"And deathwill be chosenratherthanlifeby allthe remnantthat remainsof thisevilfamily,that remainsin allthe placesto whichI have driventhem," declaresthe LORDof hosts.
But he himselfwenta day'sjourneyinto the wilderness,and cameand satdownundera junipertree;and he requestedfor himselfthat he might die,and said,"It is enough;now,O LORD,takemy life,for I am not betterthanmy fathers."
"Then I Myselfwill gatherthe remnantof My flockout of allthe countrieswhereI have driventhem and bringthem backto their pasture,and they will be fruitfuland multiply.
but, 'As the LORDlives,whobroughtup and ledback the descendantsof the householdof Israelfrom [the] northlandand from allthe countrieswhereI had driventhem.' Then they will liveon their own soil."
I will be foundby you,' declaresthe LORD,and I will restoreyour fortunesand will gatheryou from allthe nationsand from allthe placeswhereI have drivenyou,' declaresthe LORD,and I will bringyou backto the placefrom whereI sentyou into exile.'
"For he has sentto us in Babylon,saying,[The exile] will be long;buildhousesand live[in them] and plantgardensand eattheir produce.'"'"
Then allthe Jewsreturnedfrom allthe placesto whichthey had been drivenawayand cameto the landof Judah,to Gedaliahat Mizpah,and gatheredin wineand summerfruitin greatabundance.
"Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,the Godof Israel,'You yourselveshave seenallthe calamitythat I have broughton Jerusalemand allthe citiesof Judah;and behold,thisdaythey are in ruinsand noonelivesin them,
Therefore My wrathand My angerwere pouredout and burnedin the citiesof Judahand in the streetsof Jerusalem,so they havebecomea ruinand a desolationas it is thisday.
Thussaysthe LORDof hosts,"They will thoroughlygleanas the vinethe remnantof Israel;Passyour handagainlike a grape gathererOverthe branches."
"Righteousnessbelongs to You, O Lord,but to us openshame,as it is thisday--to the menof Judah,the inhabitantsof Jerusalemand allIsrael,those who are nearbyand those who are faraway in allthe countriesto whichYou have driventhem, because of their unfaithfuldeedswhichthey have committedagainst You.
You, however, I will scatteramong the nationsand will drawout a swordafteryou, as your landbecomesdesolateand your citiesbecomewaste.
Hearthiswordwhichthe LORDhas spokenagainstyou, sonsof Israel,againstthe entirefamilywhichHe broughtup from the landof Egypt:
"Therefore now,O LORD,pleasetakemy lifefrom me, for deathis betterto me thanlife."
Thereforethussaysthe LORD,"Behold,I am planningagainstthisfamilya calamityFrom whichyou cannotremoveyour necks;And you will not walkhaughtily,For it will be an eviltime.
"So it shall be whenallof thesethingshave comeupon you, the blessingand the cursewhichI have setbeforeyou, and you call[them] to mindin allnationswherethe LORDyour Godhas banishedyou,
"Ifyour outcastsare at the endsof the earth,from therethe LORDyour Godwill gatheryou, and from thereHe will bringyou back.
and they saidto the mountainsand to the rocks,"Fallon us and hideus from the presenceof Him who sitson the throne,and from the wrathof the Lamb;
And in thosedaysmenwill seekdeathand will not findit; they will longto die,and deathfleesfrom them.
