Through the Bible – Day 306

I, the LORD, hear screams

of terror,

and there is no peace.

₆Can men give birth?

Then why do I see them

looking so pale

and clutching their stomachs

like women in labour?

₇My people, soon you will suffer

worse than ever before,

but I will save you.

₈Now you are slaves

of other nations,

but I will break the chains

and smash the yokes

that keep you in slavery.

₉Then you will be my servants,

and I will choose a king for you

from the family of David.

_10-11Israel, you belong to me,

so don't be afraid.

You deserved to be punished;

that's why I scattered you

in distant nations.

But I am with you,

and some day I will destroy

those nations.

Then I will bring you

and your descendants

back to your land,

where I will protect you

and give you peace.

Then your fears will be gone.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

My people, you are wounded

and near death.

₁₃You are accused of a crime

with no one to defend you,

and you are covered with sores

that no medicine can cure.

_14-15Your friends have forgotten you;

they don't care any more.

Even I have acted like an enemy.

And because your sins

are horrible and countless,

I will be cruel

as I punish you.

So don't bother to cry out

for relief from your pain.

₁₆But if your enemies try to rob

or destroy you,

I will rob and destroy them,

and they will be led as captives

to foreign lands.

₁₇No one wants you as a friend

or cares what happens to you.

But I will heal your injuries,

and you will get well.

Israel, I will be kind to you

and let you come home.

Jerusalem now lies in ruins,

but you will rebuild it,

complete with a new palace.

₁₉Other nations will respect

and honour you.

Your homes will be filled

with children,

and you will celebrate,

singing praises to me.

₂₀It will be just like old times.

Your nation will worship me,

and I will punish anyone

who abuses you.

₂₁One of your own people

will become your ruler.

And when I invite him

to come near me

at the place of worship,

he will do so.

No one would dare to come near

without being invited.

₂₂You will be my people,

and I will be your God.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₂₃I am furious!

And like a violent storm

I will strike those

who do wrong.

₂₄I won't calm down

until I have finished

what I have decided to do.

Some day, you will understand

what I mean.

Israel, I promise

that some day all your tribes

will again be my people,

and I will be your God.

₂In the desert I was kind

to those who escaped death.

I gave them peace,

and when the time is right,

I'll do the same for you.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

Israel, I will always love you;

that's why I've been so patient

and kind.

₄You are precious to me,

and so I will rebuild

your nation.

Once again you will dance for joy

and play your tambourines.

₅You will plant vineyards

on the hills of Samaria

and enjoy the grapes.

₆Some day those who guard

the hill country of Ephraim

will shout, “Let's go to Zion

and worship the LORD our God.”

Celebrate and sing for Israel,

the greatest of nations.

Offer praises and shout,

“Come and rescue

your people, LORD!

Save what's left of Israel.”

₈I, the LORD, will bring

my people back from Babylonia

and everywhere else on earth.

The blind and the lame

will be there.

Expectant mothers

and women about to give birth

will come and be part

of that great crowd.

₉They will weep and pray

as I bring them home.

I will lead them

to streams of water.

They will walk on a level road

and not stumble.

I am a father to Israel,

my favourite children.

₁₀Listen to me, you nations

nearby or across the sea.

I scattered the people of Israel,

but I will gather them again.

I will protect them like a shepherd

guarding a flock;

₁₁I will rescue them from enemies

who could overpower them.

₁₂My people will come

to Mount Zion

and celebrate;

their faces will glow

because of my blessings.

I'll give them grain, grapes,

and olive oil,

as well as sheep and cattle.

Israel will be prosperous

and grow like a garden

with plenty of water.

₁₃Young women and young men,

together with the elderly,

will celebrate and dance,

because I will comfort them

and turn their sorrow

into happiness.

₁₄I will bless my people

with more food

than they need,

and the priests will enjoy

the choice cuts of meat.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₁₅In Ramah a voice is heard,

crying and weeping loudly.

Rachel mourns for her children

and refuses to be comforted,

because they are dead.

_16-17But I, the LORD, tell you

to dry your tears.

Some day your children

will come home

from the enemy's land.

Then all you have done for them

will be greatly rewarded.

So don't lose hope.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₁₈The people of Israel moan

and say to me,

“We were like wild bulls,

but you, LORD, broke us,

and we learnt to obey.

You are our God—

please let us come home.

₁₉When we were young,

we strayed and sinned,

but then we realized

what we had done.

We are ashamed and disgraced

and want to return to you.”

₂₀People of Israel,

you are my own dear children.

Don't I love you best of all?

Though I often make threats,

I want you to be near me,

so I will have mercy on you.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₂₁With rock piles and signposts,

mark the way home,

my dear people.

It is the same road

by which you left.

₂₂Will you ever decide

to be faithful?

I will make sure that some day

things will be different,

as different as a woman

protecting a man.

“God became angry

and told the people,

‘You will never enter

my place of rest!’ ”

“If you hear his voice today,

don't be stubborn!”