²⁷ The Lord will scatter^(A) you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive^(B) among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. ²⁸ There you will worship man-made gods^(C) of wood and stone,^(D) which cannot see or hear or eat or smell.^{(E) 29} But if from there you seek^(F) the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart^(G) and with all your soul.^{(H) 30} When you are in distress^(I) and all these things have happened to you, then in later days^(J) you will return^(K) to the Lord your God and obey him. ³¹ For the Lord your God is a merciful^(L) God; he will not abandon^(M) or destroy^(N) you or forget^(O) the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Restoration of Israel

30 This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: ² “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Write^(A) in a book all the words I have spoken to you. ³ The days^(B) are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will bring^(C) my people Israel and Judah back from captivity^[a] and restore^(D) them to the land I gave their ancestors to possess,’ says the Lord.”