1 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guard: 2 Thus says the LORD who made it, the LORD who formed it to establish it—the LORD is his name: 3 “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.

4 For thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city and the houses of the kings of Judah that have been torn down to resist the siege ramps and the sword: 5 They come to fight the Chaldeans, only to fill these houses with the corpses of those I struck down in my anger and wrath. I have hidden my face from this city because of all their wickedness. 6 But look, I will bring her health and healing. I will heal them and reveal to them an abundance of peace and faithfulness. 7 I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel and rebuild them as at first. 8 I will cleanse them from all the iniquity with which they sinned against me, and I will forgive all the iniquities with which they sinned against me and rebelled against me. 9 She will be to me a name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth who hear of all the good I do for them. They will fear and tremble at all the good and all the peace I give her.”

10 Thus says the LORD: “In this place that you call desolate, without people or animals—in the cities of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, desolate, without people, inhabitants, or animals—there will again be heard 11 the voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voices of those saying, ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for his steadfast love endures forever,’ as they bring thank offerings to the house of the LORD. For I will restore the fortunes of the land as at first, says the LORD.”

12 Thus says the LORD of hosts: “In this desolate place, without people or animals, and in all its cities, there will again be pastures where shepherds make their flocks lie down. 13 In the cities of the hill country, the lowlands, and the Negev, in the land of Benjamin, around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, flocks will again pass under the hands of the one who counts them, says the LORD.

14 Look, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the good word I spoke to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a Branch of righteousness to spring up for David, and he will carry out justice and righteousness in the land. 16 In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will dwell securely. This is what she will be called: ‘The LORD Our Righteousness.’

17 For thus says the LORD: David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, 18 and the Levitical priests will never lack a man before me to offer burnt offerings, burn grain offerings, and make sacrifices continually.”

19 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 20 “Thus says the LORD: If you can break my covenant with the day and my covenant with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed time, 21 then my covenant with David my servant can also be broken, so that he has no son to reign on his throne, and my covenant with the Levitical priests, my ministers. 22 As the host of heaven cannot be counted and the sand of the sea cannot be measured, so I will multiply the offspring of David my servant and the Levites who minister to me.”

23 The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 24 “Have you not seen what these people are saying? ‘The LORD has rejected the two families he chose.’ They despise my people, so that they no longer consider them a nation.

25 Thus says the LORD: If my covenant with day and night does not stand, if I have not established the ordinances of heaven and earth, 26 then I will also reject the offspring of Jacob and David my servant, refusing to take from his offspring rulers over the offspring of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore their fortunes and have compassion on them.”