Jeremiah 31:16-17

New American Standard Bible

¹⁶This is what the Lord says:

“^(A)Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your ^(B)work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord,
“And they will ^(C)return from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷There is ^(D)hope for your future,” declares the Lord,
“And your children will return to their own territory.

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Jeremiah 31:16-17

Amplified Bible

¹⁶Thus says the Lord,

“Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears,
For your work will be rewarded,” says the Lord;
“And your children will return from the enemy’s land.
¹⁷
“There is [confident] hope for your future,” says the Lord;
“Your children will come back to their own country.

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Jeremiah 31:16-17

New Living Translation

¹⁶But now this is what the Lord says:
“Do not weep any longer,
    for I will reward you,” says the Lord.
“Your children will come back to you
    from the distant land of the enemy.
¹⁷There is hope for your future,” says the Lord.
    “Your children will come again to their own land.

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Jeremiah 31:16-17

New International Version

¹⁶This is what the Lord says:

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,^(A)
for your work will be rewarded,^(B)”
declares the Lord.
    “They will return^(C) from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷So there is hope^(D) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children^(E) will return to their own land.

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Jeremiah 31:16-17

The Voice

The setting is Ramah, a village a few miles north of Jerusalem, where exiles are assembled before the long march to Babylon. Later the prophet himself will spend time in this refugee camp awaiting his own exile (40:1). For now, he paints the picture of Rachel, one of the matriarchs of this nation, weeping for her children as they head off into captivity.

¹⁶But listen to what the Eternal says:

Eternal One: Do not weep, Rachel—wipe the tears from your eyes—
        for I promise I will reward you for what you have done.
    Your children will return from this exile;
        they will come back home from this enemy land.
¹⁷    There is hope for your future, I promise.
        Your children will come home to their own land.