I will see to it that you will not prosper, but will be destroyed. All of you will die, either in war or of disease, until not one of you is left.

You, O LORD our God, were prepared to punish us, and you did, because you always do what is right, and we did not listen to you.

Today I give you authority over nations and kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

If at any time I say that I am going to uproot, break down, or destroy any nation or kingdom,

On the other hand, if I say that I am going to plant or build up any nation or kingdom,

"But I, the LORD, am tearing down what I have built and pulling up what I have planted. I will do this to the entire earth.

I will watch over them and bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not pull them up.

I will take pleasure in doing good things for them, and I will establish them permanently in this land.

He will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and possess the land;

When the LORD rebuilds Zion, he will reveal his greatness.

The LORD is restoring Jerusalem; he is bringing back the exiles.

He sets the time for birth and the time for death, the time for planting and the time for pulling up,

the time for killing and the time for healing, the time for tearing down and the time for building.

Note this and understand it: From the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until God's chosen leader comes, seven times seven years will pass. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, and will stand for seven times sixty-two years, but this will be a time of troubles.

The LORD says, "A day is coming when I will restore the kingdom of David, which is like a house fallen into ruins. I will repair its walls and restore it. I will rebuild it and make it as it was long ago.

'After this I will return, says the Lord, and restore the kingdom of David. I will rebuild its ruins and make it strong again.