Jeremiah 30
30
The Restoration.#30:1–31:40] These two chapters contain salvation oracles that originally expressed the double expectation that the Lord would return the exiled survivors of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and reunite Israel and Judah as one kingdom under a just Davidic king. They were probably composed early in Josiah’s reign (the reference of v. 9), when he took advantage of Assyria’s internal disintegration and asserted control over northern Israel (cf. 2 Kgs 23:15–17). With the destruction of Jerusalem, the oracles were re-worked to include Judah and their fulfillment along with the renewal of the Davidic dynasty became associated with the eschatological “day of the Lord.” 1This word came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: Write down on a scroll all the words I have spoken to you.#Jer 36:2; Hb 2:2; Rev 1:11. 3For indeed, the days are coming—oracle of the Lord—when I will restore the fortunes of my people Israel and Judah—oracle of the Lord. I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their ancestors, and they shall take possession of it.#Jer 29:14; 31:8, 10, 23; 32:37, 44; Ez 39:25; Am 9:14.
4These are the words the Lord spoke to Israel and to Judah: 5Thus says the Lord:
We hear a cry of fear:
terror, not peace.
6Inquire and see:
does a male give birth?
Why, then, do I see all these men,
their hands on their loins
Like women in labor,
all their faces drained of color?#Jer 6:24; 50:43.
7Ah! How mighty is that day—
there is none like it!
A time of distress for Jacob,
though he shall be saved from it.#Am 5:18; Zep 1:14–15.
8On that day—oracle of the Lord of hosts—I will break his yoke off your neck and snap your bonds. Strangers shall no longer enslave them;#Is 14:5–6; Ez 34:27. 9instead, they shall serve the Lord, their God, and David, their king,#David, their king: a descendant of David (“his leader” in v. 21) who, like his ancestor, would rule a unified kingdom and “walk in the ways of the Lord,” as the Deuteronomistic historians claimed David did. Other prophets also refer to this idealized ruler as “David”; cf. Ez 34:23–24; 37:24–25; Hos 3:5. whom I will raise up for them.#Ez 34:23; 37:24; Hos 3:5; Lk 1:69.
10But you, my servant Jacob, do not fear!—oracle of the Lord—
do not be dismayed, Israel!
For I will soon deliver you from places far away,
your offspring from the land of their exile;
Jacob shall again find rest,
secure, with none to frighten him,#Jer 46:27; Is 43:5.
11for I am with you—oracle of the Lord—to save you.
I will bring to an end all the nations
among whom I have scattered you;
but you I will not bring to an end.
I will chastise you as you deserve,
I will not let you go unpunished.#Jer 46:28; Ez 11:16–17; Am 9:8–9.
12For thus says the Lord:
Incurable is your wound,
grievous your injury;#Jer 10:19; 14:17; 15:18.
13There is none to plead your case,
no remedy for your running sore,
no healing for you.
14All your lovers have forgotten you,
they do not seek you out.
I struck you as an enemy would strike,
punishing you cruelly.#Jer 22:22; Lam 1:19.
15Why cry out over your wound?
There is no relief for your pain.
Because of your great guilt,
your numerous sins,
I have done this to you.#Jer 15:18.
16Yet all who devour you shall be devoured,
all your enemies shall go into exile.
All who plunder you shall become plunder,
all who pillage you I will hand over to be pillaged.#Jer 2:3.
17For I will restore your health;
I will heal your injuries—oracle of the Lord.
“The outcast” they have called you,
“whom no one looks for.”#Jer 33:6.
18Thus says the Lord:
See! I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents,
on his dwellings I will have compassion;
A city shall be rebuilt upon its own ruins,
a citadel restored where it should be.#Jer 33:7, 11; Ezr 6:3–15; Ez 36:10.
19From them will come praise,
the sound of people rejoicing.
I will increase them, they will not decrease,
I will glorify them, they will not be insignificant.#Is 35:10; 51:11.
20His children shall be as of old,
his assembly shall stand firm in my presence,
I will punish all his oppressors.#Is 49:26.
21His leader#His leader: cf. v. 9. Approach me: i.e., in the sanctuary of the Temple for worship. This new David is given a priestly function to perform on behalf of the assembly. To approach God on one’s own brings death; cf. Lv 16:1–2. shall be one of his own,
and his ruler shall emerge from his ranks.
He shall approach me when I summon him;
Why else would he dare
approach me?—oracle of the Lord.
22You shall be my people,
and I will be your God.#Jer 24:7; 31:1, 33; 32:38; Lv 26:12; Ez 11:20; 36:28.
23Look! The storm of the Lord!
His wrath breaks out
In a whirling storm
that bursts upon the heads of the wicked.#Jer 23:19.
24The anger of the Lord will not abate
until he has carried out completely
the decisions of his heart.
In days to come
you will fully understand it.#Jer 23:20.
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Jeremiah 30: NABRE
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Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc
Jeremiah 30
30
God will some day bring his people back to their land
The LORD will rescue Israel and Judah
1-2The LORD God of Israel said, “Jeremiah, get a scroll#30.1,2 scroll: A roll of paper or special leather used for writing on. and write down everything I have told you. 3Some day I will let my people from both Israel#30.3 Israel: The northern kingdom. and Judah return to the land I gave their ancestors.”
4-5Then the LORD told me to say to Israel and Judah:
I, the LORD, hear screams
of terror,
and there is no peace.
6Can men give birth?
Then why do I see them
looking so pale
and clutching their stomachs
like women in labour?
7My people, soon you will suffer
worse than ever before,
but I will save you.
8Now you are slaves
of other nations,
but I will break the chains
and smash the yokes#30.8 yokes: See the note at 27.1,2.
that keep you in slavery.
9Then you will be my servants,
and I will choose a king for you
from the family of David.
10-11Israel,#30.10,11 Israel: The people of the northern and southern kingdoms. you belong to me,#Jr 46.27,28.
so don't be afraid.
You deserved to be punished;
that's why I scattered you
in distant nations.
But I am with you,
and some day I will destroy
those nations.
Then I will bring you
and your descendants
back to your land,
where I will protect you
and give you peace.
Then your fears will be gone.
I, the LORD, have spoken.
The LORD will heal Israel and Judah
12The LORD said:
My people, you are wounded
and near death.
13You are accused of a crime
with no one to defend you,
and you are covered with sores
that no medicine can cure.
14-15Your friends have forgotten you;
they don't care any more.
Even I have acted like an enemy.
And because your sins
are horrible and countless,
I will be cruel
as I punish you.
So don't bother to cry out
for relief from your pain.
16But if your enemies try to rob
or destroy you,
I will rob and destroy them,
and they will be led as captives
to foreign lands.
17No one wants you as a friend
or cares what happens to you.
But I will heal your injuries,
and you will get well.
The LORD will rescue Israel and Judah
18The LORD said:
Israel, I will be kind to you
and let you come home.
Jerusalem now lies in ruins,
but you will rebuild it,
complete with a new palace.#30.18 Jerusalem…palace: Or “Your towns lie in ruins, but you will rebuild them, and your homes will be where they were before.”
19Other nations will respect
and honour you.
Your homes will be filled
with children,
and you will celebrate,
singing praises to me.
20It will be just like old times.
Your nation will worship me,
and I will punish anyone
who abuses you.
21One of your own people
will become your ruler.
And when I invite him
to come near me
at the place of worship,
he will do so.
No one would dare to come near
without being invited.
22You will be my people,
and I will be your God.
I, the LORD, have spoken.
23I am furious!
And like a violent storm
I will strike those
who do wrong.
24I won't calm down
until I have finished
what I have decided to do.
Some day, you will understand
what I mean.
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© British and Foreign Bible Society 2012