15 This is what the Lord says:
(A)A voice is heard in (B)Ramah,
Lamenting and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
She (C)refuses to be comforted for her children,
Because (D)they are no more.”

16 This is what the Lord says:

(E)Restrain your voice from weeping
And your eyes from tears;
For your (F)work will be rewarded,” declares the Lord,
“And they will (G)return from the land of the enemy.
17 There is (H)hope for your future,” declares the Lord,
“And your children will return to their own territory.
18 I have certainly heard Ephraim (I)grieving,
‘You have (J)disciplined me, and I was corrected,
Like an untrained (K)calf;
(L)Bring me back that I may be restored,
For You are the Lord my God.
19 For after I turned back, I (M)repented;
And after I was instructed, I [a](N)slapped my thigh;
I was (O)ashamed and also humiliated
Because I bore the shame of my youth.’
20 Is (P)Ephraim My dear son?
Is he a delightful child?
Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him,
I certainly still remember him;
Therefore My [b](Q)heart yearns for him;
I will certainly (R)have mercy on him,” declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:19 I.e., in regret
  2. Jeremiah 31:20 Lit inward parts

15 Thus says the Lord:
A voice is heard in Ramah,
    lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
    she refuses to be comforted for her children,
    because they are no more.(A)
16 Thus says the Lord:
Keep your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
            says the Lord:
    they shall come back from the land of the enemy;(B)
17 there is hope for your future,
            says the Lord:
    your children shall come back to their own country.(C)

18 Indeed, I heard Ephraim pleading:
“You disciplined me, and I took the discipline;
    I was like an untrained calf.
Bring me back; let me come back,
    for you are the Lord my God.(D)
19 For after I had turned away I repented,
    and after I was discovered, I struck my thigh;
I was ashamed, and I was dismayed
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.”(E)
20 Is Ephraim my dear son?
    Is he the child in whom I delight?
As often as I speak against him,
    I still remember him.
Therefore I am deeply moved for him;
    I will surely have mercy on him,
            says the Lord.(F)

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