In the same way, my words leave my mouth,\par and they don’t come back until they make things happen.\par My words make the things happen that I want to happen.\par My words succeed in doing the things I send them to do.\par
The Lord said to me, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I answered, “I see figs. The good figs are very good. And the rotten figs are very rotten. They are too rotten to eat.”
In the past, I watched over Israel and Judah, but I watched for the time to pull them up. I tore them down. I destroyed them. I gave many troubles to them. But now, I will watch over them to build them up and make them strong.” This message is from the Lord.
Why? Because I am the Lord. And I will say what I want to say, and that thing will happen! And I won’t let the time stretch out. Those troubles are coming soon—in your own lifetime. You rebellious people, when I say something, I make it happen.” The Lord my Master said those things.
I will punish them
for the bad things they did.
But I am saving that punishment
for when they slip and do bad things.
Their time of trouble is near.
Their punishment will come quickly.’