Jeremiah 30:12-22

¶“For thus says the LORD, ‘Your wound is incurable And your injury is beyond healing. ‘There is no one to plead your cause; No [device to close and allow the] healing of your wound, No recovery for you. ‘All your lovers (allies) have forgotten you; They do not seek and long for you. For I have injured you with the wound of an enemy, With the punishment of a cruel and merciless foe, Because your guilt is great And your sins are glaring and innumerable. ‘Why do you cry out over your injury [since it is the natural result of your sin]? Your pain is incurable (deadly). Because your guilt is great And your sins are glaring and innumerable, I have done these things to you. ‘Therefore all who devour you will be devoured; And all your adversaries, every one of them, will go into captivity. And they who plunder you will become plunder, And all who prey upon you I will give for prey. ‘For I will restore health to you And I will heal your wounds,’ says the LORD, ‘Because they have called you an outcast, saying: “This is Zion; no one seeks her and no one cares for her.” ’ ¶“Thus says the LORD, ‘Behold (hear this), I will restore the fortunes of the tents of Jacob And have mercy on his dwelling places; The city will be rebuilt on its [old, mound-like] ruin, And the palace will stand on its rightful place. ‘From them (city, palace) will come [songs of] thanksgiving And the voices of those who dance and celebrate. And I will multiply them and they will not be diminished [in number]; I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant. ‘Their children too will be as in former times, And their congregation will be established before Me; And I will punish all their oppressors. ‘Their prince will be one of them, And their ruler will come forward from among them. I will bring him near and he shall approach Me, For who is he who would have the boldness and would dare [on his own initiative] to risk his life to approach Me?’ says the LORD. ‘Then you shall be My people, And I will be your God.’ ” [Jer 7:23]