God

"Therefore, thus says ADONAI the God of Isra'el concerning this city, of which you say that it is handed over to the king of Bavel by sword, famine and plague:

'I will gather them out of all the countries where I drove them in my anger, fury and great wrath; and I will bring them back to this place and have them live here in safety.

They will be my people, and I will be their God.

I will give them singleness of heart and singleness of purpose, so that they will fear me forever - this will be for their own good and for the good of their children after them.

I will make with them an everlasting covenant not to turn away from them, but to do them good; I will put fear of me in their hearts, so that they will not leave me.

I will take joy in them, so as to do them good. I will plant them in this land truly, with my whole heart and being.'

For here is what ADONAI says: 'Just as I have brought this complete disaster on this people, so likewise I will bring on them all the good I have promised them.

Yes, people will buy fields for money, sign the purchase contracts, seal them and call witnesses, in the territory of Binyamin, in the areas around Yerushalayim, in the cities of Y'hudah, in the cities of the hill-country, in the cities of the Sh'felah and in the cities of the Negev. For I will cause their exiles to return,' says ADONAI."

The word of ADONAI came to Yirmeyahu a second time while he was still imprisoned in the guards' quarters:

"Thus says ADONAI the maker, ADONAI who formed [the universe] so as to keep directing it ADONAI is his name:

'Call out to me, and I will answer you I will tell you great things, hidden things of which you are unaware.'"

For here is what ADONAI the God of Isra'el says concerning the houses of this city and the palaces of the kings of Y'hudah which are about to be destroyed and used as siege-works and ramparts,

where they will come to fight the Kasdim: "These places will eventually be filled with the corpses of people whom I am striking down in my anger and fury, everyone whose wickedness has caused me to hide my face from this city.

However, I will bring it health and healing; I will heal them and reveal to them peace and truth in plenty.

I will cause the captives of Y'hudah and the captives of Isra'el to return; and I will build them up as I did at first.

I will cleanse them from all their sins, through which they offended me; and I will pardon all their sins, through which they offended and rebelled against me.

Then the name of this city will bring me joy, praise and glory before all the nations of the earth that hear about all the good I am doing for them; they will be overcome with fear and trembling at all the good and peace I am securing for it."

Here is what ADONAI says: "You say that this place is a wasteland, with neither people nor animals in the cities of Y'hudah, and that the streets of Yerushalayim are desolate, without people or animals - no inhabitants. Yet there will again be heard here

the sounds of joy and gladness and the voices of bridegroom and bride, the voices of those who sing, 'Give thanks to ADONAI-Tzva'ot, for ADONAI is good, for his grace continues forever,' as they bring offerings of thanksgiving into the house of ADONAI. For I will cause those captured from the land to return, as before," says ADONAI.

ADONAI-Tzva'ot says, "In this place, which is a wasteland without people or animals, and in all its cities, there will once again be pasture-lands where shepherds can let their flocks rest.

In the cities of the hill-country, in the cities of the Sh'felah, in the cities of the Negev, in the territory of Binyamin, in the areas around Yerushalayim and in the cities of Y'hudah flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them," says ADONAI.

"Here, the days are coming," says ADONAI, "when I will fulfill this good promise which I have proclaimed for the house of Isra'el and the house of Y'hudah.

When those days come, at that time, I will cause to spring up for David a Branch of Righteousness. He will do what is just and right in the land.

When those days come, Y'hudah will be saved, Yerushalayim will live in safety, and the name given to her will be ADONAI Tzidkenu [ADONAI our Righteousness]."

For this is what ADONAI says: "There will never be cut off from David a man to occupy the throne of the house of Isra'el.