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The Lord Promises a Second Time to Restore Israel and Judah
33 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah a second time[a] while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse. 2 “I, the Lord, do these things. I, the Lord, form the plan to bring them about.[b] I am known as the Lord. I say to you, 3 ‘Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious[c] things that you still do not know about.’ 4 For I, the Lord God of Israel, have something more to say about the houses in this city and the royal buildings of Judah that have been torn down for defenses against the siege ramps and military incursions of the Babylonians:[d] 5 ‘The defenders of the city will go out and fight with the Babylonians.[e] But they will only fill those houses and buildings with the dead bodies of the people that I will kill in my anger and my wrath.[f] That will happen because I have decided to turn my back on[g] this city on account of the wicked things they have done.[h] 6 But I will most surely[i] heal the wounds of this city and restore it and its people to health.[j] I will show them abundant[k] peace and security. 7 I will restore Judah and Israel[l] and will rebuild them as they were in days of old.[m] 8 I will purify them from all the sin that they committed against me. I will forgive all their sins that they committed in rebelling against me.[n] 9 All the nations will hear about all the good things that I will do for them. This city will bring me fame, honor, and praise before them for the joy that I bring it. The nations will tremble in awe at all the peace and prosperity that I will provide for it.’
10 “I, the Lord, say:[o] ‘You and your people are saying[p] about this place, “It lies in ruins. There are no people or animals in it.” That is true. The towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem will soon be desolate, uninhabited either by people or by animals. But happy sounds will again be heard in these places. 11 Once again there will be sounds[q] of joy and gladness and the glad celebrations of brides and grooms.[r] Once again people will bring their thank offerings to the temple of the Lord and will say, “Give thanks to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. For the Lord is good and his unfailing love lasts forever.”[s] For I, the Lord, affirm[t] that I will restore the land to what it was[u] in days of old.’[v]
12 “I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, say:[w] ‘This place will indeed lie in ruins. There will be no people or animals in it. But there will again be in it and in its towns sheepfolds where shepherds can rest their sheep. 13 I, the Lord, say that shepherds will once again count their sheep as they pass into the fold.[x] They will do this in all the towns in the hill country, the foothills,[y] the Negev,[z] the territory of Benjamin, the villages surrounding Jerusalem, and the towns of Judah.’[aa]
The Lord Reaffirms His Covenant with David, Israel, and Levi
14 “I, the Lord, affirm:[ab] ‘The time will certainly come when I will fulfill my gracious promise concerning the nations of Israel and Judah.[ac] 15 In those days and at that time I will raise up for them a righteous descendant[ad] of David.
“‘He will do what is just and right in the land. 16 Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety[ae] and Jerusalem will live in security. At that time Jerusalem will be called “The Lord has provided us with justice.”[af] 17 For I, the Lord, promise: “David will never lack a successor to occupy[ag] the throne over the nation of Israel.[ah] 18 Nor will the Levitical priests ever lack someone to stand before me and continually offer up burnt offerings, sacrifice cereal offerings, and offer the other sacrifices.”’”[ai]
19 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah another time:[aj] 20 “I, the Lord, make the following promise:[ak] ‘I have made a covenant with the day[al] and with the night that they will always come at their proper times. Only if you people[am] could break that covenant 21 could my covenant with my servant David and my covenant with the Levites ever be broken. So David will by all means always have a descendant to occupy his throne as king and the Levites will by all means always have priests who will minister before me.[an] 22 I will make the children who follow one another in the line of my servant David very numerous. I will also make the Levites who minister before me very numerous. I will make them all as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sands that are on the seashore.’”[ao]
23 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah another time:[ap] 24 “You have surely noticed what these people are saying, haven’t you? They are saying,[aq] ‘The Lord has rejected the two families of Israel and Judah[ar] that he chose.’ So they have little regard that my people will ever again be a nation.[as] 25 But I, the Lord, make the following promise:[at] ‘I have made a covenant governing the coming of day and night. I have established the fixed laws governing heaven and earth. 26 Just as surely as I have done this, so surely will I never reject the descendants of Jacob. Nor will I ever refuse to choose one of my servant David’s descendants to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Indeed,[au] I will restore them[av] and show mercy to them.’”
The Lord Makes an Ominous Promise to Zedekiah
34 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah while King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the towns around it with a large army. This army consisted of troops from his own army and from the kingdoms and peoples of the lands under his dominion.[aw] 2 This is what the Lord God of Israel told Jeremiah,[ax] “Go, speak to King Zedekiah of Judah. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord has said: “Take note! I am going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down. 3 You yourself will not escape his clutches but will certainly be captured and handed over to him. You must confront the king of Babylon face to face and answer to him personally.[ay] Then you must go to Babylon.”’ 4 However, listen to the Lord’s message, King Zedekiah of Judah. This is what the Lord has said: ‘You will not die in battle or be executed.[az] 5 You will die a peaceful death. They will burn incense at your burial just as they did at the burial of your ancestors, the former kings who preceded you.[ba] They will mourn for you, saying, “Alas, master!”[bb] Indeed, you have my own word on this.[bc] I, the Lord, affirm it!’”[bd]
6 The prophet Jeremiah told all these things to King Zedekiah of Judah in Jerusalem. 7 He did this while the army of the king of Babylon was attacking Jerusalem and the cities of Lachish and Azekah. He was attacking these cities because they were the only fortified cities of Judah that were still holding out.[be]
The Lord Threatens to Destroy Those Who Wronged Their Slaves
8 The Lord spoke to Jeremiah after King Zedekiah had made a covenant[bf] with all the people in Jerusalem to grant their slaves their freedom. 9 Everyone was supposed to free their male and female Hebrew slaves. No one was supposed to keep a fellow Judean enslaved.[bg] 10 All the people and their leaders had agreed to this. They had agreed to free their male and female slaves and not keep them enslaved any longer. They originally complied with the covenant and freed them.[bh] 11 But later[bi] they changed their minds. They took back their male and female slaves that they had freed and forced them to be slaves again.[bj] 12 The Lord’s message came to Jeremiah,[bk] 13 “The Lord God of Israel has a message for you:[bl] ‘I made a covenant with your ancestors[bm] when I brought them out of Egypt where they had been slaves.[bn] It stipulated,[bo] 14 “Every seven years each of you must free any fellow Hebrews who have sold themselves to you. After they have served you for six years, you shall set them free.”[bp] But your ancestors did not obey me or pay any attention to me. 15 Recently, however, you yourselves[bq] showed a change of heart and did what is pleasing to me. You granted your fellow countrymen their freedom and you made a covenant to that effect in my presence in the house that I have claimed for my own.[br] 16 But then you turned right around[bs] and showed that you did not honor me.[bt] Each of you took back your male and female slaves, whom you had freed as they desired, and you forced them to be your slaves again.[bu] 17 So I, the Lord, say: “You have not really obeyed me and granted freedom to your neighbor and fellow countryman.[bv] Therefore, I will grant you freedom, the freedom[bw] to die in war, or by starvation, or disease. I, the Lord, affirm it![bx] I will make all the kingdoms of the earth horrified at what happens to you.[by] 18 I will punish those people who have violated their covenant with me. I will make them like the calf they cut in two and passed between its pieces.[bz] I will do so because they did not keep the terms of the covenant they made in my presence.[ca] 19 I will punish the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials,[cb] the priests, and all the other people of the land who passed between the pieces of the calf.[cc] 20 I will hand them over to their enemies who want to kill them. Their dead bodies will become food for the birds and the wild animals.[cd] 21 I will also hand King Zedekiah of Judah and his officials over to their enemies who want to kill them. I will hand them over to the army of the king of Babylon, even though they have temporarily withdrawn from attacking you.[ce] 22 For I, the Lord, affirm that[cf] I will soon give the order and bring them back to this city. They will fight against it and capture it and burn it down. I will also make the towns of Judah desolate so that there will be no one living in them.”’”
Timothy’s Ministry in the Later Times
4 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the later times some will desert the faith and occupy themselves[a] with deceiving spirits and demonic teachings,[b] 2 influenced by the hypocrisy of liars[c] whose consciences are seared.[d] 3 They will prohibit marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4 For every creation of God is good and no food[e] is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. 5 For it is sanctified by God’s word and by prayer.
6 By pointing out such things to the brothers and sisters,[f] you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, having nourished yourself on the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.[g] 7 But reject those myths[h] fit only for the godless and gullible,[i] and train yourself for godliness. 8 For “physical exercise[j] has some value, but godliness is valuable in every way. It holds promise for the present life and for the life to come.” 9 This saying[k] is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance. 10 In fact this is why[l] we work hard and struggle,[m] because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people,[n] especially of believers.
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in your speech, conduct, love, faithfulness,[o] and purity. 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of scripture,[p] to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the spiritual gift you have,[q] given to you and confirmed by prophetic words[r] when the elders laid hands on you.[s] 15 Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that everyone will see your progress.[t] 16 Be conscientious about how you live and what you teach.[u] Persevere in this, because by doing so you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.
Psalm 89[a]
A well-written song[b] by Ethan the Ezrahite.
89 I will sing continually[c] about the Lord’s faithful deeds;
to future generations I will proclaim your faithfulness.[d]
2 For I say, “Loyal love is permanently established;[e]
in the skies you set up your faithfulness.”[f]
3 The Lord said,[g]
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one;
I have made a promise on oath to David, my servant:
4 ‘I will give you an eternal dynasty[h]
and establish your throne throughout future generations.’”[i] (Selah)
5 O Lord, the heavens[j] praise your amazing deeds,
as well as your faithfulness in the angelic assembly.[k]
6 For who in the skies can compare to the Lord?
Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings,[l]
7 a God who is honored[m] in the great angelic assembly,[n]
and more awesome than[o] all who surround him?
8 O Lord God of Heaven’s Armies![p]
Who is strong like you, O Lord?
Your faithfulness surrounds you.
9 You rule over the proud sea.[q]
When its waves surge,[r] you calm them.
10 You crushed the Proud One[s] and killed it;[t]
with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.
11 The heavens belong to you, as does the earth.
You made the world and all it contains.[u]
12 You created the north and the south.
Tabor and Hermon[v] rejoice in your name.
13 Your arm is powerful,
your hand strong,
your right hand[w] victorious.[x]
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