13 In the towns of the hill country, of the Shephelah, and of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places around Jerusalem, and in the towns of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the Lord.(L)
The Righteous Branch and the Covenant with David
14 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.(M) 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.(N) 16 In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”(O)
17 For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,(P) 18 and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to make grain offerings, and to make sacrifices for all time.(Q)
19 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 20 Thus says the Lord: If any of you could break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night would not come at their appointed time,(R) 21 only then could my covenant with my servant David be broken, so that he would not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with my ministers the Levites.(S) 22 Just as the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will increase the offspring of my servant David and the Levites who minister to me.(T)
23 The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 24 Have you not observed how these people say, “The two families that the Lord chose have been rejected by him,” and how they hold my people in such contempt that they no longer regard them as a nation?(U) 25 Thus says the Lord: Only if I had not established my covenant with day and night and the ordinances of heaven and earth(V) 26 would I reject the offspring of Jacob and of my servant David and not choose any of his descendants as rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy upon them.(W)
Jeremiah 33
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition
33 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying:
2 Thus saith the Lord, who will do, and will form it, and prepare it, the Lord is his name.
3 Cry to me and I will hear thee: and I will shew thee great things, and sure things which thou knowest not.
4 For thus saith the Lord the God of Israel to the houses of this city, and to the houses of the king of Juda, which are destroyed, and to the bulwarks, and to the sword.
5 Of them that come to fight with the Chaldeans, and to fill them with the dead bodies of the men whom I have slain in my wrath, and in my indignation, hiding my face from this city because of all their wickedness.
6 Behold I will close their wounds and give them health, and I will cure them: and I will reveal to them the prayer of peace and truth.
7 And I will bring back the captivity of Juda, and the captivity of Jerusalem: and I will build them as from the beginning.
8 And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me: and I will forgive all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against me, and despised me.
9 And it shall be to me a name, and a joy, and a praise, and a gladness before all the nations of the earth, that shall hear of all the good things which I will do to them: and they shall fear and be troubled for all the good things, and for all the peace that I will make for them.
10 Thus saith the Lord: There shall be heard again in this place (which you say is desolate, because there is neither man nor beast: in the cities of Juda, and without Jerusalem, which 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: Give ye glory to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring their vows into the house of the Lord: for I will bring back the captivity of the land as at the first, saith the Lord.
12 Thus saith the Lord of hosts: There shall be again in this place that is desolate without man, and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13 And in the cities on the mountains, and in the cities of the plains, and in the cities that are towards the south: and in the land of Benjamin, and round about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda shall the flocks pass again under the hand of him that numbereth them, saith the Lord.
14 Behold the days come, saith the Lord, that I will perform the good word that I have spoken to the house of Israel, and to the house of Juda.
15 In those days, and at that time, I will make the bud of justice to spring forth unto David, and he shall do judgment and justice in the earth.
16 In those days shall Juda be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell securely: and this is the name that they shall call him, The Lord our just one.
17 For thus saith the Lord: There shall not be cut off from David a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel.
18 Neither shall there be cut off from the priests and Levites a man before my face to offer holocausts, and to burn sacrifices, and to kill victims continually:
19 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying:
20 Thus saith the Lord: If my covenant with the day can be made void, and my covenant with the night, that there should not be day and night in their season:
21 Also my covenant with David my servant may be made void, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne, and with the Levites and priests my ministers.
22 As the stars of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea be measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites my ministers.
23 And the word of the Lord came to Jeremias, saying:
24 Hast thou not seen what this people hath spoken, saying: The two families which the Lord had chosen, are cast off: and they have despised my people, so that it is no more a nation before them?
25 Thus saith the Lord: If I have not set my covenant between day and night, and laws to heaven and earth:
26 Surely I will also cast off the seed of Jacob, and of David my servant, so as not to take any of his seed to be rulers of the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will bring back their captivity, and will have mercy on them.
Jeremiah 33
The Message
Things You Could Never Figure Out on Your Own
33 While Jeremiah was still locked up in jail, a second Message from God was given to him:
2-3 “This is God’s Message, the God who made earth, made it livable and lasting, known everywhere as God: ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’
4-5 “This is what God, the God of Israel, has to say about what’s going on in this city, about the homes of both people and kings that have been demolished, about all the ravages of war and the killing by the Chaldeans, and about the streets littered with the dead bodies of those killed because of my raging anger—about all that’s happened because the evil actions in this city have turned my stomach in disgust.
6-9 “But now take another look. I’m going to give this city a thorough renovation, working a true healing inside and out. I’m going to show them life whole, life brimming with blessings. I’ll restore everything that was lost to Judah and Jerusalem. I’ll build everything back as good as new. I’ll scrub them clean from the dirt they’ve done against me. I’ll forgive everything they’ve done wrong, forgive all their rebellions. And Jerusalem will be a center of joy and praise and glory for all the countries on earth. They’ll get reports on all the good I’m doing for her. They’ll be in awe of the blessings I am pouring on her.
10-11 “Yes, God’s Message: ‘You’re going to look at this place, these empty and desolate towns of Judah and streets of Jerusalem, and say, “A wasteland. Unlivable. Not even a dog could live here.” But the time is coming when you’re going to hear laughter and celebration, marriage festivities, people exclaiming, “Thank God-of-the-Angel-Armies. He’s so good! His love never quits,” as they bring thank offerings into God’s Temple. I’ll restore everything that was lost in this land. I’ll make everything as good as new.’ I, God, say so.
12-13 “God-of-the-Angel-Armies says: ‘This coming desolation, unfit for even a stray dog, is once again going to become a pasture for shepherds who care for their flocks. You’ll see flocks everywhere—in the mountains around the towns of the Shephelah and Negev, all over the territory of Benjamin, around Jerusalem and the towns of Judah—flocks under the care of shepherds who keep track of each sheep.’ God says so.
A Fresh and True Shoot from the David-Tree
14-18 “‘Watch for this: The time is coming’—God’s Decree—‘when I will keep the promise I made to the families of Israel and Judah. When that time comes, I will make a fresh and true shoot sprout from the David-Tree. He will run this country honestly and fairly. He will set things right. That’s when Judah will be secure and Jerusalem live in safety. The motto for the city will be, “God Has Set Things Right for Us.” God has made it clear that there will always be a descendant of David ruling the people of Israel and that there will always be Levitical priests on hand to offer burnt offerings, present grain offerings, and carry on the sacrificial worship in my honor.’”
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19-22 God’s Message to Jeremiah: “God says, ‘If my covenant with day and my covenant with night ever fell apart so that day and night became haphazard and you never knew which was coming and when, then and only then would my covenant with my servant David fall apart and his descendants no longer rule. The same goes for the Levitical priests who serve me. Just as you can’t number the stars in the sky nor measure the sand on the seashore, neither will you be able to account for the descendants of David my servant and the Levites who serve me.’”
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23-24 God’s Message to Jeremiah: “Have you heard the saying that’s making the rounds: ‘The two families God chose, Israel and Judah, he disowned’? And have you noticed that my people are treated with contempt, with rumors afoot that there’s nothing to them anymore?
25-26 “Well, here’s God’s response: ‘If my covenant with day and night wasn’t in working order, if sky and earth weren’t functioning the way I set them going, then, but only then, you might think I had disowned the descendants of Jacob and of my servant David, and that I wouldn’t set up any of David’s descendants over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. But as it is, I will give them back everything they’ve lost. The last word is, I will have mercy on them.’”
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