Jeremiah 31:15-20
English Standard Version
15 Thus says the Lord:
(A)“A voice is heard in (B)Ramah,
lamentation and bitter weeping.
(C)Rachel is weeping for her children;
she refuses to be comforted for her children,
(D)because they are no more.”
16 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep your voice from weeping,
and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,
declares the Lord,
and (E)they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17 (F)There is hope for your future,
declares the Lord,
and your children shall come back to their own country.
18 I have heard (G)Ephraim grieving,
‘You have disciplined me, and I was disciplined,
like an untrained calf;
(H)bring me back that I may be restored,
for you are the Lord my God.
19 For after (I)I had turned away, I relented,
and after I was instructed, (J)I struck my thigh;
(K)I was ashamed, and I was confounded,
because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
20 (L)Is Ephraim my dear son?
(M)Is he my darling child?
For as often as I speak against him,
I do remember him still.
(N)Therefore my heart[a] yearns for him;
I will surely have mercy on him,
declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 31:20 Hebrew bowels
Jeremiah 31:15-20
International Standard Version
The End of Rachel’s Mourning
15 This is what the Lord says:
“A voice is heard in Ramah,
lamentation and bitter crying.
Rachel is crying,
and she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no longer alive.”
16 This is what the Lord says:
“Restrain your voice from crying,
and your eyes from tears,
for there is a reward for your work,”
declares the Lord.
“They’ll return from the enemy’s land.
17 There is hope for your future,”
declares the Lord.
“Your[a] children will return to their own territory.”
Ephraim’s Prayer and Confession
18 “I’ve certainly heard Ephraim
shuddering with grief as they said,[b]
‘You have disciplined me,
and I’m disciplined like an untrained calf.
Restore me, and let me return,[c]
for you are the Lord my God.
19 Indeed, after I turned away, then I repented.
And after I came to understand,
I slapped my forehead.[d]
I was both ashamed and humiliated
because I bear the disgrace of my youth.’”
God’s Gracious Response
20 “Is Ephraim my dear son?
Is he a darling child?
Indeed, as often as I’ve spoken about him,
I surely still remember him.
Therefore I deeply yearn for him.
I’ll surely have great compassion on him,”
declares the Lord.
Footnotes
- Jeremiah 31:17 The Heb. lacks Your
- Jeremiah 31:18 The Heb. lacks as they said
- Jeremiah 31:18 Or repent
- Jeremiah 31:19 Lit. thigh; i.e. as a sign of remorse
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Copyright © 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.
