And now therefore thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, concerning this city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into the hand of the king of Babylon by the sword, and by the famine, and by the pestilence;
And now therefore - rather, but now, nevertheless. Notwithstanding that their guilt deserves lasting vengeance, God, for the elect's sake and for His covenant's sake, will, contrary to all that might have been expected, restore them.
This city, whereof ye say, It shall be delivered into ... king of Babylon. The reprobate pass from the extreme of self-confidence to that of despair of God's fulfilling His promise of restoring them.