“A voice is heard in Ramah,^(A)
    mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,^(B)
    because they are no more.”^(C)

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,^(D)
for your work will be rewarded,^(E)”
declares the Lord.
    “They will return^(F) from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ So there is hope^(G) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children^(H) will return to their own land.

¹⁸ “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined^(I) me like an unruly calf,^(J)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore^(K) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
¹⁹ After I strayed,^(L)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat^(M) my breast.
I was ashamed^(N) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’^(O)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child^(P) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember^(Q) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion^(R) for him,”
declares the Lord.