Lament Turned to Joy

15 This is what the Lord says:

A voice was heard in Ramah,(A)
a lament with bitter weeping—
Rachel weeping for her children,
refusing to be comforted for her children
because they are no more.(B)

16 This is what the Lord says:

Keep your voice from weeping
and your eyes from tears,
for the reward for your work will come—
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and your children will return from the enemy’s land.
17 There is hope for your future(C)
this is the Lord’s declaration—
and your children will return to their own territory.
18 I have surely heard Ephraim moaning,
“You disciplined me, and I have been disciplined
like an untrained calf.(D)
Take me back, so that I can return,
for you, Lord, are my God.(E)
19 After my return, I felt regret;
After I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief.(F)
I was ashamed and humiliated(G)
because I bore the disgrace of my youth.”
20 Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to me,
a delightful child?(H)
Whenever I speak against him,
I certainly still think about him.
Therefore, my inner being yearns for him;
I will truly have compassion on him.(I)
This is the Lord’s declaration.

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15 Thus says Yahweh,
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
    lamentation, the weeping of bitterness.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
    she refuses to be comforted because of her children,
    for they are no more.”

16 Thus says Yahweh:

“Restrain your voice from weeping,
    and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,” declares[a] Yahweh,
    “and they will return from the land of the enemy.
17 And there is hope for your future,” declares[b] Yahweh,
    “and your children will return to their territory.
18 Indeed I heard Ephraim pitying themselves,
    ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined,
    like a calf that is not trained.
Bring me back and let me return,
    for you are Yahweh my God.
19 For after my turning back I repented,
    and after coming to understand I struck my thigh.
I was ashamed and also humiliated,
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
20 Is Ephraim my dear son,
    or the child of my delight?
For as often as[c] I have earnestly spoken against him,
    I still remember him.
Therefore[d] my bowels are turbulent for him,
    surely I will have compassion on him,” declares[e] Yahweh.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:16 Literally “a declaration of”
  2. Jeremiah 31:17 Literally “a declaration of”
  3. Jeremiah 31:20 Literally “from enough”
  4. Jeremiah 31:20 Literally “Unto thus”
  5. Jeremiah 31:20 Literally “a declaration of”