上帝應許拯救祂的子民
1耶和華對耶利米說： 2「以色列的上帝耶和華這樣說，『你要把我對你說的一切話寫在書卷上。 3耶和華說：看啊，時候將到，我要使我被擄的以色列和猶大子民返鄉，回到我賜給他們祖先的土地上，恢復他們的地業。這是耶和華說的。』」
4以下是耶和華談論以色列和猶大的話。
5耶和華說：「我聽見驚恐戰慄的喊叫聲，
沒有平安。
6你們去問問看，
男人能分娩嗎？
為什麼我看見男人們都雙手捂著肚子，
好像分娩的婦人，
臉色蒼白呢？
7唉！無比可怕的日子快來了，
那將是雅各子孫的苦難之日，
但他們必得拯救。」
8萬軍之耶和華說：「那日，我要折斷他們頸上的軛，砍斷他們的鎖鏈，使他們不再受外族人奴役。 9他們要事奉他們的上帝耶和華，服侍我為他們選立來坐大衛寶座的王。
10「我的僕人雅各啊，不要害怕；
以色列啊，不要驚慌。
這是耶和華說的。
因為我必從遠方拯救你，
從流亡之地拯救你的後裔，
使雅各重歸故土，安享太平，
不受驚嚇。
11因為我與你同在，
要拯救你。
這是耶和華說的。
我要徹底毀滅列國，
就是我曾使你流亡的地方。
但我不會徹底毀滅你，
也不會放過你，
我必公正地懲治你。」
12耶和華說：
「你們的創傷無法醫治，
你們的傷口無法痊癒。
13沒有人為你們辯護，
你們的傷處無藥可治，
你們無法痊癒。
14你們的盟友都忘了你們，
對你們漠不關心。
我要像你們的仇敵一樣擊打你們，
像敵人一樣殘酷地懲罰你們，
因為你們罪大惡極，罪過無數。
15你們緣何為自己的創傷哭泣？
你們的創傷無法醫治。
因為你們罪大惡極，罪過無數，
我才這樣懲罰你們。
16然而，吞吃你們的必被吞吃，
你們的敵人全被擄走，
擄掠你們的必被擄掠，
搶奪你們的必被搶奪。
17因為你們被稱為棄兒，
是無人關心的錫安，
我要醫治你們的創傷，
使你們康復。
這是耶和華說的。」
18耶和華說：
「看啊，我要使雅各家被擄的子孫返鄉，
我要憐憫他們的家園，
使他們在廢墟上重建城邑，
在原處重修宮殿。
19那裡必傳出感謝和歡樂的聲音。
我必使他們人丁興旺，
不再減少；
我必使他們得享尊榮，
不再受歧視。
20他們的兒女要如往日一樣興旺，
我要使他們的會眾堅立，
我要懲罰所有壓迫他們的人。
21他們的首領將是自己的同胞，
他們的元首將出自本族。
我必帶領他近前來，他必到我面前，
因為無人敢貿然來到我面前。
這是耶和華說的。
22你們要做我的子民，
我要做你們的上帝。」
23看啊，耶和華的怒氣必如風暴一樣橫掃過來，
颳到惡人頭上。
24耶和華不完成祂心中的計劃，
祂的烈怒必不止息。
將來有一天，你們會明白。
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 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 labor,
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 honor,
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.
