Jeremiah 29:11-13 – The Bible (NIV)
“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. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart…”
Cah4el's Blog 
One of my favorite Old Testament scriptures – the first sentence especially. The translation I know reverses hope and future, so it reads “a future and a hope.” It really doesn’t matter, but somehow it seems to be more musically and spiritually resonant with me. BUT! That’s just me. . .no criticism intended! 😀
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Jeremiah 29:11 – (KJV) “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” This is the King James version of the verse. KVJ often interprets hope as “expectation”. I only recently, in the last five years, was introduced to other translations of this verse, which make the meaning clearer. I know what you mean about hearing it a certain way seeming more resonant. I am so used to KJV, that it sounds best to me usually. Not in this case. I love the NIV and many other translations that are closer to NIV than KJV.
Thank you for taking time to comment. I appreciate your words. Blessings to you, Paula…
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That’s one of my favorite scriptures too! I’m so glad He’s the keeper of my soul. 🙂
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Carol Ann–
I learned it that way, too, as Paula said:
“For surely I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “Plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future and a hope.”
I have NO idea which translation this was…I had it engraved on my very soul in the summer of 1993, when my mom took me along with her to Washington DC for the Women’s Evangelical Lutheran Conference Association big-time yearly gathering–this was the theme verse of the conference. My mom and I ducked out of anything that didn’t sound…”fun” and had a great time together–if, seeing the Holocaust museum in its first days can be considered “fun”–but, I just didn’t feel great, overall…then, I determined, on my birthday, no less, that I was expecting my first baby. The brown-eyed girl. 🙂
So…this has always been a special verse for me…makes me think of my little girl, (who sits out in the other room with a gaggle of friends laughing and watching a movie, now 17) and my mom…and the goodness of God…who has a plan.
I never have a plan. I am thankful He does.
blessings,
jane
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I wish I’d have heard that verse sooner in my life than I did. I probably read it many times, but the KJV in this verse is not as clear as the version that you learned and the one that Paula learned and the NIV that I quoted above. Now this verse is on my list of most precious ones to cling to.
Thank you for stopping by and for your comment. Blessings to you, Jane…
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Love this promise. Continuing to ask, seek, knock.
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I love it, too, Patti. If we seek him with all our hearts, he promises that we will find Him. Such a precious promise.
Thank you for stopping by and for your comment. Blessings to you, Patti…
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If you have ever read from The Amplified Bible, you will see that the Scripture actually means that. Verb tenses in Aramaic and Greek are very different from English. It reads as “Ask and keep on asking, seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking. . .” When I first learned about that it made looking at and reading and studying scripture a great deal more meaningful. Like the widow at the judge’s door. Never stop. Stay in contact, be persistent – let God know that you are serious, and that you are constantly seeking the help and counsel of God. It will always be rewarded with what yoyu truly need.
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Thank you for more insight. 🙂
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Had never heard this verse before. It is comforting. I wrote it on a sticky post for my desk because these days I wonder if God or me have meaningful plans. I can put that to rest however, know God is never the source of the hurt.
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This is true, Carl. God is never the source of our hurt, because everything He allows in our lives He uses to bless us, make us stronger, and is meant to prepare us for his ultimate eternal plan for our lives.
I’m reading a book that is helping me. I want to be prepared to fight off the awful thoughts that may come if serious trouble comes our way. My hubby has Alzheimer’s, so we could be in for a rough ride. (I hope not.) The book I am reading (it’s a long book) is entitled “If God Is Good”. It deals with the age old question: How could a good God allow pain and suffering. My Kindle says I’m only 22% finished with this book. If I stopped reading right now at 22%, I’ve already understood more than I ever have before on this subject. This author uses scripture and logic.
Thank you for your visit and your comment. This verse brings me comfort also. Blessings to you, Carl…
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Yes, I have heard of that book or perhaps another. Understanding unmerited suffering a challenge and the wisdom of others is helpful.
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Thank you. I agree with you.
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Also, one of my favorites. I have it on a magnet in my kitchen and on a box in my bedroom. Both were given to me by friends. Both were given at a time I was becoming impatient; great reminder to let go and live in the knowledge that God knows what is going on and that’s all that is matters.
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Thank you for your comment full of wisdom, Patricia. Thank you for stopping by. I appreciate you. Have a blessed day…
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Beautiful verse – thanks for sharing it. It’s like God telling us to relax and leave the worrying to Him.
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Yes, it is exactly like that! It fits in well with the verse in Philippians 4:6 -7:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Thank you for stopping by and for your insightful comment. Blessings to you, Janna…
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A wonderful assurance from God. It lets us know, if we will hold on to it, that no matter what we are going through we are in the very center of His plan and it’s a good plan.
Thanks for the timely reminder Carol Ann.
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I like the way you look at it. Laying hold on that, we find it easy to have peace in the midst of troubles. It goes well with Romans 8:28:
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Thank you for your visit and for your uplifting comment. Blessings to you, Elizabeth…
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An apt quotations for these tumutuous days.
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Thank you, Jamie. Blessings to you, dear friend…
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amen.
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And amen! Blessings, Trisha…
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A little nugget of gold packed into a few verses! I’ve been pondering that them recently.
P.S. I learned Psalm 23 with KJV–so now when I try to remember it it gets mixed up between KJV and NIV!
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Sorry, I meant “been pondering them” not “that them”! 🙂
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Thank you for stopping by, Jessie. I appreciate your visit and your comment.
I learned the Bible in KJV. If I want to find a verse using search, I always look in KJV. Otherwise, I can’t find it. Sometimes, since NIV is easier for people to understand, I’ll find it in KJV and then switch it to NIV for my post. Many times I just use King James because it sounds so right to me. But I know that’s because I learned it that way. I’m set in my ways, ha? Blessings to you, Jessie…
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This is one of my favorite verses. I love that God has a plan for my life because if I try to plan it I get frustrated when things don’t go the way I think they should. His ways are so mucher better than mine all the time, day in and day out.
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