'Former' in the Bible

I will restore your judges to what they once were,and your advisers to their former state.Afterward you will be called the Righteous City,a Faithful City.”

Nevertheless, the gloom of the distressed land will not be like that of the former times when He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the Jordan, and to Galilee of the nations.

All the nations are gathered together,and the peoples are assembled.Who among them can declare this,and tell us the former things?Let them present their witnessesto vindicate themselves,so that people may hear and say, “It is true.”

They will rebuild the ancient ruins;they will restore the former devastations;they will renew the ruined cities,the devastations of many generations.

for your iniquities and the iniquitiesof your fathers together,”says the Lord.“Because they burned incense on the mountainsand reproached Me on the hills,I will reward them fullyfor their former deeds.”

Whoever is blessed in the landwill be blessed by the God of truth,and whoever swears in the landwill swear by the God of truth.For the former troubles will be forgottenand hidden from My sight.