Israel Will Return to the Lord
2“I am the Lord. I am the God of Israel. I say, ‘Write in a book all the words I have spoken to you.
3A new day is coming,’ ” announces the Lord. “ ‘At that time I will bring my people Israel and Judah back from where they have been taken as prisoners. I will bring them back to this land. I gave it to their people of long ago to have as their own,’ ” says the Lord.
“ ‘Cries of fear are heard.
There is terror. There isn’t any peace.
6Ask and see.
Can a man give birth to children?
Then why do I see every strong man
with his hands on his stomach?
Each of them is acting like a woman having a baby.
Every face is as pale as death.
7How awful that day will be!
No other day will be like it.
It will be a time of trouble for the people of Jacob.
But they will be saved out of it.
8“ ‘At that time I will break the yoke off their necks,’
announces the Lord who rules over all.
‘I will tear off the ropes that hold them.
People from other lands will not make them slaves anymore.
9Instead, they will serve me.
And they will serve David their king.
I will raise him up for them.
I am the Lord their God.
10“ ‘People of Jacob, do not be afraid.
You are my servant.
Israel, do not be terrified,’ ”
announces the Lord.
“ ‘You can be sure that I will save you.
I will bring you out of a place far away.
I will bring your children back
from the land where they were taken.
Your people will have peace and security again.
And no one will make them afraid.
11I am with you. I will save you,’ ”
announces the Lord.
“ ‘I will completely destroy all the nations
among which I scatter you.
But I will not completely destroy you.
I will correct you. But I will be fair.
I will not let you go without any punishment.’ ”
12The Lord says,
“Your wound can’t be cured.
Your pain can’t be healed.
13No one will stand up for you.
There isn’t any medicine for your sore.
There isn’t any healing for you.
14All those who were going to help you have forgotten you.
They do not care about you.
I have struck you as if I were your enemy.
I have punished you as if I were very mean.
That is because your guilt is so great.
You have sinned so much.
15Why do you cry out about your wound?
Your pain can’t be healed.
Your guilt is very great.
And you have committed many sins.
That is why I have done all these things to you.
16“But everyone who destroys you will be destroyed.
All your enemies will be forced
to leave their countries.
Those who steal from you will be stolen from.
I will take the belongings
of those who take things from you.
17But I will make you healthy again.
I will heal your wounds,” announces the Lord.
“That’s because you have been thrown out.
You are called Zion, the one no one cares about.”
18The Lord says,
“I will bless Jacob’s people with great success again.
I will show tender love to Israel.
Jerusalem will be rebuilt where it was destroyed.
The palace will stand in its proper place.
19From those places the songs of people giving thanks will be heard.
The sound of great joy will come from there.
I will cause there to be more of my people.
There will not be fewer of them.
I will bring them honor.
People will have respect for them.
20Things will be as they used to be for Jacob’s people.
I will make their community firm and secure.
I will punish everyone who treats them badly.
21Their leader will be one of their own people.
Their ruler will rise up from among them.
I will bring him near.
And he will come close to me.
He will commit himself to serve me,”
announces the Lord.
22“So you will be my people.
And I will be your God.”
23A storm will burst out
because of the Lord’s great anger.
A strong wind will sweep down
on the heads of evil people.
24The Lord’s great anger won’t turn back.
He will accomplish everything
his heart plans to do.
In days to come
you will understand this.
Holy Bible, New International Reader’s Version ™️, NIrV ™️
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Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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