Jeremiya 31 - KBTP & KJV

Have I not commanded you Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

As we step into a brand-new year, it’s easy to get caught up in the “New Year, New Me” vibe. Social media is buzzing with resolutions, glow-ups, and vision boards. But let’s pause for a second, what if a fresh start isn’t just about what we do but about what God is doing in us?

1. A Promise of Renewal

The Bible is full of stories where God hits the reset button. Think about Noah. After the flood, God gave humanity a second chance. The rainbow became a symbol of His promise to never give up on us. Genesis 9:13 says, “I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.” This covenant reminds us that no matter how overwhelming life gets, God is always faithful to renew His relationship with us. He’s not just a God of second chances but of endless chances, each wrapped in His love and grace.

2. Grace for the Israelites

The Israelites messed up countless times, yet God’s grace led them into the Promised Land. His faithfulness shows us that no mistake is too big for a fresh start. Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us, “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Even in seasons of wandering and waiting, God was their guide and protector. This narrative is a powerful reminder that God’s presence remains constant, even when we lose our way.

3. Becoming a New Creation

Through Jesus, we’re not just given a clean slate, we’re made new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 declares, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” This verse is a reminder that God’s transformation starts within. Being a new creation doesn’t mean life gets easier; it means we’re empowered by the Holy Spirit to live differently. It’s about leaving behind the labels and lies that once defined us and stepping boldly into the identity God has given us.

4. Letting Go of the Past

Sometimes life feels messy, and it’s hard to move forward. But God’s Word encourages us to release what’s behind. Isaiah 43:18-19 says, “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!” God’s plans for us are always forward-focused. Letting go doesn’t mean pretending the pain or mistakes never happened. It means trusting God to use even our brokenness for His glory and to lead us into something better.

5. Daily Renewal Through Mercy

God’s mercies aren’t just for the start of the year, they’re new every single morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 proclaims, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” This means every day is a fresh start. No matter how badly yesterday went, today is a chance to start over with God’s compassion as our foundation. His love is unshakable, and His faithfulness is unending.

6. Bold Steps of Faith

A fresh start often requires bold moves, like stepping out in faith. Joshua 1:9 encourages us, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Trust that God’s got your back as you move forward. Taking bold steps can feel scary, but it’s often where we grow the most. It’s in these moments of uncertainty that we discover the depth of God’s strength and provision.

7. Trusting in His Plans

As we embrace a new year, we can find peace in knowing that God’s plans are always for our good. Jeremiah 29:11assures us, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This promise doesn’t mean life will be problem-free, but it does mean that God’s purposes are perfect. Even when things don’t make sense, we can trust that He is working all things together for our good.

How to Make It Practical

Pray About It: Ask God to show you what areas of your life need a reset. Be honest with Him; He can handle it.
Find Your Squad: Surround yourself with people who point you toward Jesus. Life hits different when you’ve got a community that lifts you up.
Set God-Centered Goals: Instead of just focusing on fitness or finances, think about how you can grow spiritually this year. Maybe it’s reading your Bible daily or serving others.

A Fresh Start for Everyone

Whether you’re stepping into this year with excitement or dragging last year’s baggage behind you, remember this: God specializes in fresh starts. He’s not limited by our failures or fears. His love is bigger, His grace is stronger, and His plans are better than anything we could imagine.

So, as you kick off this year, don’t just strive for change, invite God into your journey. He’s ready to write a new chapter in your story. Are you?

Baiziraela banobgwilila kanyi

1 “Mu tjibaka itjetjo,” koleba Yahwe, “ndowobe ndili Ndzimu we misha yose ye Iziraela ngono banowobe bathu bangu.”

2 Yahwe bakati,

“Bathu bakatjila mu thumo,

bawana mahwilo ngoni mu tjilambanyika,

ndowozha kupa Iziraela kunyaluluka.”

3 Yahwe bakazha kundili mu tjibaka tjapinda beti,

“Ndakakuda nge ludo gusingapele,

ndakadwilila kukulakidza kugalamoyo kwangu mukuli.

4 Ndowokubaka kakale, ngono unowobakika,

iwe mwanadi Iziraela!

Unowozwinakisa kakale nge zwilidzo zwe dzithamborini,

unowobhuda ukazana nzano wekushatha.

5 Unowolima minda dze mizhambi,

pezhugwi kwe matombo e Samariya,

balimi banowolima,

banowoshathila mitjelo yabo.

6 Ngoti kowobe ne zhuba linoti balindi bakamimila,

mu matombo e Ifureimi bakati,

‘Izhani, ngatitathileni ku Ziyoni,

kuna Yahwe Ndzimu wedu.’ ”

7 Ngoti Yahwe banolebeleka bakati,

“Mbilani Jakubo nge shatho,

shathani ngekwa she we zwitjaba.

Gudzo lenyu ngalihwike muti,

‘imwi Yahwe, matjidza bathu benyu,

ilo limbelimbe le Iziraela.’

8 Bonani, ndowobabgwiliza kudwa mu shango ye bunandzwa,

abakubunganya kudwa ku phelelo dze shango,

pakati kwabo mapofu ne banoshudza,

ne bakadzi bakazwisenga ne bakadzi bamu zwibhayo,

bose koga mbunga nkulu, banowobgwilila ipapa.

9 Banowozha nge tjililo,

banowozha nge mitembezelo andibabgwiliza.

Ndowobatungamilila ku wobana dze vula,

mu zila yakatambunuka yabasingake bakakuthiwa,

ngoti ndimi tate kuna Iziraela,

Ifureimi i mbano yangu.

10 “Ihwani dama la Yahwe imwi zwitjaba,

mukulebe ku misupho ye gungwa kulekule,

muti, ‘Iye wakapaladza Iziraela unowoikubunganya,

unowoitjengeta se nlisi elisa mbudzi ne pkhwizi dzidze.’

11 Ngoti Yahwe badzutunula Jakubo,

bakansunungula mu luboko gwe wakasima kunpinda.

12 Banowozha bepululudza ku Dombo le Ziyoni,

banowoshathila makombolelo a Yahwe,

beshathila mathunde ne nkumbi we zhambi ne mafuta,

ne mbudzana ne pkhwizana ne ng'ombe,

matjilo abo anowonga nnda unodilidzigwa,

abatjowobe mu buyendasi kakale.

13 Ipapo baanadi banowoshatha bakazana,

ne bazhuzha ne bawola banowoshatha.

Ndowoshandula tjililo tjabo tjikabe lushatho,

ndowobanyaladza ndikabapa kushatha mu bumo gwe buyendasi,

14 Ndowonyalulusa mimoyo ye bapirisiti nge mafuta,

bathu bangu banowogutshiwa nge makombolelo angu,” kojalo Yahwe.

Yahwe banohwilangoni Baiziraela

15 Yahwe bakati,

“Hwi lohwika ku Rama,

tjililo ne kuhwazogwadza kukulu.

Rahele unolilila bana babe,

unolamba kunyaladziwa ngekwe bana babe,

ngoti batjisipo.”

16 Yahwe bakati,

“Dziba hwi lekulila kuko,

ne mishodzi ye mesho awo,

ngoti nshingo unowolipiwa,

kojalo Yahwe.

Banowobuya kudwa mu shango ye tjita.

17 Kuna kugalabgwe mu bumangwana gugo,

kojalo Yahwe.

Bana babo banowobgwilila ku shango yabo.

18 Nge malebeswa ndakahwa Ifureimi elila eti,

‘Makanditjemela se mbotana isakakatha,

ndakatjemegwa.

Mundibgwilize mu tjimo ndowobgwilila,

ngoti ndimwi Yahwe Ndzimu wangu.

19 Ndakati ndabhuda mu zila,

ashanduka,

ndakati ndisino kuhwisisa,

abhakhwa nge shoni, alonga nsholo,

ngoti ndakasengana ne kulengudzika kwe butjetjana gwangu.’

20 Apa Ifureimi nkololo wangu unodika kene?

Apa mwana wangu wandinoshathila kene?

Nenguba ndigala ndileba nge kubhayana naye,

ndowonkumbula ne kwakajalo zwako.

Ndizo mazwiwo angu anodziyidzika nge kukwe,

nge malebeswa ndowon'hwila zogwadza,” kojalo Yahwe.

21 “Uzwibigile matjwawo e zila,

biga zwinolakidza kwaunoyenda.

Yela njele zila hwulu,

zila yaunotobela.

Shanduka iwe mwanadi Iziraela,

bgwilila ku mizana iyo.

22 Unowodzungaila kwe tjibaka tjingapani,

iwe nkololokadzi usingagalikebgwe?

Ngoti Yahwe babumba tjithu tjitshwa mu shango,

nkadzi unotjengeta nlume.”

23 Yahwe Masimbawose, Ndzimu we Iziraela bakati, “Ndowoti ndibashandusa kudwa mu kutapiwa, banowoshingisa matama iyawa mu shango ye Juda ne mu mizana yayo beti,

“ ‘Yahwe ngabakukombolele,

iwe n'gali we ndulamo, iwe dombo lakayengemala!’

24 “Ngono Juda ne mizi mikulu yose inowobakidzana ne balimi na ibabo banodzungaila ne mbudzi ne pkhwizi dzabo. 25 Ngoti ndowonyalulusa bakanyala mikumbulo ne bakatemeka mafupa.”

26 Ipapo amuka mu hwope alingalinga, hwope dzangu dzakabe dzindizipila.

27 “Bonani, misi yaswika,” koleba Yahwe, “yandinowolima ng'umba ye Iziraela ne ng'umba ye Juda nge mbewu ye bathu neye ng'ombe. 28 Koga sekwa ndakabe ndakalonga meya mu nyama ndibadzikunula ne kubapkhwanya ne kubatshindunula ne kubakolomola ndi bahwisa zogwadza ndowolonga meya mu nyama ndibabaka kakale ndibadzwala kojalo Yahwe. 29 Mu mazhuba iyawo abatjofa bati,

“ ‘Botate bakaja zhambi dzinoshababa,

ndizo meno e bana abe ne gwadzila,’

30 “Koga mmwe ne mmwe unowofila tjibi tjitje, nthu mmwe ne mmwe unoja zhambi dzinoshababa, meno awe anowobe ne gwadzila.

31 “Bonani, misi yaswika,” koleba Yahwe, “yandinowoti athama tjidumano tjitshwa ne ng'umba ye Iziraela neye Juda, 32 tjisingafanane ne tjidumano tjandakathama na bobatategulu babo pandakabadusa nge luboko ndibadusa mu shango ye Egipiti, tjidumano tjangu tjabakatjuluka nenguba ndakabe ndili nlume wabo, kojalo Yahwe. 33 Koga itjetji tjowobe tjidumano tjandinowothama ne ng'umba ye Iziraela mu misi iyeyo, kojalo Yahwe, ndowolonga nlayo wangu mubali, ndowoukwala mu mimoyo yabo ngono ndowobe Ndzimu wabo ibo banowobe bathu bangu. 34 Akutjina nthu ungadiya mbakidzani naye kene nthu kadiya hama iye eti, ‘Ziba Yahwe!’ Ngoti banowobe bendiziba kudwa muna ntukununu kunoti nkulu tjose,” kojalo Yahwe, “ngoti ndowobazwiibhatigwa matjinyo abo kakale anditjowokumbula tjibi tjabo kakale.”

35 Yahwe bakati,

ibo banothama zhuba kuti livoneke masikati,

ibo banolaula mwedzi ne nyenyedzi,

kuti dzipenye busiku,

ibo banodzonga gungwa,

kuti ndizo mapundu alo amilike,

Yahwe Masimbawose ndilo zina labo.

36 “Ha ndaulo idzedzi ndingabhuda mbeli kwangu,”

koleba Yahwe,

“zwizekugwana zwa Iziraela zowomisa

kobe itjaba mbeli kwangu.”

37 Yahwe bakati,

“Ha zhuzhugwi kungalizanyiwa,

ne thiwa dze shango dzingatendebudziwa,

ndowofupatila zwizekugwana zose zwa Iziraela

ngekwe tjabakathama,” koleba Yahwe.

38 “Bonani, misi yaswika,” kojalo Yahwe, “yakunowoti nzi nkulu iwoyu ukamusigwa Yahwe kudwa pa thungamakole ye Hananeli kunoti ku ndzibo we Nkoba. 39 Nsungo unotambunudza unowoyendila kule wakatambunuka kunoti ku Dombo le Garebu udwapo utendebukila ku Goya. 40 Nkuku wose we zwitumbu ne milota ne minda kunoti ku nkuku we Kidironi kuyendila ku ndzibo we Nkoba we Mbizi ku bhezhuba kowobe kwakayengemala kwa Yahwe. Akutjowofa kwadzikunugwa kene kupkhwanyiwa nge kusingapele.”

1 At the same time, saith the LORD, will I be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2 Thus saith the LORD, The people which were left of the sword found grace in the wilderness; even Israel, when I went to cause him to rest. 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying , Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. 4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry. 5 Thou shalt yet plant vines upon the mountains of Samaria: the planters shall plant, and shall eat them as common things. 6 For there shall be a day, that the watchmen upon the mount Ephraim shall cry, Arise ye, and let us go up to Zion unto the LORD our God. 7 For thus saith the LORD; Sing with gladness for Jacob, and shout among the chief of the nations: publish ye, praise ye, and say, O LORD, save thy people, the remnant of Israel. 8 Behold, I will bring them from the north country, and gather them from the coasts of the earth, and with them the blind and the lame, the woman with child and her that travaileth with child together: a great company shall return thither. 9 They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

10 ¶ Hear the word of the LORD, O ye nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, He that scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock. 11 For the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and ransomed him from the hand of him that was stronger than he. 12 Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD, for wheat, and for wine, and for oil, and for the young of the flock and of the herd: and their soul shall be as a watered garden; and they shall not sorrow any more at all. 13 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. 14 And I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness, and my people shall be satisfied with my goodness, saith the LORD.

15 ¶ Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, and bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they were not. 16 Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy. 17 And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

18 ¶ I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. 19 Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth. 20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD. 21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, even the way which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

22 ¶ How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man. 23 Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, and mountain of holiness. 24 And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they that go forth with flocks. 25 For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have replenished every sorrowful soul. 26 Upon this I awaked, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.

27 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man, and with the seed of beast. 28 And it shall come to pass, that like as I have watched over them, to pluck up, and to break down, and to throw down, and to destroy, and to afflict; so will I watch over them, to build, and to plant, saith the LORD. 29 In those days they shall say no more, The fathers have eaten a sour grape, and the children’s teeth are set on edge. 30 But every one shall die for his own iniquity: every man that eateth the sour grape, his teeth shall be set on edge.

31 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.

35 ¶ Thus saith the LORD, which giveth the sun for a light by day, and the ordinances of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, which divideth the sea when the waves thereof roar; The LORD of hosts is his name: 36 If those ordinances depart from before me, saith the LORD, then the seed of Israel also shall cease from being a nation before me for ever. 37 Thus saith the LORD; If heaven above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth searched out beneath, I will also cast off all the seed of Israel for all that they have done, saith the LORD.

38 ¶ Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the city shall be built to the LORD from the tower of Hananeel unto the gate of the corner. 39 And the measuring line shall yet go forth over against it upon the hill Gareb, and shall compass about to Goath. 40 And the whole valley of the dead bodies, and of the ashes, and all the fields unto the brook of Kidron, unto the corner of the horse gate toward the east, shall be holy unto the LORD; it shall not be plucked up, nor thrown down any more for ever.