23 This is what the lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “When I bring them back from captivity, the people of Judah and its towns will again say, ‘The lord bless you, O righteous home, O holy mountain!’
24 Townspeople and farmers and shepherds alike will live together in peace and happiness.
25 For I have given rest to the weary and joy to the sorrowing.”
26 At this, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been very sweet.
27 “The day is coming,” says the lord, “when I will greatly increase the human population and the number of animals here in Israel and Judah.
28 In the past I deliberately uprooted and tore down this nation. I overthrew it, destroyed it, and brought disaster upon it. But in the future I will just as deliberately plant it and build it up. I, the lord, have spoken!
29 “The people will no longer quote this proverb:‘The parents have eaten sour grapes,but their children’s mouths pucker at the taste.’