Jeremiah 31:7-14
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
7 For thus says the Lord:
Sing aloud with gladness for Jacob,
and raise shouts for the chief of the nations;
proclaim, give praise, and say,
“Save, O Lord, your people,
the remnant of Israel.”(A)
8 See, I am going to bring them from the land of the north
and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,
among them the blind and the lame,
those with child and those in labor together;
a great company, they shall return here.(B)
9 With weeping they shall come,
and with consolations[a] I will lead them back;
I will let them walk by brooks of water,
in a straight path where they shall not stumble,
for I have become a father to Israel,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.(C)
10 Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, “He who scattered Israel will gather him
and will keep him as a shepherd does a flock.”(D)
11 For the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.(E)
12 They shall come and sing aloud on the height of Zion,
and they shall be radiant over the goodness of the Lord,
over the grain, the wine, and the oil,
and over the young of the flock and the herd;
their life shall become like a watered garden,
and they shall never languish again.(F)
13 Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,
and the young men and the old shall be merry.[b]
I will turn their mourning into joy;
I will comfort them and give them gladness for sorrow.(G)
14 I will give the priests their fill of fatness,
and my people shall be satisfied with my bounty,
says the Lord.(H)
Jeremiah 31:7-14
The Voice
7 Sing a song of joy for Jacob; shout for this greatest of nations.
Shout it out with praise in your hearts:
“O Eternal, save Your people—
rescue the remnant of Israel.”
8 Watch now, as I bring them from the land to the north,
as I gather My people from the ends of the earth.
Look who is among those returning home: the blind and the lame,
expectant mothers and even those giving birth—
All of these together in the multitude on its way home.
9 Listen, as they come home weeping and repenting,
praying for direction, pleading for mercy as I bring them back.
In that day I will lead them beside quiet streams of water
and take them upon a straight path where they will not stumble.
Why? Because I am Israel’s father, and Ephraim is My firstborn son.
10 Listen to the word of the Eternal, you nations of the earth;
take this story to distant shores and make it known:
The One who scattered Israel will now gather His people
and watch over His flock as a shepherd.
11 For the Eternal has rescued Jacob
and redeemed him from people who are too strong for him.
12 The redeemed will return home and shout for joy from the top of Mount Zion;
they will shine with the sheer goodness of the Eternal—
The harvests of grain, wine, and oil; the healthy flocks and herds.
Their lives will be like a lush, well-watered garden.
From that day on, they will never know sorrow.
13 Eternal One: Young women will dance for joy;
young men will join them, old ones too.
For I will turn their mourning into joy.
I will comfort My people and replace their sorrow with gladness.
14 From the overflow of sacrifices,
I will satisfy My priests;
All My people will feast on My goodness.
The people now cling to this promise as they struggle with exile. Jeremiah returns the focus to the heartbreak of a people being deported to a foreign land.
This is what the Eternal declares!
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Jeremiah 31:7-14
Complete Jewish Bible
7 (8) Look! I am bringing them from the land in the north,
gathering them from the far ends of the earth;
among them are the blind and lame,
women with children, women in labor,
all together, a vast throng
returning here.
8 (9) They will come weeping and praying
as I bring them back.
I will lead them by streams of water
on smooth paths, so that they won’t stumble.
For I am a father to Isra’el,
and Efrayim is my firstborn son.”
9 (10) Nations, hear the word of Adonai!
Proclaim it in the coastlands far away. Say:
“He who scattered Isra’el is gathering him,
guarding him like a shepherd his flock.”
10 (11) For Adonai has ransomed Ya‘akov,
redeemed him from hands too strong for him.
11 (12) They will come and sing on the heights of Tziyon,
streaming to the goodness of Adonai,
to the grain, the wine, the olive oil,
and the young of the flock and the herd.
They themselves will be like a well-watered garden,
never to languish again.
12 (13) “Then the virgin will dance for joy,
young men and old men together;
for I will turn their mourning into joy,
comfort and gladden them after their sorrow.
13 (14) I will give the cohanim their fill of rich food,
and my people will be satisfied with my bounty,” says Adonai.
14 (15) This is what Adonai says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamenting and bitter weeping.
It is Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted for her children,
because they are no longer alive.”
Jeremiah 31:7-14
New King James Version
7 For thus says the Lord:
(A)“Sing with gladness for Jacob,
And shout among the chief of the nations;
Proclaim, give praise, and say,
‘O Lord, save Your people,
The remnant of Israel!’
8 Behold, I will bring them (B)from the north country,
And (C)gather them from the ends of the earth,
Among them the blind and the lame,
The woman with child
And the one who labors with child, together;
A great throng shall return there.
9 (D)They shall come with weeping,
And with supplications I will lead them.
I will cause them to walk (E)by the rivers of waters,
In a straight way in which they shall not stumble;
For I am a Father to Israel,
And Ephraim is My (F)firstborn.
10 “Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,
And declare it in the [a]isles afar off, and say,
‘He who scattered Israel (G)will gather him,
And keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’
11 For (H)the Lord has redeemed Jacob,
And ransomed him (I)from the hand of one stronger than he.
12 Therefore they shall come and sing in (J)the height of Zion,
Streaming to (K)the goodness of the Lord—
For wheat and new wine and oil,
For the young of the flock and the herd;
Their souls shall be like a (L)well-watered garden,
(M)And they shall sorrow no more at all.
13 “Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance,
And the young men and the old, together;
For I will turn their mourning to joy,
Will comfort them,
And make them rejoice rather than sorrow.
14 I will [b]satiate the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord.”
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 31:10 Or coastlands
- Jeremiah 31:14 Fill to the full
New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
