For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.“ They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

耶和华说：我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。

我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。这是耶和华说的。

我知道我向你们所怀的意念是赐平安的意念，不是降灾祸的意念，要叫你们末后有指望。这是耶和华说的。

因为我知道我为你们安排的计划。我的计划不是要降祸给你们，而是要赐福给你们，使你们的未来充满希望。这是耶和华说的。

因我自己知道我为你们所定的计划，是使你们得平安，而不是遭受灾祸的计划；要赐给你们美好的前程和盼望。’这是耶和华的宣告。

耶和華說：我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。

我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。這是耶和華說的。

我知道我向你們所懷的意念是賜平安的意念，不是降災禍的意念，要叫你們末後有指望。這是耶和華說的。

因為我知道我為你們安排的計劃。我的計劃不是要降禍給你們，而是要賜福給你們，使你們的未來充滿希望。這是耶和華說的。

因我自己知道我為你們所定的計劃，是使你們得平安，而不是遭受災禍的計劃；要賜給你們美好的前程和盼望。’這是耶和華的宣告。

因為我知道我向你們懷的意念、永恆主發神諭說、是賜福利的意念，不是降災禍的意念；是要給你們好的晚景和希望。

耶和華曰、我為爾所存之念、我自知之、乃平康之念、非災害之念也、俾爾終有所望、

耶和華又云、予待爾將若何、予自知之、欲錫平康、不加災害、終有可望。

主又云、我為爾所懷之意、惟我知之、我意賜爾平康、不加災害、爾曹終有可望、

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,“ plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I know the plans I have for you,” announces the Lord.“ I want you to enjoy success. I do not plan to harm you. I will give you hope for the years to come.

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

For I know the plans I have for you”— this is the LORD’s declaration—“ plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord,‘ plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith Jehovah, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope in your latter end.

For I know the plans I have for you”— this is the Lord’s declaration—“ plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

For I know what I have planned for you,’ says the LORD.‘ I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says Yahweh,“ thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.

“ My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.“ And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.“ The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!

But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.

O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them.

But they do not know the Lord’s thoughts or understand his plan. These nations don’t know that he is gathering them together to be beaten and trampled like sheaves of grain on a threshing floor.

But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does.

So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.I will call a swift bird of prey from the east— a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it.

“ For this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I myself will search and find my sheep.I will be like a shepherd looking for his scattered flock. I will find my sheep and rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on that dark and cloudy day.I will bring them back home to their own land of Israel from among the peoples and nations. I will feed them on the mountains of Israel and by the rivers and in all the places where people live.Yes, I will give them good pastureland on the high hills of Israel. There they will lie down in pleasant places and feed in the lush pastures of the hills.I myself will tend my sheep and give them a place to lie down in peace, says the Sovereign Lord.I will search for my lost ones who strayed away, and I will bring them safely home again. I will bandage the injured and strengthen the weak. But I will destroy those who are fat and powerful. I will feed them, yes— feed them justice!“ And as for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign Lord says to his people: I will judge between one animal of the flock and another, separating the sheep from the goats.Isn’t it enough for you to keep the best of the pastures for yourselves? Must you also trample down the rest? Isn’t it enough for you to drink clear water for yourselves? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet?Why must my flock eat what you have trampled down and drink water you have fouled?“ Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will surely judge between the fat sheep and the scrawny sheep.For you fat sheep pushed and butted and crowded my sick and hungry flock until you scattered them to distant lands.So I will rescue my flock, and they will no longer be abused. I will judge between one animal of the flock and another.And I will set over them one shepherd, my servant David. He will feed them and be a shepherd to them.And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David will be a prince among my people. I, the Lord, have spoken!“ I will make a covenant of peace with my people and drive away the dangerous animals from the land. Then they will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and sleep in the woods without fear.I will bless my people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing.The orchards and fields of my people will yield bumper crops, and everyone will live in safety. When I have broken their chains of slavery and rescued them from those who enslaved them, then they will know that I am the Lord.They will no longer be prey for other nations, and wild animals will no longer devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will frighten them.“ And I will make their land famous for its crops, so my people will never again suffer from famines or the insults of foreign nations.In this way, they will know that I, the Lord their God, am with them. And they will know that they, the people of Israel, are my people, says the Sovereign Lord.You are my flock, the sheep of my pasture. You are my people, and I am your God. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”

Therefore, go and give this message to Israel. This is what the Lord says:“ O Israel, my faithless people, come home to me again, for I am merciful. I will not be angry with you forever.Only acknowledge your guilt. Admit that you rebelled against the Lord your God and committed adultery against him by worshiping idols under every green tree. Confess that you refused to listen to my voice. I, the Lord, have spoken!“ Return home, you wayward children,” says the Lord,“ for I am your master. I will bring you back to the land of Israel— one from this town and two from that family— from wherever you are scattered.And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will guide you with knowledge and understanding.“ And when your land is once more filled with people,” says the Lord,“ you will no longer wish for‘ the good old days’ when you possessed the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant. You will not miss those days or even remember them, and there will be no need to rebuild the Ark.In that day Jerusalem will be known as‘ The Throne of the Lord.’ All nations will come there to honor the Lord. They will no longer stubbornly follow their own evil desires.In those days the people of Judah and Israel will return together from exile in the north. They will return to the land I gave your ancestors as an inheritance forever.“ I thought to myself,‘ I would love to treat you as my own children!’ I wanted nothing more than to give you this beautiful land— the finest possession in the world. I looked forward to your calling me‘ Father,’ and I wanted you never to turn from me.

“ In that day,” says the Lord,“ I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.This is what the Lord says:“ Those who survive the coming destruction will find blessings even in the barren land, for I will give rest to the people of Israel.”Long ago the Lord said to Israel:“ I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. You will again be happy and dance merrily with your tambourines.Again you will plant your vineyards on the mountains of Samaria and eat from your own gardens there.The day will come when watchmen will shout from the hill country of Ephraim,‘ Come, let us go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord our God.’”Now this is what the Lord says:“ Sing with joy for Israel. Shout for the greatest of nations! Shout out with praise and joy:‘ Save your people, O Lord, the remnant of Israel!’For I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women in labor. A great company will return!Tears of joy will stream down their faces, and I will lead them home with great care. They will walk beside quiet streams and on smooth paths where they will not stumble. For I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is my oldest child.“ Listen to this message from the Lord, you nations of the world; proclaim it in distant coastlands: The Lord, who scattered his people, will gather them and watch over them as a shepherd does his flock.For the Lord has redeemed Israel from those too strong for them.They will come home and sing songs of joy on the heights of Jerusalem. They will be radiant because of the Lord’s good gifts— the abundant crops of grain, new wine, and olive oil, and the healthy flocks and herds. Their life will be like a watered garden, and all their sorrows will be gone.The young women will dance for joy, and the men— old and young— will join in the celebration. I will turn their mourning into joy. I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing.The priests will enjoy abundance, and my people will feast on my good gifts. I, the Lord, have spoken!”This is what the Lord says:“ A cry is heard in Ramah— deep anguish and bitter weeping. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted— for her children are gone.”But now this is what the Lord says:“ Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you,” says the Lord.“ Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy.There is hope for your future,” says the Lord.“ Your children will come again to their own land.I have heard Israel saying,‘ You disciplined me severely, like a calf that needs training for the yoke. Turn me again to you and restore me, for you alone are the Lord my God.I turned away from God, but then I was sorry. I kicked myself for my stupidity! I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days.’“ Is not Israel still my son, my darling child?” says the Lord.“ I often have to punish him, but I still love him. That’s why I long for him and surely will have mercy on him.Set up road signs; put up guideposts. Mark well the path by which you came. Come back again, my virgin Israel; return to your towns here.How long will you wander, my wayward daughter? For the Lord will cause something new to happen— Israel will embrace her God.”This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:“ When I bring them back from captivity, the people of Judah and its towns will again say,‘ The Lord bless you, O righteous home, O holy mountain!’Townspeople and farmers and shepherds alike will live together in peace and happiness.For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet.“ The day is coming,” says the Lord,“ when I will greatly increase the human population and the number of animals here in Israel and Judah.In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the Lord, have spoken!“ The people will no longer quote this proverb:‘ The parents have eaten sour grapes, but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste.’All people will die for their own sins— those who eat the sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths will pucker.“ The day is coming,” says the Lord,“ when I will make a new covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.This covenant will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand and brought them out of the land of Egypt. They broke that covenant, though I loved them as a husband loves his wife,” says the Lord.“ But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says the Lord.“ I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.

“ Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants— men and women alike.And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke.The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and terrible day of the Lord arrives.But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the Lord has said. These will be among the survivors whom the Lord has called.

Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to him,“ Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises.Assyria cannot save us, nor can our warhorses. Never again will we say to the idols we have made,‘ You are our gods.’ No, in you alone do the orphans find mercy.”The Lord says,“ Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever.I will be to Israel like a refreshing dew from heaven. Israel will blossom like the lily; it will send roots deep into the soil like the cedars in Lebanon.Its branches will spread out like beautiful olive trees, as fragrant as the cedars of Lebanon.My people will again live under my shade. They will flourish like grain and blossom like grapevines. They will be as fragrant as the wines of Lebanon.“ O Israel, stay away from idols! I am the one who answers your prayers and cares for you. I am like a tree that is always green; all your fruit comes from me.”Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those with discernment listen carefully. The paths of the Lord are true and right, and righteous people live by walking in them. But in those paths sinners stumble and fall.

“ Comfort, comfort my people,” says your God.“ Speak tenderly to Jerusalem. Tell her that her sad days are gone and her sins are pardoned. Yes, the Lord has punished her twice over for all her sins.”Listen! It’s the voice of someone shouting,“ Clear the way through the wilderness for the Lord! Make a straight highway through the wasteland for our God!Fill in the valleys, and level the mountains and hills. Straighten the curves, and smooth out the rough places.Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together. The Lord has spoken!”A voice said,“ Shout!” I asked,“ What should I shout?”“ Shout that people are like the grass. Their beauty fades as quickly as the flowers in a field.The grass withers and the flowers fade beneath the breath of the Lord. And so it is with people.The grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of our God stands forever.”O Zion, messenger of good news, shout from the mountaintops! Shout it louder, O Jerusalem. Shout, and do not be afraid. Tell the towns of Judah,“ Your God is coming!”Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?Has the Lord ever needed anyone’s advice? Does he need instruction about what is good? Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?No, for all the nations of the world are but a drop in the bucket. They are nothing more than dust on the scales. He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.All the wood in Lebanon’s forests and all Lebanon’s animals would not be enough to make a burnt offering worthy of our God.The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes they count for less than nothing— mere emptiness and froth.To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him?Can he be compared to an idol formed in a mold, overlaid with gold, and decorated with silver chains?Or if people are too poor for that, they might at least choose wood that won’t decay and a skilled craftsman to carve an image that won’t fall down!Haven’t you heard? Don’t you understand? Are you deaf to the words of God— the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant?God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff.“ To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles? O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

“ But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her there.I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there, as she did long ago when she was young, when I freed her from her captivity in Egypt.When that day comes,” says the Lord,“ you will call me‘ my husband’ instead of‘ my master.’O Israel, I will wipe the many names of Baal from your lips, and you will never mention them again.On that day I will make a covenant with all the wild animals and the birds of the sky and the animals that scurry along the ground so they will not harm you. I will remove all weapons of war from the land, all swords and bows, so you can live unafraid in peace and safety.I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the Lord.“ In that day, I will answer,” says the Lord.“ I will answer the sky as it pleads for clouds. And the sky will answer the earth with rain.Then the earth will answer the thirsty cries of the grain, the grapevines, and the olive trees. And they in turn will answer,‘ Jezreel’—‘ God plants!’At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself. I will show love to those I called‘ Not loved.’ And to those I called‘ Not my people,’ I will say,‘ Now you are my people.’ And they will reply,‘ You are our God!’”

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!For the Lord will remove his hand of judgment and will disperse the armies of your enemy. And the Lord himself, the King of Israel, will live among you! At last your troubles will be over, and you will never again fear disaster.On that day the announcement to Jerusalem will be,“ Cheer up, Zion! Don’t be afraid!For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”“ I will gather you who mourn for the appointed festivals; you will be disgraced no more.And I will deal severely with all who have oppressed you. I will save the weak and helpless ones; I will bring together those who were chased away. I will give glory and fame to my former exiles, wherever they have been mocked and shamed.On that day I will gather you together and bring you home again. I will give you a good name, a name of distinction, among all the nations of the earth, as I restore your fortunes before their very eyes. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

And the clans of Judah will say to themselves,‘ The people of Jerusalem have found strength in the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, their God.’“ On that day I will make the clans of Judah like a flame that sets a woodpile ablaze or like a burning torch among sheaves of grain. They will burn up all the neighboring nations right and left, while the people living in Jerusalem remain secure.“ The Lord will give victory to the rest of Judah first, before Jerusalem, so that the people of Jerusalem and the royal line of David will not have greater honor than the rest of Judah.On that day the Lord will defend the people of Jerusalem; the weakest among them will be as mighty as King David! And the royal descendants will be like God, like the angel of the Lord who goes before them!For on that day I will begin to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.“ Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died.

This is what the Lord says:“ When I bring Israel home again from captivity and restore their fortunes, Jerusalem will be rebuilt on its ruins, and the palace reconstructed as before.There will be joy and songs of thanksgiving, and I will multiply my people, not diminish them; I will honor them, not despise them.Their children will prosper as they did long ago. I will establish them as a nation before me, and I will punish anyone who hurts them.They will have their own ruler again, and he will come from their own people. I will invite him to approach me,” says the Lord,“ for who would dare to come unless invited?You will be my people, and I will be your God.”

Rejoice, O people of Zion! Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem! Look, your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious, yet he is humble, riding on a donkey— riding on a donkey’s colt.I will remove the battle chariots from Israel and the warhorses from Jerusalem. I will destroy all the weapons used in battle, and your king will bring peace to the nations. His realm will stretch from sea to sea and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.Because of the covenant I made with you, sealed with blood, I will free your prisoners from death in a waterless dungeon.Come back to the place of safety, all you prisoners who still have hope! I promise this very day that I will repay two blessings for each of your troubles.Judah is my bow, and Israel is my arrow. Jerusalem is my sword, and like a warrior, I will brandish it against the Greeks.The Lord will appear above his people; his arrows will fly like lightning! The Sovereign Lord will sound the ram’s horn and attack like a whirlwind from the southern desert.The Lord of Heaven’s Armies will protect his people, and they will defeat their enemies by hurling great stones. They will shout in battle as though drunk with wine. They will be filled with blood like a bowl, drenched with blood like the corners of the altar.On that day the Lord their God will rescue his people, just as a shepherd rescues his sheep. They will sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown.How wonderful and beautiful they will be! The young men will thrive on abundant grain, and the young women will flourish on new wine.

O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff; lead your flock, your special possession. Though they live alone in a thicket on the heights of Mount Carmel, let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago.“ Yes,” says the Lord,“ I will do mighty miracles for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”All the nations of the world will stand amazed at what the Lord will do for you. They will be embarrassed at their feeble power. They will cover their mouths in silent awe, deaf to everything around them.Like snakes crawling from their holes, they will come out to meet the Lord our God. They will fear him greatly, trembling in terror at his presence.Where is another God like you, who pardons the guilt of the remnant, overlooking the sins of his special people? You will not stay angry with your people forever, because you delight in showing unfailing love.Once again you will have compassion on us. You will trample our sins under your feet and throw them into the depths of the ocean!You will show us your faithfulness and unfailing love as you promised to our ancestors Abraham and Jacob long ago.

“ For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: I was determined to punish you when your ancestors angered me, and I did not change my mind, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid.

But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David’s descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness.

“ I, the Sovereign Lord, am watching this sinful nation of Israel. I will destroy it from the face of the earth. But I will never completely destroy the family of Israel,” says the Lord.“ For I will give the command and will shake Israel along with the other nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost.But all the sinners will die by the sword— all those who say,‘ Nothing bad will happen to us.’“ In that day I will restore the fallen house of David. I will repair its damaged walls. From the ruins I will rebuild it and restore its former glory.And Israel will possess what is left of Edom and all the nations I have called to be mine.” The Lord has spoken, and he will do these things.“ The time will come,” says the Lord,“ when the grain and grapes will grow faster than they can be harvested. Then the terraced vineyards on the hills of Israel will drip with sweet wine!I will bring my exiled people of Israel back from distant lands, and they will rebuild their ruined cities and live in them again. They will plant vineyards and gardens; they will eat their crops and drink their wine.I will firmly plant them there in their own land. They will never again be uprooted from the land I have given them,” says the Lord your God.

And he will stand to lead his flock with the Lord’s strength, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. Then his people will live there undisturbed, for he will be highly honored around the world.And he will be the source of peace. When the Assyrians invade our land and break through our defenses, we will appoint seven rulers to watch over us, eight princes to lead us.They will rule Assyria with drawn swords and enter the gates of the land of Nimrod. He will rescue us from the Assyrians when they pour over the borders to invade our land.Then the remnant left in Israel will take their place among the nations. They will be like dew sent by the Lord or like rain falling on the grass, which no one can hold back and no one can restrain.

“ Son of man, prophesy to Israel’s mountains. Give them this message: O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Lord!This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Your enemies have taunted you, saying,‘ Aha! Now the ancient heights belong to us!’Therefore, son of man, give the mountains of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: Your enemies have attacked you from all directions, making you the property of many nations and the object of much mocking and slander.Therefore, O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord. He speaks to the hills and mountains, ravines and valleys, and to ruined wastes and long deserted cities that have been destroyed and mocked by the surrounding nations.This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My jealous anger burns against these nations, especially Edom, because they have shown utter contempt for me by gleefully taking my land for themselves as plunder.“ Therefore, prophesy to the hills and mountains, the ravines and valleys of Israel. This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am furious that you have suffered shame before the surrounding nations.Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I have taken a solemn oath that those nations will soon have their own shame to endure.“ But the mountains of Israel will produce heavy crops of fruit for my people— for they will be coming home again soon!See, I care about you, and I will pay attention to you. Your ground will be plowed and your crops planted.I will greatly increase the population of Israel, and the ruined cities will be rebuilt and filled with people.I will increase not only the people, but also your animals. O mountains of Israel, I will bring people to live on you once again. I will make you even more prosperous than you were before. Then you will know that I am the Lord.I will cause my people to walk on you once again, and you will be their territory. You will never again rob them of their children.“ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The other nations taunt you, saying,‘ Israel is a land that devours its own people and robs them of their children!’But you will never again devour your people or rob them of their children, says the Sovereign Lord.I will not let you hear those other nations insult you, and you will no longer be mocked by them. You will not be a land that causes its nation to fall, says the Sovereign Lord.”Then this further message came to me from the Lord:“ Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by the evil way they lived. To me their conduct was as unclean as a woman’s menstrual cloth.They polluted the land with murder and the worship of idols, so I poured out my fury on them.I scattered them to many lands to punish them for the evil way they had lived.But when they were scattered among the nations, they brought shame on my holy name. For the nations said,‘ These are the people of the Lord, but he couldn’t keep them safe in his own land!’Then I was concerned for my holy name, on which my people brought shame among the nations.“ Therefore, give the people of Israel this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am bringing you back, but not because you deserve it. I am doing it to protect my holy name, on which you brought shame while you were scattered among the nations.I will show how holy my great name is— the name on which you brought shame among the nations. And when I reveal my holiness through you before their very eyes, says the Sovereign Lord, then the nations will know that I am the Lord.For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land.“ Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols.And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.“ And you will live in Israel, the land I gave your ancestors long ago. You will be my people, and I will be your God.I will cleanse you of your filthy behavior. I will give you good crops of grain, and I will send no more famines on the land.I will give you great harvests from your fruit trees and fields, and never again will the surrounding nations be able to scoff at your land for its famines.Then you will remember your past sins and despise yourselves for all the detestable things you did.But remember, says the Sovereign Lord, I am not doing this because you deserve it. O my people of Israel, you should be utterly ashamed of all you have done!“ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: When I cleanse you from your sins, I will repopulate your cities, and the ruins will be rebuilt.The fields that used to lie empty and desolate in plain view of everyone will again be farmed.And when I bring you back, people will say,‘ This former wasteland is now like the Garden of Eden! The abandoned and ruined cities now have strong walls and are filled with people!’Then the surrounding nations that survive will know that I, the Lord, have rebuilt the ruins and replanted the wasteland. For I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will do what I say.“ This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am ready to hear Israel’s prayers and to increase their numbers like a flock.

But everything I said through my servants the prophets happened to your ancestors, just as I said. As a result, they repented and said,‘ We have received what we deserved from the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. He has done what he said he would do.’”

On that day even the harness bells of the horses will be inscribed with these words: Holy to the Lord. And the cooking pots in the Temple of the Lord will be as sacred as the basins used beside the altar.In fact, every cooking pot in Jerusalem and Judah will be holy to the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. All who come to worship will be free to use any of these pots to boil their sacrifices. And on that day there will no longer be traders in the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

Then another angel followed him through the sky, shouting,“ Babylon is fallen— that great city is fallen— because she made all the nations of the world drink the wine of her passionate immorality.”Then a third angel followed them, shouting,“ Anyone who worships the beast and his statue or who accepts his mark on the forehead or on the handmust drink the wine of God’s anger. It has been poured full strength into God’s cup of wrath. And they will be tormented with fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the holy angels and the Lamb.The smoke of their torment will rise forever and ever, and they will have no relief day or night, for they have worshiped the beast and his statue and have accepted the mark of his name.”This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.And I heard a voice from heaven saying,“ Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”Then I saw a white cloud, and seated on the cloud was someone like the Son of Man. He had a gold crown on his head and a sharp sickle in his hand.

“ Son of man, prophesy against Gog. Give him this message from the Sovereign Lord: I am your enemy, O Gog, ruler of the nations of Meshech and Tubal.I will turn you around and drive you toward the mountains of Israel, bringing you from the distant north.I will knock the bow from your left hand and the arrows from your right hand, and I will leave you helpless.You and your army and your allies will all die on the mountains. I will feed you to the vultures and wild animals.You will fall in the open fields, for I have spoken, says the Sovereign Lord.And I will rain down fire on Magog and on all your allies who live safely on the coasts. Then they will know that I am the Lord.“ In this way, I will make known my holy name among my people of Israel. I will not let anyone bring shame on it. And the nations, too, will know that I am the Lord, the Holy One of Israel.That day of judgment will come, says the Sovereign Lord. Everything will happen just as I have declared it.“ Then the people in the towns of Israel will go out and pick up your small and large shields, bows and arrows, javelins and spears, and they will use them for fuel. There will be enough to last them seven years!They won’t need to cut wood from the fields or forests, for these weapons will give them all the fuel they need. They will plunder those who planned to plunder them, and they will rob those who planned to rob them, says the Sovereign Lord.“ And I will make a vast graveyard for Gog and his hordes in the Valley of the Travelers, east of the Dead Sea. It will block the way of those who travel there, and they will change the name of the place to the Valley of Gog’s Hordes.It will take seven months for the people of Israel to bury the bodies and cleanse the land.Everyone in Israel will help, for it will be a glorious victory for Israel when I demonstrate my glory on that day, says the Sovereign Lord.“ After seven months, teams of men will be appointed to search the land for skeletons to bury, so the land will be made clean again.Whenever bones are found, a marker will be set up so the burial crews will take them to be buried in the Valley of Gog’s Hordes.( There will be a town there named Hamonah, which means‘ horde.’) And so the land will finally be cleansed.“ And now, son of man, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: Call all the birds and wild animals. Say to them: Gather together for my great sacrificial feast. Come from far and near to the mountains of Israel, and there eat flesh and drink blood!Eat the flesh of mighty men and drink the blood of princes as though they were rams, lambs, goats, and bulls— all fattened animals from Bashan!Gorge yourselves with flesh until you are glutted; drink blood until you are drunk. This is the sacrificial feast I have prepared for you.Feast at my banquet table— feast on horses and charioteers, on mighty men and all kinds of valiant warriors, says the Sovereign Lord.“ In this way, I will demonstrate my glory to the nations. Everyone will see the punishment I have inflicted on them and the power of my fist when I strike.And from that time on the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God.The nations will then know why Israel was sent away to exile— it was punishment for sin, for they were unfaithful to their God. Therefore, I turned away from them and let their enemies destroy them.I turned my face away and punished them because of their defilement and their sins.“ So now, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will end the captivity of my people; I will have mercy on all Israel, for I jealously guard my holy reputation!They will accept responsibility for their past shame and unfaithfulness after they come home to live in peace in their own land, with no one to bother them.When I bring them home from the lands of their enemies, I will display my holiness among them for all the nations to see.Then my people will know that I am the Lord their God, because I sent them away to exile and brought them home again. I will leave none of my people behind.And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign Lord, have spoken!”