Promises from a Prison Cell.

וַיְהִ֧י דְבַר־יְהוָ֛ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ שֵׁנִ֑ית וְהוּא֙ עוֹדֶ֣נּוּ עָצ֔וּר בַּחֲצַ֥ר הַמַּטָּרָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃

The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard:

כֹּֽה־אָמַ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה עֹשָׂ֑הּ יְהוָ֗ה יוֹצֵ֥ר אוֹתָ֛הּ לַהֲכִינָ֖הּ יְהוָ֥ה שְׁמֽוֹ׃

[2] “Thus says the Lord who made the earth, the Lord who formed it to establish it—the Lord is his name:

קְרָ֥א אֵלַ֖י וְאֶעֱנֶ֑ךָּ וְאַגִּ֧ידָה לְּךָ֛ גְּדֹל֥וֹת וּבְצֻר֖וֹת לֹ֥א יְדַעְתָּֽם׃ ס

[3] Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

כִּי֩ כֹ֨ה אָמַ֤ר יְהוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַל־בָּתֵּי֙ הָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את וְעַל־בָּתֵּ֖י מַלְכֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה הַנְּתֻצִ֕ים אֶל־הַסֹּלְל֖וֹת וְאֶל־הֶחָֽרֶב׃

[4] For thus says the Lord , the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that were torn down to make a defense against the siege mounds and against the sword:

בָּאִ֗ים לְהִלָּחֵם֙ אֶת־הַכַּשְׂדִּ֔ים וּלְמַלְאָם֙ אֶת־פִּגְרֵ֣י הָאָדָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־הִכֵּ֥יתִי בְאַפִּ֖י וּבַחֲמָתִ֑י וַאֲשֶׁ֨ר הִסְתַּ֤רְתִּי פָנַי֙ מֵהָעִ֣יר הַזֹּ֔את עַ֖ל כָּל־רָעָתָֽם׃

[5] They are coming in to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill them with the dead bodies of men whom I shall strike down in my anger and my wrath, for I have hidden my face from this city because of all their evil.

הִנְנִ֧י מַעֲלֶה־לָּ֛הּ אֲרֻכָ֥ה וּמַרְפֵּ֖א וּרְפָאתִ֑ים וְגִלֵּיתִ֣י לָהֶ֔ם עֲתֶ֥רֶת שָׁל֖וֹם וֶאֱמֶֽת׃

[6] Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security.

וַהֲשִֽׁבֹתִי֙ אֶת־שְׁב֣וּת יְהוּדָ֔ה וְאֵ֖ת שְׁב֣וּת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּבְנִתִ֖ים כְּבָרִֽאשֹׁנָֽה׃

[7] I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and rebuild them as they were at first.

וְטִ֣הַרְתִּ֔ים מִכָּל־עֲוֺנָ֖ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטְאוּ־לִ֑י וְסָלַחְתִּ֗י ׳לְכוֹל־לְכָל־עֲוֺנֽוֹתֵיהֶם֙׳ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָֽטְאוּ־לִ֔י וַאֲשֶׁ֖ר פָּ֥שְׁעוּ בִֽי׃

[8] I will cleanse them from all the guilt of their sin against me, and I will forgive all the guilt of their sin and rebellion against me.

וְהָ֣יְתָה לִּ֗י לְשֵׁ֤ם שָׂשׂוֹן֙ לִתְהִלָּ֣ה וּלְתִפְאֶ֔רֶת לְכֹ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֣י הָאָ֑רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִשְׁמְע֜וּ אֶת־כָּל־הַטּוֹבָ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר אָֽנֹכִי֙ עֹשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם וּפָחֲד֣וּ וְרָֽגְז֗וּ עַ֤ל כָּל־הַטּוֹבָה֙ וְעַ֣ל כָּל־הַשָּׁל֔וֹם אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָֽנֹכִ֖י עֹ֥שֶׂה לָּֽהּ׃ ס

[9] And this city shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth who shall hear of all the good that I do for them. They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.

כֹּ֣ה׀ אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֗ה עוֹד֮ יִשָּׁמַ֣ע בַּמָּקוֹם־הַזֶּה֒ אֲשֶׁר֙ אַתֶּ֣ם אֹֽמְרִ֔ים חָרֵ֣ב ה֔וּא מֵאֵ֥ין אָדָ֖ם וּמֵאֵ֣ין בְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּעָרֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וּבְחֻצ֣וֹת יְרוּשָׁלִַ֔ם הַֽנְשַׁמּ֗וֹת מֵאֵ֥ין אָדָ֛ם וּמֵאֵ֥ין יוֹשֵׁ֖ב וּמֵאֵ֥ין בְּהֵמָֽה׃

[10] “Thus says the Lord : In this place of which you say, ‘It is a waste without man or beast,’ in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate, without man or inhabitant or beast, there shall be heard again

ק֣וֹל שָׂשׂ֞וֹן וְק֣וֹל שִׂמְחָ֗ה ק֣וֹל חָתָן֮ וְק֣וֹל כַּלָּה֒ ק֣וֹל אֹמְרִ֡ים הוֹדוּ֩ אֶת־יְהוָ֨ה צְבָא֜וֹת כִּֽי־ט֤וֹב יְהוָה֙ כִּֽי־לְעוֹלָ֣ם חַסְדּ֔וֹ מְבִאִ֥ים תּוֹדָ֖ה בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה כִּֽי־אָשִׁ֧יב אֶת־שְׁבוּת־הָאָ֛רֶץ כְּבָרִאשֹׁנָ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ ס

[11] the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those who sing, as they bring thank offerings to the house of the Lord : “‘Give thanks to the Lord of hosts, for the Lord is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!’ For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the Lord .

כֹּֽה־אָמַר֮ יְהוָ֣ה צְבָאוֹת֒ ע֞וֹד יִֽהְיֶ֣ה׀ בַּמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה הֶחָרֵ֛ב מֵֽאֵין־אָדָ֥ם וְעַד־בְּהֵמָ֖ה וּבְכָל־עָרָ֑יו נְוֵ֣ה רֹעִ֔ים מַרְבִּצִ֖ים צֹֽאן׃

[12] “Thus says the Lord of hosts: In this place that is waste, without man or beast, and in all of its cities, there shall again be habitations of shepherds resting their flocks.

בְּעָרֵ֨י הָהָ֜ר בְּעָרֵ֤י הַשְּׁפֵלָה֙ וּבְעָרֵ֣י הַנֶּ֔גֶב וּבְאֶ֧רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֛ן וּבִסְבִיבֵ֥י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם וּבְעָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֑ה עֹ֣ד תַּעֲבֹ֧רְנָה הַצֹּ֛אן עַל־יְדֵ֥י מוֹנֶ֖ה אָמַ֥ר יְהוָֽה׃ ס

[13] In the cities of the hill country, in the cities of the Shephelah, and in the cities of the Negeb, in the land of Benjamin, the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks shall again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the Lord .

הִנֵּ֛ה יָמִ֥ים בָּאִ֖ים נְאֻם־יְהוָ֑ה וַהֲקִֽמֹתִי֙ אֶת־הַדָּבָ֣ר הַטּ֔וֹב אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֛רְתִּי אֶל־בֵּ֥ית יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְעַל־בֵּ֥ית יְהוּדָֽה׃

[14] “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord , when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.

בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵם֙ וּבָעֵ֣ת הַהִ֔יא אַצְמִ֥יחַ לְדָוִ֖ד צֶ֣מַח צְדָקָ֑ה וְעָשָׂ֛ה מִשְׁפָּ֥ט וּצְדָקָ֖ה בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

[15] In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

בַּיָּמִ֤ים הָהֵם֙ תִּוָּשַׁ֣ע יְהוּדָ֔ה וִירוּשָׁלִַ֖ם תִּשְׁכּ֣וֹן לָבֶ֑טַח וְזֶ֥ה אֲשֶׁר־יִקְרָא־לָ֖הּ יְהוָ֥ה׀ צִדְקֵֽנוּ׃ ס

[16] In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

כִּי־כֹ֖ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֣ת לְדָוִ֔ד אִ֕ישׁ יֹשֵׁ֖ב עַל־כִּסֵּ֥א בֵֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

[17] “For thus says the Lord : David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,

וְלַכֹּהֲנִים֙ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לֹֽא־יִכָּרֵ֥ת אִ֖ישׁ מִלְּפָנָ֑י מַעֲלֶ֨ה עוֹלָ֜ה וּמַקְטִ֥יר מִנְחָ֛ה וְעֹֽשֶׂה־זֶּ֖בַח כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ ס

[18] and the Levitical priests shall never lack a man in my presence to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to make sacrifices forever.”

וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֽוֹר׃

[19] The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־תָּפֵ֙רוּ֙ אֶת־בְּרִיתִ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם וְאֶת־בְּרִיתִ֖י הַלָּ֑יְלָה וּלְבִלְתִּ֛י הֱי֥וֹת יֽוֹמָם־וָלַ֖יְלָה בְּעִתָּֽם׃

[20] “Thus says the Lord : If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night will not come at their appointed time,

גַּם־בְּרִיתִ֤י תֻפַר֙ אֶת־דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֔י מִהְיֽוֹת־ל֥וֹ בֵ֖ן מֹלֵ֣ךְ עַל־כִּסְא֑וֹ וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֥ם הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים מְשָׁרְתָֽי׃

[21] then also my covenant with David my servant may be broken, so that he shall not have a son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests my ministers.

אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹֽא־יִסָּפֵר֙ צְבָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְלֹ֥א יִמַּ֖ד ח֣וֹל הַיָּ֑ם כֵּ֣ן אַרְבֶּ֗ה אֶת־זֶ֙רַע֙ דָּוִ֣ד עַבְדִּ֔י וְאֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֖ם מְשָׁרְתֵ֥י אֹתִֽי׃ ס

[22] As the host of heaven cannot be numbered and the sands of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant, and the Levitical priests who minister to me.”

וַֽיְהִי֙ דְּבַר־יְהוָ֔ה אֶֽל־יִרְמְיָ֖הוּ לֵאמֹֽר׃

[23] The word of the Lord came to Jeremiah:

הֲל֣וֹא רָאִ֗יתָ מָֽה־הָעָ֤ם הַזֶּה֙ דִּבְּר֣וּ לֵאמֹ֔ר שְׁתֵּ֣י הַמִּשְׁפָּח֗וֹת אֲשֶׁ֨ר בָּחַ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה בָּהֶ֖ם וַיִּמְאָסֵ֑ם וְאֶת־עַמִּי֙ יִנְאָצ֔וּן מִֽהְי֥וֹת ע֖וֹד גּ֥וֹי לִפְנֵיהֶֽם׃ ס

[24] “Have you not observed that these people are saying, ‘The Lord has rejected the two clans that he chose’? Thus they have despised my people so that they are no longer a nation in their sight.

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה אִם־לֹ֥א בְרִיתִ֖י יוֹמָ֣ם וָלָ֑יְלָה חֻקּ֛וֹת שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָ֖רֶץ לֹא־שָֽׂמְתִּי׃

[25] Thus says the Lord : If I have not established my covenant with day and night and the fixed order of heaven and earth,

גַּם־זֶ֣רַע יַעֲקוֹב֩ וְדָוִ֨ד עַבְדִּ֜י אֶמְאַ֗ס מִקַּ֤חַת מִזַּרְעוֹ֙ מֹֽשְׁלִ֔ים אֶל־זֶ֥רַע אַבְרָהָ֖ם יִשְׂחָ֣ק וְיַעֲקֹ֑ב ׳כִּֽי־אָשׁוּב׳ ״כִּֽי־אָשִׁ֥יב״ אֶת־שְׁבוּתָ֖ם וְרִחַמְתִּֽים׃ ס

[26] then I will reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant and will not choose one of his offspring to rule over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and will have mercy on them.”