Restoration Promised to Jerusalem

Jeremiah 40

The Lord answers Jeremiah's prayer with a promise of healing and cure for the ruined city, pledging to cleanse the people from their iniquities and restore both Judah and Israel to their former state. He foretells that the sounds of gladness, the voices of bridegroom and bride, and thanksgiving in the house of the Lord will again be heard in the desolate cities, and that flocks will once more be numbered and pastured there.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

ThomsonAGAIN a word of the Lord came to Jeremias a second time, while he was still a prisoner in the court of the prison, saying,

BrentonAnd the word of the Lord came to Jeremias the second time, when he was yet bound in the court of the prison, saying,

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο λόγος Κυρίου πρὸς Ἱερεμίαν δεύτερον, καὶ αὐτὸς ἦν ἔτι δεδεμένος ἐν τῇ αὐλῇ τῆς φυλακῆς, λέγων,

KJVMoreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

JPSMoreover the word of the LORD came unto Jeremiah the second time, while he was yet shut up in the court of the guard, saying:

ThomsonThus saith the Lord, the maker of the earth, who formed it that He might regulate it. His name is the Lord.

BrentonThus saith the Lord, who made the earth and formed it, to establish it; the Lord is his name;

GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ποιῶν γῆν, καὶ πλάσσων αὐτὴν, τοῦ ἀνορθῶσαι αὐτὴν, Κύριος ὄνομα αὐτῷ·

KJVThus saith the LORD the maker thereof, the LORD that formed it, to establish it; the LORD is his name;

JPSThus saith the LORD the Maker thereof, The LORD that formed it to establish it, The LORD is His name: .

ThomsonCry to Me and I will answer thee and shew thee great and marvellous things which thou hast not known.

BrentonCry to me, and I will answer thee, and I will declare to thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

GreekΚέκραξον πρὸς μὲ, καὶ ἀποκριθήσομαί σοι, καὶ ἀπαγγελῶ σοι μεγάλα καὶ ἰσχυρὰ, ἃ οὐκ ἔγνως αὐτά.

KJVCall unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

JPSCall unto Me, and I will answer thee, And will tell thee great things, and hidden, which thou knowest not.

ThomsonFor thus said the Lord concerning the houses of this city. And concerning the houses of the king of Juda which have been pulled down to make mounts and

BrentonFor thus saith the Lord concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the king of Juda, which have been pulled down for mounds and fortifications,

GreekὍτι οὕτως εἶπε Κύριος περὶ οἴκων τῆς πόλεως ταύτης, καὶ περὶ οἴκων βασιλεως Ἰούδα τῶν καθῃρημένων εἰς χάρακας καὶ προμαχῶνας,

KJVFor thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are thrown down by the mounts, and by the sword;

JPSFor thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning the houses of this city, and concerning the houses of the kings of Judah, which are broken down for mounds, and for ramparts;

Thomsonramparts to fight against the Chaldeans and to fill the city with the carcasses of men whom I have slain in Mine indignation and in My wrath; and from whom I have turned away My face for all their wicked deeds:

Brentonto fight against the Chaldeans, and to fill it with the corpses of men, whom I smote in mine anger and my wrath, and turned away my face from them, for all their wickedness:

Greekτοῦ μάχεσθαι πρὸς τοὺς Χαλδαίους, καὶ πληρῶσαι αὐτὴν τῶν νεκρῶν τῶν ἀνθρώπων, οὓς ἐπάταξα ἐν ὀργῇ μου, καὶ ἐν θυμῷ μου· καὶ ἀπέστρεψα τὸ πρόσωπόν μου ἀπʼ αὐτῶν, περὶ πασῶν τῶν πονηριῶν αὐτῶν.

KJVThey come to fight with the Chaldeans, but it is to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in mine anger and in my fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid my face from this city.

JPSwhereon they come to fight with the Chaldeans, even to fill them with the dead bodies of men, whom I have slain in Mine anger and in My fury, and for all whose wickedness I have hid My face from this city:

ThomsonBehold, I am raising up for it [i.e. the city] a cure for wounds and a restorative which I will shew them, and I will heal it and give it peace and fidelity.

BrentonBehold, I bring upon her healing and cure, and I will show myself to them, and will heal her, and make both peace and security.

GreekἸδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀνάγω αὐτῇ συνούλωσιν καὶ ἴαμα, καὶ φανερώσω αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἰατρεύσω αὐτὴν, καὶ ποιήσω καὶ εἰρήνην καὶ πίστιν.

KJVBehold, I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

JPSBehold, I will bring it healing and cure, and I will cure them; and I will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth.

ThomsonAnd I will bring back the captivity of Juda and the captivity of Israel; and I will build them up as in former times.

BrentonAnd I will turn the captivity of Juda, and the captivity of Israel, and will build them, even as before.

GreekΚαὶ ἀποστρέψω τὴν ἀποικίαν Ἰούδα, καὶ ἀποικίαν Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ οἰκοδομήσω αὐτοὺς καθὼς καὶ τοπρότερον.

KJVAnd I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

JPSAnd I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return, and will build them, as at the first.

ThomsonAnd I will cleanse them from all their iniquities which they have committed against Me, and no more remember the sins which they sinned against Me, when they apostatised from Me.

BrentonAnd I will cleanse them from all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against me, and will not remember their sins, whereby they have sinned against me, and revolted from me.

GreekΚαὶ καθαριῶ αὐτοὺς ἀπὸ πασῶν τῶν ἀδικιῶν αὐτῶν, ὧν ἡμάρτοσάν μοι, καὶ οὐ μὴ μνησθήσομαι ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν, ὧν ἥμαρτόν μοι, καὶ ἀπέστησαν ἀπʼ ἐμοῦ.

KJVAnd I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned, and whereby they have transgressed against me.

JPSAnd I will cleanse them from all their iniquity, whereby they have sinned against Me; and I will pardon all their iniquities, whereby they have sinned against Me, and whereby they have transgressed against Me.

ThomsonAnd it shall be for a joy and praise and for a subject of exultation to all the people of the earth who shall hear all the good things which I will do. And they will be struck with awe and remorse for all the good and for all the peace which I will procure for them.

BrentonAnd it shall be for joy and praise, and for glory to all the people of the earth, who shall hear all the good that I will do: and they shall fear and be provoked for all the good things and for all the peace which I will bring upon them.

GreekΚαὶ ἔσται εἰς εὐφροσύνην καὶ αἴνεσιν, καὶ εἰς μεγαλειότητα παντὶ τῷ λαῷ τῆς γῆς, οἵτινες ἀκούσονται πάντα τὰ ἀγαθὰ ἃ ἐγὼ ποιήσω, καὶ φοβηθήσονται καὶ πικρανθήσονται περὶ πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν, καὶ περὶ πάσης τῆς εἰρήνης ἧς ἐγὼ ποιήσω αὐτοῖς.

KJVAnd it shall be to me a name of joy, a praise and an honour before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them: and they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness and for all the prosperity that I procure unto it.

JPSAnd this city shall be to Me for a name of joy, for a praise and for a glory, before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear all the good that I do unto them, and shall fear and tremble for all the good and for all the peace that I procure unto it.

ThomsonThus said the Lord: In the place which you say is a desert without men and beasts—in the cities of Juda and in the streets of Jerusalem which have been desolate so as to have neither man nor beast,

BrentonThus saith the Lord; There shall yet be heard in this place, of which ye say, It is destitute of men and cattle, in the cities of Juda, and in the streets of Jerusalem, the places that have been made desolate for want of men and cattle,

GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος, ἔτι ἀκουσθήσεται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ, ᾧ ὑμεῖς λέγετε, ἔρημός ἐστιν ἀπὸ ἀνθρώπων καὶ κτηνῶν, ἐν πόλεσιν Ἰούδα, καὶ ἔξωθεν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, ταῖς ἠρημωμέναις, παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι ἄνθρωπον καὶ κτήνη·

KJVThus saith the LORD; Again there shall be heard in this place, which ye say shall be desolate without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man, and without inhabitant, and without beast,

JPSThus saith the LORD: Yet again there shall be heard in this place, whereof ye say: It is waste, without man and without beast, even in the cities of Judah, and in the streets of Jerusalem, that are desolate, without man and without inhabitant and without beast,

Thomsonthere shall be heard again the sound of joy and the the voice of people, saying, Praise the Lord Almighty, for the Lord is gracious, for His mercy endureth forever. And they shall bring gifts to the house of the Lord. For I will bring back all the captivity of this land, as in former times, saith the Lord.

Brentonthe voice of gladness, and the voice of joy, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of men saying, Give thanks to the Lord Almighty: for the Lord is good; for his mercy endures for ever: and they shall bring gifts into the house of the Lord; for I will turn all the captivity of that land as before, said the Lord.

GreekΦωνὴ εὐφροσύνης, καὶ φωνὴ χαρμοσύνης, φωνὴ νυμφίου, καὶ φωνὴ νύμφης, φωνὴ λεγόντων, ἐξομολογεῖσθε Κυρίῳ παντοκράτορι, ὅτι χρηστὸς Κύριος, ὅτι εἰς τὸν αἰῶνα τὸ ἔλεος αὐτοῦ· καὶ εἰσοίσουσι δῶρα εἰς οἶκον Κυρίου, ὅτι ἀποστρέψω πᾶσαν τὴν ἀποικίαν τῆς γῆς ἐκείνης κατὰ τοπρότερον, εἶπε Κύριος.

KJVThe voice of joy, and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom, and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that shall say, Praise the LORD of hosts: for the LORD is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: and of them that shall bring the sacrifice of praise into the house of the LORD. For I will cause to return the captivity of the land, as at the first, saith the LORD.

JPSthe voice of joy and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride, the voice of them that say: ‘Give thanks to the LORD of hosts, for the LORD is good, for His mercy endureth for ever’, even of them that bring offerings of thanksgiving into the house of the LORD. For I will cause the captivity of the land to return as at the first, saith the LORD.

ThomsonThus saith the Lord of Hosts: There shall be again, in this very place which shall be desolate, without man or beast, [and] in all the cities belonging to it, lodging places for shepherds folding flocks.

BrentonThus saith the Lord of hosts; There shall yet be in this place, that is desert for want of man and beast, in all the cities thereof, resting-places for shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

GreekΟὕτως εἶπε Κύριος τῶν δυνάμεων, ἔτι ἔσται ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ τῷ ἐρήμῳ, παρὰ τὸ μὴ εἶναι ἄνθρωπον καὶ κτῆνος, ἐν πάσαις ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτοῦ καταλύματα ποιμένων κοιταζόντων πρόβατα,

KJVThus saith the LORD of hosts; Again in this place, which is desolate without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, shall be an habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

JPSThus saith the LORD of hosts: Yet again shall there be in this place, which is waste, without man and without beast, and in all the cities thereof, a habitation of shepherds causing their flocks to lie down.

ThomsonIn the cities of the hilly country and in the cities of the plain, and in the cities of the south and in the land of Benjamin and in those around Jerusalem and in the cities of Juda, flocks shall again pass under the hand of him that counteth them, said the Lord.

BrentonIn the cities of the hill country, and in the cities of the valley, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the cities round about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Juda, flocks shall yet pass under the hand of him that numbers them, saith the Lord.

Greekἐν πόλεσι τῆς ὀρεινῆς, καὶ ἐν πόλεσι τῆς σεφηλὰ, καὶ ἐν πόλεσι τῆς ναγὲβ, καὶ ἐν γῇ Βενιαμὶν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς κύκλῳ Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ἐν πόλεσιν Ἰούδα· ἔτι παρελεύσεται πρόβατα ἐπὶ χεῖρα ἀριθμοῦντος, εἶπε Κύριος.

KJVIn the cities of the mountains, in the cities of the vale, and in the cities of the south, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks pass again under the hands of him that telleth them, saith the LORD.

JPSIn the cities of the hill-country, in the cities of the Lowland, and in the cities of the South, and in the land of Benjamin, and in the places about Jerusalem, and in the cities of Judah, shall the flocks again pass under the hands of him that counteth them, saith the LORD.