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For Yahweh says,

“Sing with gladness for Jacob,
    and shout for the chief of the nations.
Publish, praise, and say,
    ‘Yahweh, save your people,
    the remnant of Israel!’
Behold, I will bring them from the north country,
    and gather them from the uttermost parts of the earth,
along with the blind and the lame,
    the woman with child and her who travails with child together.
    They will return as a great company.
They will come with weeping.
    I will lead them with petitions.
I will cause them to walk by rivers of waters,
    in a straight way in which they won’t stumble;
for I am a father to Israel.
    Ephraim is my firstborn.

10 “Hear Yahweh’s word, you nations,
    and declare it in the distant islands. Say,
‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
    and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’
11 For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob,
    and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
12 They will come and sing in the height of Zion,
    and will flow to the goodness of Yahweh,
to the grain, to the new wine, to the oil,
    and to the young of the flock and of the herd.
Their soul will be as a watered garden.
    They will not sorrow any more at all.
13 Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance;
    the young men and the old together;
for I will turn their mourning into joy,
    and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with fatness,
    and my people will be satisfied with my goodness,” says Yahweh.

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The Blessings of Returning from Exile

For this is what the Lord says:
“Cry out with joy for Jacob
    and shout for the chief among the nations.
Announce, give praise, and say,
    ‘Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel.’
Look, I’m bringing them from the northern region,[a]
    and I’ll gather them from the farthest parts of the earth.
Among them will be the blind and the lame,
    together with the pregnant woman
        and the woman in labor.
A large group will return here.
They’ll come crying,
    and I’ll lead them as they pray for mercy.[b]
I’ll make them walk by streams of water,
    along a straight path on which they won’t stumble.
For I am Israel’s father,
    and Ephraim is my firstborn.”

10 Nations, listen to this message from the Lord,
    and declare it in the distant coastlands.
Say, “The one who scattered Israel will gather him
    and keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.”
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem him from the hand of one stronger than he.
12 They’ll come and cry out with joy
    on the heights of Zion.
They’ll be radiant over the Lord’s goodness,
    over the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,
        and over the young of the flocks and herds.
Their lives will be like a well-watered garden.
    They’ll never again grow faint.[c]
13 The virgins will rejoice with dancing,
    together with young men and old men.
For I’ll turn their mourning into joy,
    and I’ll comfort them and give them gladness
        instead of sorrow.
14 I’ll give the priests abundant provisions,[d]
    and my people will be satisfied with my goodness,”
        declares the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:8 Lit. the land of the north
  2. Jeremiah 31:9 Lit. I’ll lead them with prayer for mercy
  3. Jeremiah 31:12 I.e. from lack of food and drink
  4. Jeremiah 31:14 Lit. fatness