Jeremiah 3:11-22
English Standard Version
11 And the Lord said to me, (A)“Faithless Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go, and proclaim these words toward (B)the north, and say,
(C)“‘Return, faithless Israel,
declares the Lord.
I will not look on you in anger,
for (D)I am merciful,
declares the Lord;
(E)I will not be angry forever.
13 (F)Only acknowledge your guilt,
that you rebelled against the Lord your God
and scattered your favors among foreigners under (G)every green tree,
and that you have not obeyed my voice,
declares the Lord.
14 (H)Return, O faithless children,
declares the Lord;
(I)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 (J)I will give you shepherds after my own heart, (K)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, (L)and all nations shall gather to it, (M)to the presence of the Lord in Jerusalem, and they shall no more stubbornly follow their own evil heart. 18 (N)In those days the house of Judah shall join the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land (O)of the north to (P)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 (Q)call me, My Father,
and would not turn from following me.
20 (R)Surely, as a treacherous wife leaves her husband,
so have you been treacherous to me, O house of Israel,
declares the Lord.’”
21 A voice on the (S)bare heights is heard,
(T)the weeping and pleading of Israel's sons
because they have perverted their way;
they have forgotten the Lord their God.
22 (U)“Return, O faithless sons;
(V)I will heal your faithlessness.”
“Behold, we come to you,
for you are the Lord our God.
Jeremiah 3:11-22
International Standard Version
A Call for Repentance
11 Then the Lord told me, “Unfaithful Israel has shown herself more righteous than treacherous Judah. 12 Go, proclaim these words to the north, and say,
‘Return, unfaithful Israel,’
declares the Lord.
‘I won’t look on you in anger,
for I am gracious,’[a]
declares the Lord.
‘I won’t remain angry forever.
13 ‘Only acknowledge your iniquity,
that you have rebelled against the Lord your God,
and have scattered your favors to strangers
under every green tree.
But you haven’t obeyed me,’
declares the Lord.
14 “Return, unfaithful people,”[b] declares the Lord, “for I am your husband.[c] I’ll take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I’ll bring you to Zion. 15 I’ll give you shepherds[d] after my own heart, and they’ll shepherd you with knowledge and good sense.”
16 “And in those days when you increase in numbers and multiply in the land,” declares the Lord, “people will no longer say, ‘The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord,’ and it won’t come to mind, and they won’t remember it or miss it, nor will it be made again. 17 At that time people will call Jerusalem, “The Throne of the Lord,” and all the nations will be gathered to it, to the name of the Lord, to Jerusalem. They’ll no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires.[e] 18 In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and together they’ll come to the land that I gave your ancestors as an inheritance.”
God’s Desire for His People
19 “I said,
‘How I wanted to treat you like children,
and give you a pleasant land,
the most beautiful inheritance of the nations.’
I said, ‘You will call me, my father,
and won’t turn back from following me.’
20 Instead, like an unfaithful wife leaves her husband,
so you have been unfaithful to me, house of Israel,”
declares the Lord.
Israel Cries for Help
21 “A voice is heard on the barren heights,
the weeping and pleading of the children of Israel
because they have perverted their way.
They have forgotten the Lord their God.”
God Calls for Repentance
22 “Turn back, unfaithful people,[f]
and I’ll heal your unfaithfulness.”
Israel Replies
“Look, we’re coming to you
because you are the Lord our God.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 3:12 I.e. characterized by gracious love
- Jeremiah 3:14 Or sons
- Jeremiah 3:14 Or master
- Jeremiah 3:15 I.e. leaders
- Jeremiah 3:17 Lit. follow the stubbornness of their evil hearts
- Jeremiah 3:22 Or sons
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
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