Jeremiah 30 - Easy To Read Version

¹ This is the message that came to Jeremiah from the Lord.

² The Lord, the God of the people of Israel, said: “Jeremiah, write in a book the words I have spoken to you. Write this book for yourself.

³ Do this because the days will come”—this message is from the Lor —“when I will bring my people, Israel and Judah, back from exile.” {\cf2\super [231]} This message is from the Lord. “I will put those people back in the land that I gave to their ancestors. {\cf2\super [232]} Then my people will own that land again.”

⁴ The Lord spoke this message about the people of Israel and Judah.

⁵ This is what the Lord said:

⁶ “Ask this question, and consider it:\par Can a man have a baby? Of course not!\par Then why do I see every strong man\par holding his stomach\par like a woman having labor pains?\par Why is every person’s face turning white\par like a dead man?\par \{Why? Because the men are very scared.\}\par

⁷ “This is a very important time for Jacob. {\cf2\super [233]} \par This is a time of great trouble.\par There will never be another time like this.\par But Jacob {\cf2\super [234]} will be saved.\par

⁸ “At that time,” this message is from the Lord All-Powerful, “I will break the yoke {\cf2\super [235]} from the necks of the people of Israel and Judah. And I will break the ropes holding you. People from foreign countries will never again force my people to be slaves.

⁹ The people of Israel and Judah will not serve foreign countries. No! They will serve the Lord their God. And they will serve David their king, {\cf2\super [236]} I will send that king to them.

¹⁰ “So, Jacob {\cf2\super [237]} my servant, don’t be afraid!”\par This message is from the Lord.\par “Israel, don’t be afraid.\par I will save you from that faraway place.\par You are captives {\cf2\super [238]} in that faraway land,\par But I will save your descendants. {\cf2\super [239]} \par \{I will bring them back\} from that land.\par Jacob will have peace again.\par People will not bother Jacob.\par There will be no enemy to scare my people.\par

¹¹ People of Israel and Judah, I am with you.”\par This message is from the Lord.\par “And I will save you.\par I sent you to those nations.\par But I will completely destroy\par all those nations.\par It is true, I will destroy those nations,\par but I will not destroy you.\par You must be punished\par for the bad things you did.\par But I will discipline you fairly.”\par

¹² The Lord says:\par “You people of Israel and Judah\par have a wound that can’t be cured.\par You have an injury that will not heal.\par

¹³ There is no person to care for your sores.\par So you will not be healed.\par

¹⁴ You became friends with many nations.\par But those nations don’t care about you.\par Your ‘friends’ have forgotten you.\par I hurt you like an enemy.\par I punished you very hard.\par I did this because of your great guilt.\par I did this because of your many sins.\par

¹⁵ Israel and Judah, why are you yelling\par about your wound?\par Your wound is painful,\par and there is no cure for it.\par I, the Lord, did these things to you\par because of your great guilt.\par I did these things\par because of your many sins.\par

¹⁶ Those nations destroyed you,\par but now they have been destroyed.\par Israel and Judah,\par your enemies will become captives. {\cf2\super [240]} \par Those people stole things from you.\par But other people will steal from them.\par Those people took things from you in war.\par But other people will take things\par from them in war.\par

¹⁷ And I will bring your health back.\par And I will heal your wounds.”\par This message is from the Lord.\par “Why? Because other people\par said you were outcasts. {\cf2\super [241]} \par Those people said,\par ‘No one cares about Zion. {\cf2\super [242]} ’”\par

¹⁸ The Lord says:\par “Jacob’s {\cf2\super [243]} people are now in captivity.\par But they will come back.\par And I will have pity on Jacob’s houses.\par The city {\cf2\super [244]} is now only an empty hill\par covered with ruined buildings.\par But the city will be built again on its hill.\par And the king’s house will be built again\par where it should be.\par

¹⁹ People in those places\par will sing songs of praise.\par And there will be the sound of laughter.\par I will give them many children.\par Israel and Judah will not be small.\par I will bring honor to them.\par No person will look down on them.\par

²⁰ Jacob’s family will be\par like the family of Israel long ago.\par I will make Israel and Judah strong,\par and I will punish the people that hurt them.\par

²¹ One of their own people will lead them.\par That ruler will come from my people.\par People can come close to me\par only if I ask them to.\par So I will ask that leader to come to me,\par and he will be close to me.\par

²² You will be my people.\par And I will be your God.”\par

²³ The Lord was very angry!\par He punished the people.\par The punishment came like a storm.\par The punishment came like a tornado\par against those wicked people.\par

²⁴ The Lord will be angry\par until he finishes punishing the people.\par He will be angry until he finishes\par the punishment he planned.\par When that day comes,\par you people of Judah will understand.\par