Jeremiah 31:7-26

New International Version

“Sing^(A) with joy for Jacob;
    shout for the foremost^(B) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
    ‘Lord, save^(C) your people,
    the remnant^(D) of Israel.’
⁸ See, I will bring them from the land of the north^(E)
    and gather^(F) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind^(G) and the lame,^(H)
    expectant mothers and women in labor;
    a great throng will return.
⁹ They will come with weeping;^(I)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead^(J) them beside streams of water^(K)
    on a level^(L) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,^(M)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

¹⁰ “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:^(N)
‘He who scattered^(O) Israel will gather^(P) them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’^(Q)
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem^(R) them from the hand of those stronger^(S) than they.
¹² They will come and shout for joy^(T) on the heights^(U) of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty^(V) of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,^(W)
    the young of the flocks^(X) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,^(Y)
    and they will sorrow^(Z) no more.
¹³ Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning^(AA) into gladness;
    I will give them comfort^(AB) and joy^(AC) instead of sorrow.
¹⁴ I will satisfy^(AD) the priests^(AE) with abundance,
    and my people will be filled with my bounty,^(AF)”
declares the Lord.

“A voice is heard in Ramah,^(AG)
    mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,^(AH)
    because they are no more.”^(AI)

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,^(AJ)
for your work will be rewarded,^(AK)”
declares the Lord.
    “They will return^(AL) from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ So there is hope^(AM) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children^(AN) will return to their own land.

¹⁸ “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined^(AO) me like an unruly calf,^(AP)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore^(AQ) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
¹⁹ After I strayed,^(AR)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat^(AS) my breast.
I was ashamed^(AT) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’^(AU)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child^(AV) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember^(AW) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion^(AX) for him,”
declares the Lord.

²¹ “Set up road signs;
    put up guideposts.^(AY)
Take note of the highway,^(AZ)
    the road that you take.
Return,^(BA) Virgin^(BB) Israel,
    return to your towns.
²² How long will you wander,^(BC)
    unfaithful^(BD) Daughter Israel?
The Lord will create a new thing^(BE) on earth—
    the woman will return to^[a](BF) the man.”