For I knowthe plansthat I havefor you,' declaresthe LORD,'plansfor welfareand not for calamityto giveyou a futureand a hope.
"But He is uniqueand whocan turnHim? And [what] His souldesires,that He does.
The counselof the LORDstandsforever,The plansof His heartfrom generationto generation.
Many,O LORDmy God,are the wonderswhich You have done,And Your thoughtstowardus; Thereis noneto comparewith You. If I would declareand speakof them, They would be toonumerousto count.
SurelyHis salvationis nearto those who fearHim, That glorymay dwellin our land.
"I havenowrath.Should someonegiveMe briars[and] thornsin battle,[Then] I would stepon them, I would burnthem completely.
"Behold,[the] daysare coming,"declaresthe LORD,"When I will raiseup for Davida righteousBranch;And He will reignas kingand actwiselyAnd dojusticeand righteousnessin the land.
"In His daysJudahwill be saved,And Israelwill dwellsecurely;And thisis His nameby whichHe will be called,The LORDour righteousness.'
"Thussaysthe LORDGodof Israel,'Like thesegoodfigs,soI will regardas goodthe captivesof Judah,whomI have sentout of thisplace[into] the landof the Chaldeans.
Fearnot, O JacobMy servant,'declaresthe LORD,'And do not be dismayed,O Israel;For behold,I will saveyou from afarAnd your offspringfrom the landof their captivity.And Jacobwill returnand will be quietand at ease,And noonewill makehim afraid.
But they shall servethe LORDtheir Godand Davidtheir king,whomI will raiseup for them.
Behold,I will bringto it healthand healing,and I will healthem; and I will revealto them an abundanceof peaceand truth.
[It is] goodthat he waitssilentlyFor the salvationof the LORD.
"Thereforesay,'Thussaysthe LordGOD,"ThoughI had removedthem faraway among the nationsand thoughI had scatteredthem among the countries,yet I was a sanctuaryfor them a littlewhilein the countrieswherethey had gone."'
Afterwardthe sonsof Israelwill returnand seekthe LORDtheir Godand Davidtheir king;and they will cometremblingto the LORDand to His goodnessin the lastdays.
"But they do not knowthe thoughtsof the LORD,And they do not understandHis purpose;For He has gatheredthem like sheavesto the threshingfloor.
"But did not My wordsand My statutes,whichI commandedMy servantsthe prophets,overtakeyour fathers?Then they repentedand said,As the LORDof hostspurposedto doto us in accordance with our waysand our deeds,soHe has dealtwith us.'"'"
"And I will bringthe thirdpartthrough the fire,Refinethem as silveris refined,And testthem as goldis tested.They will callon My name,And I will answerthem; I will say,They are My people,'And they will say,'The LORDis my God.'"
