⁴ “In those days, at that time,”
    declares the Lord,
“the people of Israel and the people of Judah together^(A)
    will go in tears^(B) to seek^(C) the Lord their God.
⁵ They will ask the way^(D) to Zion
    and turn their faces toward it.
They will come^(E) and bind themselves to the Lord
    in an everlasting covenant^(F)
    that will not be forgotten.

⁶ “My people have been lost sheep;^(G)
    their shepherds^(H) have led them astray^(I)
    and caused them to roam on the mountains.
They wandered over mountain and hill^(J)
    and forgot their own resting place.^(K)
7 Whoever found them devoured^(L) them;
    their enemies said, ‘We are not guilty,^(M)
for they sinned against the Lord, their verdant pasture,
    the Lord, the hope^(N) of their ancestors.’

¹⁵ Lord, you understand;
    remember me and care for me.
    Avenge me on my persecutors.^(A)
You are long-suffering^(B)—do not take me away;
    think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.^(C)
16 When your words came, I ate^(D) them;
    they were my joy and my heart’s delight,^(E)
for I bear your name,^(F)
    Lord God Almighty.
¹⁷ I never sat^(G) in the company of revelers,
    never made merry with them;
I sat alone because your hand^(H) was on me
    and you had filled me with indignation.
¹⁸ Why is my pain unending
    and my wound grievous and incurable?^(I)
You are to me like a deceptive brook,
    like a spring that fails.^(J)

“If you repent, I will restore you
    that you may serve^(K) me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words,
    you will be my spokesman.^(L)
Let this people turn to you,
    but you must not turn to them.
²⁰ I will make you a wall^(M) to this people,
    a fortified wall of bronze;
they will fight against you
    but will not overcome^(N) you,
for I am with you
    to rescue and save you,”^(O)
declares the Lord.
²¹ “I will save^(P) you from the hands of the wicked^(Q)
    and deliver^(R) you from the grasp of the cruel.”^(S)