"For thussaysthe LORDof hosts,'Justas I purposedto doharmto you when your fathersprovokedMe to wrath,'saysthe LORDof hosts,and I have not relented,
but they [continually] mockedthe messengersof God,despisedHis wordsand scoffedat His prophets,untilthe wrathof the LORDaroseagainst His people,untiltherewas noremedy.
The counselof the LORDstandsforever,The plansof His heartfrom generationto generation.
The LORDof hostshas swornsaying,"Surely,justas I have intendedsoit has happened,and justas I have plannedso it will stand,
But let that manbe like the citiesWhichthe LORDoverthrewwithoutrelenting,And let him hearan outcryin the morningAnd a shoutof alarmat noon;
For I knowthe plansthat I havefor you,' declaresthe LORD,'plansfor welfareand not for calamityto giveyou a futureand a hope.
"As I have watchedoverthem to pluckup, to breakdown,to overthrow,to destroyand to bringdisaster,soI will watchoverthem to buildand to plant,"declaresthe LORD.
"For thussaysthe LORD,Justas I broughtallthisgreatdisasteron thispeople,soI am going to bringon them allthe goodthat I am promisingthem.
"For thisthe earthshall mournAnd the heavensabovebe dark,BecauseI have spoken,I have purposed,And I will not changeMy mind,norwill I turnfrom it."
"I, the LORD,have spoken;it is comingand I will act.I will not relent,and I will not pityand I will not be sorry;according to your waysand according to your deedsI will judgeyou," declaresthe LordGOD.'"
"The LORDwas veryangrywith your fathers.
"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.'"'"
