Guds løfte om at genoprette sit folk
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.
Restoration of Israel
1This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you. 3The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from captivity30:3 Or will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah and restore them to the land I gave to their ancestors to possess,” says the Lord.’
4These are the words the Lord spoke concerning Israel and Judah: 5‘This is what the Lord says:
‘ “Cries of fear are heard –
terror, not peace.
6Ask and see:
can a man bear children?
Then why do I see every strong man
with his hands on his stomach like a woman in labour,
every face turned deathly pale?
7How awful that day will be!
No other will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble for Jacob,
but he will be saved out of it.
8‘ “In that day,” declares the Lord Almighty,
“I will break the yoke off their necks
and will tear off their bonds;
no longer will foreigners enslave them.
9Instead, they will serve the Lord their God
and David their king,
whom I will raise up for them.
10‘ “So do not be afraid, Jacob my servant;
do not be dismayed, Israel,”
declares the Lord.
“I will surely save you out of a distant place,
your descendants from the land of their exile.
Jacob will again have peace and security,
and no-one will make him afraid.
11I am with you and will save you,”
declares the Lord.
“Though I completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you,
I will not completely destroy you.
I will discipline you but only in due measure;
I will not let you go entirely unpunished.”
12‘This is what the Lord says:
‘ “Your wound is incurable,
your injury beyond healing.
13There is no-one to plead your cause,
no remedy for your sore,
no healing for you.
14All your allies have forgotten you;
they care nothing for you.
I have struck you as an enemy would
and punished you as would the cruel,
because your guilt is so great
and your sins so many.
15Why do you cry out over your wound,
your pain that has no cure?
Because of your great guilt and many sins
I have done these things to you.
16‘ “But all who devour you will be devoured;
all your enemies will go into exile.
Those who plunder you will be plundered;
all who make spoil of you I will despoil.
17But I will restore you to health
and heal your wounds,” declares the Lord,
“because you are called an outcast,
Zion for whom no-one cares.”
18‘This is what the Lord says:
‘ “I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents
and have compassion on his dwellings;
the city will be rebuilt on her ruins,
and the palace will stand in its proper place.
19From them will come songs of thanksgiving
and the sound of rejoicing.
I will add to their numbers,
and they will not be decreased;
I will bring them honour,
and they will not be disdained.
20Their children will be as in days of old,
and their community will be established before me;
I will punish all who oppress them.
21Their leader will be one of their own;
their ruler will arise from among them.
I will bring him near and he will come close to me –
for who is he who will devote himself
to be close to me?”
declares the Lord.
22“So you will be my people,
and I will be your God.” ’
23See, the storm of the Lord
will burst out in wrath,
a driving wind swirling down
on the heads of the wicked.
24The fierce anger of the Lord will not turn back
until he fully accomplishes
the purposes of his heart.
In days to come
you will understand this.
