The Excellence of the Restored Nation

1Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came vnto Ieremie againe whe he was yet bounde in the court of the prison. 2Thus saith the Lord who made Hierusale, who fashioned the same to establishe it, whose name is the Lorde: 3Crye vnto me, and I wyll aunswere, and shewe thee great and hye thinges whiche were vnknowen vnto thee. 4Thus I say speaketh the Lorde god of Israel, concerning the houses of this citie, and the houses of the kynges of Iuda that are broken thorowe the ordinaunce and the sworde. 5The inhabitours of this citie haue come to fight against the Chaldees, and they are filled with the dead carkasses of men, whom I haue slayne in my wrath and displeasure, when I turned my face from this citie, because of al her wickednesse. 6Beholde saith the Lorde, I wyll repaire and heale their woundes, and make them whole: I wyll open them the large treasure of peace and trueth, 7And wyll returne the captiuitie of Iuda and Israel, and wyll set them vp agayne as they were before: 8From all misdeedes wherein they offended against me, I wyll clense them: and all their blasphemies which they haue done against me when they regarded me not, I wyll forgeue them. 9And this shall get me a name, a prayse and honour among all the people of the earth, whiche shall heare all the good that I wyll shewe vnto them, yea they shalbe afraide and astonied at all the good deedes and benefites that I wyll do for them.

10Moreouer, thus saith the Lorde: In this place (wherof ye say that it shalbe a wildernesse, wherein neither people nor cattle shall dwell) in lyke maner in the cities of Iuda and in the streetes of Hierusalem (which also shalbe so voyde that neither people nor cattle shall dwel there,)

11Shall the voyce of gladnesse be heard agayne, the voyce of the bridegrome and of the bride, the voyce of them that shall sing, Prayse the Lord of hoastes, for he is louing, and his mercy endureth for euer, and the voyce of them that offer vp gyftes in the house of the Lorde: for I wyll restore the captiuitie of this lande as it was afore, saith the Lorde.

12Thus saith the Lorde of hoastes, It shall come yet therto, that in this lande whiche is voyde from men and cattle, and in all the cities of the lande, there shalbe set vp shepheardes cottages to rest their flockes. 13In the cities vpon the mountaynes, and in the cities that lye vpon the plaine, and in the cities of the south, in the lande of Beniamin, and rounde about Hierusalem, and in the cities of Iuda shall the sheepe passe agayne vnder the hande of him that telleth them, saith the Lorde.

The Covenant with David

14Beholde, the tyme commeth saith the Lorde, that I will perfourme that good thing whiche I haue promised vnto the house of Israel, and vnto the house of Iuda. 15In those dayes, and at the same tyme, I wyll bryng foorth vnto Dauid the braunche of righteousnesse, and he shall do equitie and righteousnesse in the lande. 16In those dayes shall Iuda be saued, and Hierusalem shall dwell safe: and this shalbe her name, God our righteousnesse. 17For thus the Lorde promiseth, Dauid shall neuer want one to sit vpon the throne of the house of Israel: 18Neither shall the priestes and leuites want one to offer alway before me burnt offeringes, to kindle the meate offeringes, and to prepare the sacrifices.

19And the worde of the Lord came vnto Ieremie, after this maner. 20Thus saith the Lorde: May the couenaunt whiche I haue made with day and night be broken, that there shoulde not be day and night in due season? 21Then may my couenaunt also be broken whiche I made with Dauid my seruaunt, and so he not to haue a sonne to raigne in his throne: so shall also the Priestes and Leuites neuer fayle, but serue me. 22For like as the starres of heauen may not be numbred, neither the sande of the sea measured: so wyll I multiplie the seede of Dauid my seruaunt, and the Leuites my ministers.

23Moreouer, the worde of the Lorde came to Ieremie, saying: 24Considerest thou not what this people speaketh? Two kinredes say they had the Lorde chosen, and those same two hath he cast away: for so they haue despised my people, and they reputed them as though they were no people. 25Therefore thus saith the Lord, If I haue made no couenaunt with day and night, and geuen no statute vnto heauen and earth: 26Then will I also cast away the seede of Iacob and Dauid my seruaunt, so that I wyll take no prince out of his seede to rule the posteritie of Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob: but yet I will turne agayne their captiuitie, and be mercyfull vnto them.