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
New Living Translation
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.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
