7 God used the earlier prophets to say these same things long ago. He said these things while Jerusalem was still a prosperous city filled with people. God said these things while there were still people living in the towns around Jerusalem, and in the Negev, and in the western foothills.”
7 Should ye not hear the words which the LORD hath cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, when men inhabited the south and the plain?
7 Should you not hear the words which the Lord cried by the former prophets when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity with her cities round about her, and the South (the Negeb) and the lowlands were inhabited?
7 Should ye not hear the words which Jehovah cried by the former prophets, when Jerusalem was inhabited and in prosperity, and the cities thereof round about her, and the South and the lowland were inhabited?
7 Weren’t these the words that the LORD proclaimed through the former prophets when Jerusalem was dwelling quietly along with the surrounding cities, and when the arid southern plain and the western foothills were inhabited?
7 Are not these the words that the Lord has spoken by the hand of the former prophets, when Jerusalem was still inhabited, so that it would prosper, itself and the cities around it, and those inhabitants towards the South and in the plains?
People will come to Jerusalem from the towns of Judah. People will come to Jerusalem from the little villages that are around it. People will come from the land where the family group of Benjamin lives. {\cf2\super [145]} People will come from the western foothills and from the hill country. And people will come from the Negev. {\cf2\super [146]} All those people will bring burnt offerings, sacrifices, grains offerings, incense, {\cf2\super [147]} and thank offerings. They will bring those offerings and sacrifices to the temple of the Lord.
People will use their money and buy fields. They will sign and seal their agreements. People will witness the people signing their deeds. {\cf2\super [275]} People will again buy fields in the land where the family group of Benjamin lives. They will buy fields in the area around Jerusalem. They will buy fields in the towns of the land of Judah, in the hill country, in the western foothills, and in the area of the southern desert. That will happen because I will bring your people back home.” This message is from the Lord.
Shepherds count their sheep as the sheep walk in front of them. People will be counting their sheep all around the country—in the hill-country, in the western foothills, in the Negev, {\cf2\super [279]} and in all the other towns of Judah.”
Judah, you felt safe.\par But I warned you!\par I warned you,\par but you refused to listen.\par You have lived like this\par from the time you were young.\par And from the time you were young,\par you have not obeyed me, Judah.\par
Listen closely to the things I say.\par Listen to me so your souls will live.\par Come to me and I will make an agreement\par with you that will continue forever.\par It will be like the agreement\par that I made with David.\par I promised David that I would love him\par and be loyal to him forever.\par And you can trust that agreement.\par
The cities in the Negev desert {\cf2\super [112]} are locked.\par No person can open them.\par All the people of Judah are taken into exile. {\cf2\super [113]} \par They were carried away as prisoners.\par
I sent my prophets to those people again and again. Those prophets were my servants. Those prophets spoke my message and said to the people, ‘Don’t do this terrible thing. I hate for you to worship idols.’
They were very stubborn.\par They would not obey the law.\par The Lord All-Powerful used his Spirit\par and sent messages to his people\par through the prophets.\par But the people would not listen.\par So the Lord All-Powerful\par became very angry.\par