Because I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord, “plans of well-being and not of calamity, to give you a future and hope.
(New American Standard Bible – NBLA)
This verse is part of a letter sent to the exiled people of Israel in Babylon. This contained prophetic word that God had revealed to Jeremiah. The people could rest easy even though they were in exile as a result of their own disobedience. God’s thoughts for them were good, they could look to the future with hope because their liberation would come.
However, the people would have to wait 70 years (Jeremiah 29:10). They had the prophecy, they had the promise, but they had to wait. In fact, many would surely die before the promise was fulfilled. But they would be free!
In the same way, we children of God can strengthen ourselves today because God’s thoughts for us are good. He wants to help us and bless us. But we must seek his direction, listen to his voice, and live in obedience. In the course of life we will face difficulties, but we will also see – in due course – the fulfillment of each one of the promises that we have received from God.
This verse in other versions of the Bible
For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for well-being and not for evil, to give you a future and hope.
(Reina Valera Updated – RVA-2015)
Because I know very well the plans I have for you —says the Lord—, plans for well-being and not for calamity, in order to give you a future and hope.
(New International Version – NIV)
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