I am bringing my deliverance near, it is not far away; I am bringing my salvation near, it does not wait. I will save Zion; I will adorn Israel with my splendor.”

For my sake alone I will act, for how can I allow my name to be defiled? I will not share my glory with anyone else!

I offered my back to those who attacked, my jaws to those who tore out my beard; I did not hide my face from insults and spitting.

Don’t allow him to rest until he reestablishes Jerusalem, until he makes Jerusalem the pride of the earth.

“Before I formed you in your mother’s womb I chose you. Before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations.”

Like lions his enemies roar victoriously over him; they raise their voices in triumph. They have laid his land waste; his cities have been burned down and deserted.

If you stop doing these things, I will allow you to continue to live in this land which I gave to your ancestors as a lasting possession.

“I will abandon my nation. I will forsake the people I call my own. I will turn my beloved people over to the power of their enemies.

The people I call my own have turned on me like a lion in the forest. They have roared defiantly at me. So I will treat them as though I hate them.

Then I said, “Look up, Jerusalem, and see the enemy that is coming from the north. Where now is the flock of people that were entrusted to your care? Where now are the ‘sheep’ that you take such pride in?

I will give away your wealth and your treasures as plunder. I will give it away free of charge for the sins you have committed throughout your land.

and on the mountains and in the fields. I will give your wealth and all your treasures away as plunder. I will give it away as the price for the sins you have committed throughout your land.

I, the Lord, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.

I, the Lord, say: ‘That is how I will deal with this city and its citizens. I will make it like Topheth.

People of Jerusalem, go up to Lebanon and cry out in mourning. Go to the land of Bashan and cry out loudly. Cry out in mourning from the mountains of Moab. For your allies have all been defeated.

I will bring on you lasting shame and lasting disgrace which will never be forgotten!’”

The Lord told me, “Make a yoke out of leather straps and wooden crossbars and put it on your neck.

(Now Jeremiah had not yet been put in prison. So he was still free to come and go among the people as he pleased.

I will have compassion on you so that he in turn will have mercy on you and allow you to return to your land.’

Set up a gravestone for Moab, for it will certainly be laid in ruins! Its cities will be laid waste and become uninhabited.”