24 ALSO to Shemaiah the Nehelamite shalt thou 25 speak, saying, Thus hath JEHOVAH of hosts the God of Israel spoken, saying, Because thou hast sent letters in thy name unto all the people that are at Jerusalem, and to Zephaniah the son of Maaseiah the priest, and to all the priests, say26 ing, JEHOVAH hath made thee priest in the room of Jehoiada the priest, that there should be officers in the house of JEHOVAH, in the case of any one that is mad, and giveth himself out for a prophet, and that thou shouldst commit him to the house of correction, and to close confinement. 27 Now therefore why hast thou not rebuked Jeremiah the Anathothite, who giveth himself out 28 for a prophet among you? Forasmuch as he hath sent to us at Babylon, saying, The term is long; build ye houses, and inhabit; and plant gardens, 29 and eat of the fruit of them. (And Zephaniah 31 the priest read this letter in the ears of Jeremiah 30 the prophet.) Therefore hath the word of JehoVAH come unto Jeremiah, saying, Send unto all the captivity, saying, Thus hath JEHOVAH Spoken concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite; Because that Shemaiah hath prophesied unto you, when I sent him not, but he hath caused you to trust in a falsehood: Therefore thus saith JEHOVAH, Behold I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed; there shall not be one of his line dwelling among this people; neither shall he behold the good which I will do unto my pcople, saith JEHOVAH; because he hath spoken prevarication concerning JEHOVAH. 32 2 CHAP. XXX. THE WORD WHICH CAME TO JEREMIAH FROM JEHOVAH, SAYING, THUS hath JEHOVAH the God of Israel spoken, saying, Write thee all the words that I have spo3 ken unto thee in a book. For behold the days are coming, saith JEHOVAH, when I will reverse the captivity of my people, Israel and Judah, saith JEHOVAH; and I will bring them back to the land which I gave to their fathers, and they shall possess it. 4 5 AND these are the words which JEHOVAH hath spoken concerning Israel and concerning Judah. SURELY thus saith JEHOVAH, A voice of trembling have we heard, There is terror, and no peace. 6 Ask Ask ye now, and see, If a male can bring forth? Wherefore have I seen every man, His hands upon his loins, as a woman in travail, 7 Alas! for that day is great, So that there is none like it; And a time of distress, which shall be to Jacob; 8 And it shall be in that day, I will break his yoke from off his neck, And strangers shall no more exact service of him : 9 But they shall serve JEHOVAH their God, And David their king, whom I will raise up for them. 10 Therefore, fear thou not, O my servant Jacob, saith JEHOVAH; And be not thou dismayed, O Israel; For, behold, I will bring thee safe from afar, He shall also be secure, and there shall be none to make him afraid. 11 For I will be with thee, 12 Saith JEHOVAH, to save thee; When I shall make a full end of all the nations, Yet will I not make a full end of thee: But I will correct thee with moderation, Thy bruise is desperate, Thy wound is grievous: 13 There is none that lendeth a helping hand for thy cure; No healing medicines are applied to thee, 14 All thy friends have forgotten thee, They seek not after thee; Surely with the stroke of an enemy have I smitten thee, A severe chastisement; Because thy iniquity is great, Thy offences are numerous. 15 Why criest thou because of thy bruise? Thy suffering is without remedy; Because thy iniquity is great, Thy offences are numerous, Have I done these things unto thee. 16 Afterwards shall all they that devour thee be de voured, And all thine enemies, they shall go into captivity; 17 For I will restore soundness to thee, 18 And of thy wounds will I heal thee, saith JEHO VAH; Although they have called thee an Outcast, Thus saith JEHOVAH; Behold, I will reverse the captivity of Jacob's tents, And upon his dwelling places will I have com- And the city shall be builded upon its heap, 19 And out of them shall go forth thanksgiving, And I will multiply them, and they shall not be diminished, And I will raise them to honour, and they shall not be brought low. 20 And his children shall be as aforetime, And his congregation shall be established before me; And I will call to account those that oppress him. 21 And his prince shall be of his own race, And his 3 governor shall go forth out of the midst of him; And I will draw him, that he may come near un to me; For who is he that hath set his heart To draw near unto me? saith JEHOVAH. 22 And ye shall be unto me a people, And I will be unto you a God. 23 Behold the whirlwind of JEHOVAH, it goeth forth hot, Even a settling whirlwind, upon the head of the wicked shall it settle. 24 The fierce anger of JEHOVAH shall not turn back, Until he hath wrought, and until he hath accomplished the purpose of his heart; 1 2 In the latter days ye shall discern it. CHAP. XXXI. At that time, saith JEHOVAH, Will I be a God unto all the families of Israel, THUS said JEHOVAH, A people, relics of the sword, hath found favour in the wilderness, Israel a proceeding towards his restoration. 3 (From afar off JEHOVAH appeared unto me) Also with a love of long standing have I loved thee, Therefore have I lengthened out mercy to thee. 4 Yet again will I build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel; Yet again shalt thou deck thyself with thy tabrets, make merry. 5 Yet again shalt thou plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; Plant, O ye planters, and eat ye the fruit. 6 For the day is come, have watchmen proclaimed, on mount Ephraim; Arise ye, and let us go up to Sion, unto JEHOVAH our God, |