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Rachel’s Sadness Turns to Joy

15 This is what the Lord says:

“A cry is heard in Ramah—
    deep anguish and bitter weeping.
Rachel weeps for her children,
    refusing to be comforted—
    for her children are gone.”

16 But now this is what the Lord says:
“Do not weep any longer,
    for I will reward you,” says the Lord.
“Your children will come back to you
    from the distant land of the enemy.
17 There is hope for your future,” says the Lord.
    “Your children will come again to their own land.
18 I have heard Israel[a] saying,
‘You disciplined me severely,
    like a calf that needs training for the yoke.
Turn me again to you and restore me,
    for you alone are the Lord my God.
19 I turned away from God,
    but then I was sorry.
I kicked myself for my stupidity!
    I was thoroughly ashamed of all I did in my younger days.’

20 “Is not Israel still my son,
    my darling child?” says the Lord.
“I often have to punish him,
    but I still love him.
That’s why I long for him
    and surely will have mercy on him.

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Footnotes

  1. 31:18 Hebrew Ephraim, referring to the northern kingdom of Israel; also in 31:20.

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”