Jeremiah 31:18-20

Good News Translation

¹⁸ “I hear the people of Israel say in grief,
‘Lord, we were like an untamed animal,
    but you taught us to obey.
Bring us back;
    we are ready to return to you,
    the Lord our God.
¹⁹ We turned away from you,
    but soon we wanted to return.
After you had punished us,
    we hung our heads in grief.
We were ashamed and disgraced
    because we sinned when we were young.’

²⁰ “Israel, you are my dearest child,
    the one I love best.
Whenever I mention your name,
    I think^[a] of you with love.
My heart goes out to you;
    I will be merciful.