6 For there will be a day when watchmen will call out

in the hill country of Ephraim,

“Come, let’s go up to Zion,p

to the Lord our God!”

GOD’S PEOPLE BROUGHT HOME

7 For this is what the Lord says:

Sing with joy for Jacob;

shout for the foremost of the nations!

Proclaim, praise, and say,

“Lord, save your people,q

the remnant of Israel!”r

8 Watch! I am going to bring them from the northern land.

I will gather them from remote regions of the earths—

the blind and the lame will be with them,t

along with those who are pregnant and those about to give birth.

They will return here as a great assembly!u

9 They will come weeping,

but I will bring them back with consolation.B,v

I will lead them to wadis filled with water,

by a smooth way where they will not stumble,w

for I am Israel’s Father,

and Ephraim is my firstborn.x

10 Nations, hear the word of the Lord,

and tell it among the far off coasts and islands!y

Say, “The one who scattered Israel will gather him.z

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.”aa

12 They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;ab

they will be radiant with joyac

because of the Lord’s goodness,

because of the grain, the new wine, the fresh oil,ad

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.