The Lord has appeared [a]of old to me, saying:
“Yes, (A)I have loved you with (B)an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have (C)drawn you.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 Lit. from afar

The Lord appeared to us in the past,[a] saying:

“I have loved(A) you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn(B) you with unfailing kindness.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 Or Lord has appeared to us from afar

    the Lord appeared to him[a] from afar.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 Gk: Heb me

2-6 This is the way God put it:

“They found grace out in the desert,
    these people who survived the killing.
Israel, out looking for a place to rest,
    met God out looking for them!”
God told them, “I’ve never quit loving you and never will.
    Expect love, love, and more love!
And so now I’ll start over with you and build you up again,
    dear virgin Israel.
You’ll resume your singing,
    grabbing tambourines and joining the dance.
You’ll go back to your old work of planting vineyards
    on the Samaritan hillsides,
And sit back and enjoy the fruit—
    oh, how you’ll enjoy those harvests!
The time’s coming when watchmen will call out
    from the hilltops of Ephraim:
‘On your feet! Let’s go to Zion,
    go to meet our God!’”

* * *

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I appeared to them[a] from far away. People of Israel, I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:3 One ancient translation them; Hebrew me.