First Reading

The following message came to Jeremiah from the Lord:

For thus says the Lord, the God of Israel:

Write all the words I have spoken to you in a book.

For thus says the Lord:

Incurable is your wound,

grievous your bruise;

There is none to plead your cause,

no remedy for your running sore,

no healing for you.

All your lovers have forgotten you,

they do not seek you.

I struck you as an enemy would strike,

punished you cruelly;

Why cry out over your wound?

your pain is without relief.

Because of your great guilt,

your numerous sins,

I have done this to you.

Thus says the Lord:

See! I will restore the tents of Jacob,

his dwellings I will pity;

City shall be rebuilt upon hill,

and palace restored as it was.

From them will resound songs of praise,

the laughter of happy men.

I will make them not few, but many;

they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them.

His sons shall be as of old,

his assembly before me shall stand firm;

I will punish all his oppressors.

His leader shall be one of his own,

and his rulers shall come from his kin.

When I summon him, he shall approach me;

how else should one take the deadly risk

of approaching me? says the Lord.

You shall be my people,

and I will be your God.