New Leaders over a Regathered Remnant

23:1 The Lord says,1 “The leaders of my people are sure to be judged.2 They were supposed to watch over my people like shepherds watch over their sheep. But they are causing my people to be destroyed and scattered.3 23:2 So the Lord God of Israel has this to say about the leaders who are ruling over his people: “You have caused my people4 to be dispersed and driven into exile. You have not taken care of them. So I will punish you for the evil that you have done.5 I, the Lord, affirm it!6 23:3 Then I myself will regather those of my people7 who are still alive from all the countries where I have driven them. I will bring them back to their homeland.8 They will greatly increase in number. 23:4 I will install rulers9 over them who will care for them. Then they will no longer need to fear or be terrified. None of them will turn up missing.10 I, the Lord, promise it!11

23:5 “I, the Lord, promise12 that a new time will certainly come13

when I will raise up for them a righteous branch,14 a descendant of David.

He will rule over them with wisdom and understanding15

and will do what is just and right in the land.16

23:6 Under his rule17 Judah will enjoy safety18

and Israel will live in security.19

This is the name he will go by:

‘The Lord has provided us with justice.’20

23:7 “So I, the Lord, say:21 ‘A new time will certainly come.22 People now affirm their oaths with “I swear as surely as the Lord lives who delivered the people of Israel out of Egypt.” 23:8 But at that time they will affirm them with “I swear as surely as the Lord lives who delivered the descendants of the former nation of Israel23 from the land of the north and from all the other lands where he had banished24 them.”25 At that time they will live in their own land.’ ”