Sing with joy for Jacob;
shout for the foremost of the nations!
Proclaim, praise, and say,
“Lord, save your people,^(A)
the remnant of Israel!” ^(B)
8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land.
I will gather them from remote regions of the earth^(C)—
the blind and the lame will be with them,^(D)
along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth.
They will return here as a great assembly!^(E)
9 They will come weeping,
but I will bring them back with consolation.^[a](F)
I will lead them to wadis filled with water,
by a smooth way where they will not stumble,^(G)
for I am Israel’s Father,
and Ephraim is my firstborn.^(H)
10 Nations, hear the word of the Lord,
and tell it among the far off coasts and islands!^(I)
Say, “The one who scattered Israel will gather him.^(J)
He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock,
¹¹ for the Lord has ransomed Jacob
and redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he.”^(K)
12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;^(L)
they will be radiant with joy^(M)
because of the Lord’s goodness,
because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,^(N)
and because of the young of the flocks and herds.
Their life will be like an irrigated garden,
and they will no longer grow weak from hunger.
¹³ Then the young women will rejoice with dancing,
while young and old men rejoice together.
I will turn their mourning into joy,^(O)
give them consolation,
and bring happiness out of grief.
¹⁴ I will refresh the priests with an abundance,^[b](P)
and my people will be satisfied with my goodness.
This is the Lord’s declaration.