“Therefore I will still contend with you,” declares the Lord, “And I will contend with your sons’ sons.

Raise a flag toward Zion! Take refuge, do not stand still, For I am bringing evil from the north, And great destruction.

Why are we sitting still? Assemble yourselves, and let’s go into the fortified cities And perish there, For the Lord our God has doomed us And given us poisoned water to drink, Because we have sinned against the Lord.

She who gave birth to seven sons withers away; Her breathing is labored. Her sun has set while it was still day; She has been shamed and humiliated. So I will turn over their survivors to the sword Before their enemies,” declares the Lord.

Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will certainly have mercy on him,” declares the Lord.

Restoration Promised

Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the second time, while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard, saying,

Now Jeremiah was still coming and going among the people, for they had not yet put him in prison.

As Jeremiah was still not going back, he said, “Go on back then to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam, the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon has appointed over the cities of Judah, and stay with him among the people; or else go anywhere it seems right for you to go.” So the captain of the bodyguard gave him a ration and a gift, and let him go.

Ah, sword of the Lord, How long will you not be quiet? Withdraw into your sheath; Rest and stay still.