1. The Lord spoke to Jeremiah a second time while he was still confined in the courtyard of the guardhouse.
2. “I, the Lord, do these things. I, the Lord, form the plan to bring them about. I am known as the Lord. I say to you,
3. ‘Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.’
4. For I, the Lord God of Israel, have something more to say about the houses in this city and the royal buildings which have been torn down for defenses against the siege ramps and military incursions of the Babylonians:
5. ‘The defenders of the city will go out and fight with the Babylonians. But they will only fill those houses and buildings with the dead bodies of the people that I will kill in my anger and my wrath. That will happen because I have decided to turn my back on this city on account of the wicked things they have done.
6. But I will most surely heal the wounds of this city and restore it and its people to health. I will show them abundant peace and security.
7. I will restore Judah and Israel and will rebuild them as they were in days of old.
8. I will purify them from all the sin that they committed against me. I will forgive all their sins which they committed in rebelling against me.
9. All the nations will hear about all the good things which I will do to them. This city will bring me fame, honor, and praise before them for the joy that I bring it. The nations will tremble in awe at all the peace and prosperity that I will provide for it.’