1Herren, Israels Gud, sagde til mig:2„Alt, hvad jeg har sagt til dig, skal du skrive ned i en bog.3For der kommer en dag, hvor jeg vil befri mit folk Israel og Juda fra fangenskabet og føre dem hjem til det land, jeg gav deres forfædre i eje.”4Det følgende budskab angår Israel og Juda:5„Hør, hvad Herren siger: Der er nogen, der råber og skriger af skræk.6Sig mig, kan mænd føde børn? Hvorfor står de så askegrå i ansigtet og presser hænderne mod lænden som kvinder i fødselsveer?7Det bliver en forfærdelig tid. Aldrig har Israels folk oplevet en lignende trængselstid. Men jeg vil bevare mit folk og redde dem til sidst.8Til den tid, siger Herren, den Almægtige, vil jeg rive åget af deres skuldre og brække det i stykker. Jeg vil sprænge deres lænker. De skal ikke længere være slaver i et fremmed land.9Derefter skal de tjene Herren, deres Gud, og jeg vil give dem en konge som David.10Israel, min tjener, tab ikke modet over det, I skal igennem. Vær ikke nedslået, for engang vil jeg føre jer hjem fra fjerne lande og befri jeres efterkommere fra eksilet. Mit folk vil vende hjem til deres eget land og leve i fred og gode kår, uden at nogen truer dem mere.11Jeg er hos jer, og jeg vil redde jer, siger Herren. Jeg vil fuldstændigt ødelægge det folk, jeg spredte jer iblandt, men jeg vil altid bevare en rest af mit eget folk. Jeg er nødt til at straffe jer, men det er en retfærdig straf.12I har fået et gabende sår, mit folk.13Ingen er i stand til at forbinde det eller behandle det med medicin.14Jeres forbundsfæller har ladt jer i stikken. Jeg har slået hårdt ned på jer, som om jeg var en grusom fjende. Årsagen er jeres mange synder, jeres store skyld.15I kan godt holde op med at græde over såret, når ingen kan behandle det. Jeg er nødt til at straffe jer på grund af jeres mange synder og store skyld.16Men når jeg vender jeres skæbne, vil de, som nu mishandler jer, selv blive mishandlet. Alle jeres fjender vil ende som slaver. De, som angreb jer, vil selv blive angrebet, og de, som plyndrede jer, vil selv blive plyndret.17Da vil jeg helbrede jeres sår, så I bliver raske igen, siger Herren. Men indtil da vil Jerusalem blive betragtet som en forbandet by, et gudsforladt sted.18Engang vil jeg føre jer ud af fangenskabet og genoprette jeres land. Da skal Jerusalem genopbygges på sine gamle ruiner, og fæstningsværkerne skal restaureres.19Der vil lyde glædesråb og jubelsang. Jeg vil igen gøre folket talrigt, og det skal blive en stor og agtet nation.20Jeres efterkommere vil opleve en blomstringstid som i gamle dage. Jeg vil genoprette dem som mit folk og straffe alle, som vil undertrykke dem.21Jeg vil give jer en leder fra jeres egne rækker. Han skal træde frem for mig, for jeg indbyder ham til at komme ind i min nærhed. Hvem tør træde frem for mig, medmindre jeg har kaldt ham til mig?22Da skal I leve som mit folk, og jeg vil være jeres Gud, siger Herren.23Min voldsomme vrede skal bryde løs som en hærgende orkan, der gør det af med de gudløse.24Min vrede lægger sig ikke, før den har udført mine planer. Engang i fremtiden vil I kunne forstå det.
1The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:2“Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you. (Jer 36,2; Hab 2,2)3For behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will restore the fortunes of my people, Israel and Judah, says the Lord, and I will bring them back to the land that I gave to their fathers, and they shall take possession of it.” (Ez 2,1; Job 42,10; Es 11,12; Jer 12,15; Jer 16,15; Jer 23,3; Jer 29,14; Jer 30,18; Jer 31,23; Jer 32,44; Jer 33,7; Jer 33,11; Jer 33,26; Klag 2,14; Ez 20,42; Hos 1,11; Hab 2,3)4These are the words that the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: (Jer 30,3)5“Thus says the Lord: We have heard a cry of panic, of terror, and no peace.6Ask now, and see, can a man bear a child? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labor? Why has every face turned pale? (Es 13,8; Joel 2,6; Nah 2,10)7Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it. (Dan 12,1; Joel 2,11; Zef 1,14)8“And it shall come to pass in that day, declares the Lord of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off your neck, and I will burst your bonds, and foreigners shall no more make a servant of him.[1] (Jer 2,20; Jer 27,2; Ez 34,27; Nah 1,13)9But they shall serve the Lord their God and David their king, whom I will raise up for them. (Es 55,3; Jer 23,5; Ez 34,23; Ez 37,24; Hos 3,5; Luk 1,69; Ap G 13,22)10“Then fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the Lord, nor be dismayed, O Israel; for behold, I will save you from far away, and your offspring from the land of their captivity. Jacob shall return and have quiet and ease, and none shall make him afraid. (Es 41,8; Es 43,5; Jer 3,18; Jer 42,11; Jer 46,27)11For I am with you to save you, declares the Lord; I will make a full end of all the nations among whom I scattered you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished. (Jer 10,24; Jer 46,28)12“For thus says the Lord: Your hurt is incurable, and your wound is grievous. (Jer 10,19; Jer 14,17; Jer 15,18)13There is none to uphold your cause, no medicine for your wound, no healing for you. (Jer 46,11)14All your lovers have forgotten you; they care nothing for you; for I have dealt you the blow of an enemy, the punishment of a merciless foe, because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant. (Job 13,24; Job 19,11; Job 30,21; Es 63,10; Jer 4,30; Jer 5,6; Jer 6,23; Klag 1,2; Klag 2,4)15Why do you cry out over your hurt? Your pain is incurable. Because your guilt is great, because your sins are flagrant, I have done these things to you. (Jer 30,12; Jer 30,14)16Therefore all who devour you shall be devoured, and all your foes, every one of them, shall go into captivity; those who plunder you shall be plundered, and all who prey on you I will make a prey. (2.Mos 23,22; Es 33,1; Es 41,11; Jer 2,14; Jer 10,25; Jer 30,11)17For I will restore health to you, and your wounds I will heal, declares the Lord, because they have called you an outcast: ‘It is Zion, for whom no one cares!’ (Salm 6,2; Jer 8,22; Jer 33,6; Hos 6,1; Mika 4,6; Zef 3,19)18“Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt on its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be. (5.Mos 13,16; Jer 30,3; Amos 9,11)19Out of them shall come songs of thanksgiving, and the voices of those who celebrate. I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be small. (Es 35,10; Es 51,11; Jer 31,12; Jer 33,11; Ez 36,10; Ez 36,37; Zak 10,8)20Their children shall be as they were of old, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all who oppress them. (Es 1,26)21Their prince shall be one of themselves; their ruler shall come out from their midst; I will make him draw near, and he shall approach me, for who would dare of himself to approach me? declares the Lord. (1.Mos 49,10; 4.Mos 16,5; 5.Mos 18,18; Jer 49,19; Heb 5,4)22And you shall be my people, and I will be your God.” (3.Mos 26,12; Jer 24,7; Jer 31,1; Jer 31,33; Jer 32,38)23Behold the storm of the Lord! Wrath has gone forth, a whirling tempest; it will burst upon the head of the wicked. (Jer 23,19; Jer 25,32)24The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intentions of his mind. In the latter days you will understand this. (Jer 12,13; Hos 3,5)