¹⁸ I have seen his ways, ^(A)but I will heal him;
    I will lead him ^(B)and restore comfort to him and his mourners,

¹⁷ For the Lamb in the midst of the throne ^(A)will be their shepherd,
    and he will guide them to springs of ^(B)living water,
and ^(C)God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

^22 (A)“Return, O faithless sons;
    ^(B)I will heal your faithlessness.”
“Behold, we come to you,
    for you are the Lord our God.

³     the Lord appeared to him^[a] from far away.
^(A)I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore ^(B)I have continued ^(C)my faithfulness to you.

¹⁸ I have heard ^(A)Ephraim grieving,
‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined,
    like an untrained calf;
^(B)bring me back that I may be restored,
    for you are the Lord my God.
¹⁹ For after ^(C)I had turned away, I relented,
    and after I was instructed, ^(D)I struck my thigh;
^(E)I was ashamed, and I was confounded,
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
^20 (F)Is Ephraim my dear son?
    ^(G)Is he my darling child?
For as often as I speak against him,
    I do remember him still.
^(H)Therefore my heart^[a] yearns for him;
    I will surely have mercy on him,
declares the Lord.

¹⁷ But if you will not listen,
    ^(A)my soul will weep in secret for your pride;
my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears,
    because the Lord's flock has been taken captive.

^10 (A)they shall not hunger or thirst,
    neither scorching wind nor sun shall strike them,
for he who has pity on them ^(B)will lead them,
    and by springs of water will guide them.