重申复国的应许
耶利米还囚在护卫兵的院内，耶和华的话第二次临到他，说：
Moreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,
2“成事的耶和华，塑造它为要建立它的耶和华，名为耶和华的那位如此说：Thus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;
3‘你求告我，我就应允你，并将你所不知道、又大又隐密的事指示你。Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
4论到这城中的房屋和犹大君王的宫殿，就是拆毁来挡围城工事和刀剑的，耶和华－以色列的神如此说：For thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;
5他们与迦勒底人争战，用我在怒气和愤怒中所杀之人的尸首塞满这房屋；我因他们一切的恶，转脸不顾这城。They come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.
6看哪，我要使这城得以痊愈安舒，我要医治他们，将丰盛的平安与信实显明给他们。Behold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.
7我也要使犹大被掳的和以色列被掳的人归回，并要建立他们，如起初一样。And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.
8我要洗净他们干犯我的一切罪，赦免他们干犯我、违背我的一切罪。And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.
9这城在地上万国面前要因我的缘故，以喜乐得名，得颂赞，得荣耀，因为他们听见我所赏赐的一切福乐。他们因我向这城所施的一切福乐平安，就惧怕战兢。”And it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.
10耶和华如此说：“你们论这地方，说是荒废、无人、无牲畜之地，但在这荒凉、无人、无居民、无牲畜的犹大城镇和耶路撒冷街上，必再听见Thus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,
11欢喜和快乐的声音、新郎和新娘的声音，并听见有人说： 你们要称谢万军之耶和华， 因耶和华本为善， 他的慈爱永远长存！他们奉感谢祭到耶和华的殿中；因为我必使这地被掳的人归回，如起初一样。这是耶和华说的。”The voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.
12万军之耶和华如此说：“在这荒废、无人、无牲畜之地，并其中所有的城镇，必再有牧人的草场，可让羊群躺卧在那里。Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.
13在山区的城镇、谢非拉的城镇、尼革夫的城镇、便雅悯地、耶路撒冷四围的各处和犹大的城镇，必再有羊群从数点的人手下经过。这是耶和华说的。In the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.
14“看哪，日子将到，我应许以色列家和犹大家的恩言必然实现。这是耶和华说的。Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will perform that good thing which I have promised unto the house of Israel and to the house of Judah.
15在那些日子、那时候，我必使大卫公义的苗裔长起来；他必在地上施行公平和公义。In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.
16在那些日子，犹大必得救，耶路撒冷必安然居住，他的名必称为‘耶和华－我们的义’。In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.
17“因为耶和华如此说：大卫家必永远不断有人坐在以色列家的宝座上；For thus saith the LORD; David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel;
18利未家的祭司也不断有人在我面前献燔祭、烧素祭，时常办理献祭的事。”Neither shall the priests the Levites want a man before me to offer burnt offerings, and to kindle meat offerings, and to do sacrifice continually.
19耶和华的话临到耶利米，说：And the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah, saying,
20“耶和华如此说：你们若能废弃我所立白日黑夜的约，使白日黑夜不按时轮转，Thus saith the LORD; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant of the night, and that there should not be day and night in their season;
21就能废弃我与我仆人大卫所立的约，使他没有后裔在他的宝座上作王，并能废弃我与事奉我的利未家的祭司所立的约。Then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant, that he should not have a son to reign upon his throne; and with the Levites the priests, my ministers.
22正如天上的万象不能数算，海边的尘沙不能斗量，我必照样使我仆人大卫的后裔和事奉我的利未人多起来。”As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, neither the sand of the sea measured: so will I multiply the seed of David my servant, and the Levites that minister unto me.
23耶和华的话临到耶利米，说：Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, saying,
24“你没有留意这百姓所说的话吗？他们说：‘耶和华所拣选的二族，他已经弃绝了。’他们这样藐视我的百姓，不把他们当作国来看待。Considerest thou not what this people have spoken, saying, The two families which the LORD hath chosen, he hath even cast them off? thus they have despised my people, that they should be no more a nation before them.
25耶和华如此说：除非我没有立白日黑夜之约，也未曾安排天和地的定例，Thus saith the LORD; If my covenant be not with day and night, and if I have not appointed the ordinances of heaven and earth;
26否则我不会弃绝雅各的后裔和我仆人大卫的后裔，使大卫的后裔不再治理亚伯拉罕、以撒、雅各的后裔。我必使他们被掳的人归回，也必怜悯他们。”Then will I cast away the seed of Jacob, and David my servant, so that I will not take any of his seed to be rulers over the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: for I will cause their captivity to return, and have mercy on them.