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15 Yahweh says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,
    lamentation and bitter weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children.
    She refuses to be comforted for her children,
    because they are no more.”

16 Yahweh says:

“Refrain your voice from weeping,
    and your eyes from tears;
    for your work will be rewarded,” says Yahweh.
    “They will come again from the land of the enemy.
17 There is hope for your latter end,” says Yahweh.
    “Your children will come again to their own territory.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving thus,
    ‘You have chastised me,
    and I was chastised, as an untrained calf.
Turn me, and I will be turned;
    for you are Yahweh my God.
19 Surely after that I was turned.
    I repented.
After that I was instructed.
    I struck my thigh.
I was ashamed, yes, even confounded,
    because I bore the reproach of my youth.’
20 Is Ephraim my dear son?
    Is he a darling child?
For as often as I speak against him,
    I still earnestly remember him.
therefore my heart yearns for him.
    I will surely have mercy on him,” says Yahweh.

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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.