Jeremiah 31:1–14

GOD’S RELATIONSHIP WITH HIS PEOPLE

31“At that time”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“I will be the God of all the families of Israel,^g and they will be my people.”

²This is what the Lord says:

The people who survived the sword

found favor in the wilderness.^h

When Israel went to find rest,ⁱ

³the Lord appeared to him^A from far away.

I have loved you with an everlasting love;^j

therefore, I have continued to extend faithful love to you.^k

⁴Again I will build you so that you will be rebuilt,

Virgin Israel.^l

You will take up your tambourines again^m

and go out in joyful dancing.

⁵You will plant vineyards againⁿ

on the mountains of Samaria;

the planters will plant and will enjoy the fruit.^o

⁶For 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

⁷For 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

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

I will gather them from remote regions of the earth^s—

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

⁹They will come weeping,

but I will bring them back with consolation.^Bv

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

¹⁰Nations, 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,

¹¹for the Lord has ransomed Jacob

and redeemed him from the power of one stronger than he.”^aa

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

they will be radiant with joy^ac

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.

¹³Then the young women will rejoice with dancing,

while young and old men rejoice together.

I will turn their mourning into joy,^a

give them consolation,

and bring happiness out of grief.

¹⁴I will refresh the priests with an abundance,^Ab

and my people will be satisfied with my goodness.

This is the Lord’s declaration.