1Moreover, this word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still confined in the court of the prison: 2“Thus says the LORD, Who created, formed and established the earth; the LORD is His name: 3‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and tell you great and remarkable secrets that you do not know. 4For this is what I, the LORD, the God of Israel, say regarding the houses of this city, and the royal palaces of the kings of Judah, that have been torn down and used to defend against the siege mounds and the sword. 5The defenders rally to fight the Chaldeans, but they are as good as dead, for in My anger and fury at all their wickedness, I have forsaken this city. 6But the time will come when I will heal their wounds, and they will enjoy peace, prosperity, and truth. 7And I will bring back the captives from Judah and Israel, and will restore them, as at the first. 8And I will cleanse them from all their evil doings, by which they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their transgressions against Me. 9And this city shall be known by all the nations of the earth as a place of joy, praise and honor, as they hear of all the good that I do to them; and those nations shall tremble with awe at all the goodness and prosperity that I provide for it.’

10“Thus says the LORD, ‘Again there shall be heard in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that you have called desolate - without man and or beast - 11The sounds of joy and gladness; of the bridegroom, and the bride; and of those who shall say, “Praise the LORD of hosts; for the LORD is good; for His mercy endures forever”; and of those who shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the Temple of the LORD. For I will return the captives from the land and restore their prosperity, as at the first,’ says the LORD.

12“Thus says the LORD of hosts; ‘In this place, which is desolate - without man or beast - in all its cities, shall shepherds again abide and cause their flocks to lie down. 13In the cities of the high lands, the cities of the Shephelah {vale}, the cities of the Negev (south), the land of Benjamin, the villages around Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks again pass under the hands of those that tend them’, says the LORD.

14“Behold, the days come”, says the LORD, “That I will perform the good that I have promised to the houses of Israel and Judah. 15In those days, and at that time, I will cause the Branch of righteousness to sprout from David’s line; and He shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 16In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely; and this is the name by which she (Jerusalem) shall be called, ‘The LORD, Our Righteousness.’ 17For thus says the LORD; ‘David shall never lack a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel; 18Nor shall the Levitical priests lack a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, and to burn grain offerings, and to present sacrifices.’”

19And this word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: 20“Thus says the LORD; ‘If you can break My covenant with the day, and with the night, so that day and night no longer come at their appointed times, 21Then My covenant with David, My servant, may also be broken, that he should not have a descendant to reign upon his throne; with the Levites, the priests, My ministers. 22I will multiply the descendants of David, My servant, and the Levites who minister to Me, as the stars of heaven, or the sand of the sea, that cannot be numbered.”

23This word of the LORD again came to Jeremiah: 24“Have you noticed what this people are saying - ‘The LORD has now abandoned the two kingdoms that the He has chosen.’? And so, pagan nations have despised My people, and they are no longer regarded as a legitimate nation in their eyes. 25This is what the LORD says; ‘If I have not made My covenant with day and night, and if I have not established the laws of heaven and earth, 26Then will I reject and abandon the descendants of Jacob, and David, My servant, so that I will not choose one of his sons to rule over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will cause those of the captivity to return, and I will have mercy and compassion on them.’”