Jeremiah 31:20–22

20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,

the child in whom I delight?

Though I often speak against him,

I still remember him.

Therefore my heart yearns for him;

I have great compassion for him,”

declares the Lord.

21 “Set up road signs;

put up guideposts.

Take note of the highway,

the road that you take.

Return, Virgin Israel,

return to your towns.

22 How long will you wander,

unfaithful Daughter Israel?

The Lord will create a new thing on earth—

the woman will return to the man.”

20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child?

For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still:

Therefore my bowels are troubled for him;

I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.

21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps:

Set thine heart toward the highway,

Even the way which thou wentest:

Turn again, O virgin of Israel,

Turn again to these thy cities.

22 How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter?

For the Lord hath created a new thing in the earth,

A woman shall compass a man.

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.

21 Set up road signs;

put up guideposts.

Mark well the path

by which you came.

Come back again, my virgin Israel;

return to your towns here.

22 How long will you wander,

my wayward daughter?

For the Lord will cause something new to happen—

Israel will embrace her God.”

20 Is Ephraim My dear son?

Is he a pleasant child?

For though I spoke against him,

I earnestly remember him still;

Therefore My heart yearns for him;

I will surely have mercy on him, says the Lord.

21 “Set up signposts,

Make landmarks;

Set your heart toward the highway,

The way in which you went.

Turn back, O virgin of Israel,

Turn back to these your cities.

22 How long will you gad about,

O you backsliding daughter?

For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth—

A woman shall encompass a man.”

20 “You know that Israel is my dear son,

The child I love.

Yes, I often speak against Israel,

but I still remember him.

I love him very much,

and I want to comfort him,” says the Lord.

21 “People of Israel, fix the road signs.

Put up signs to show you the way home.

Watch the road.

Pay attention to the road on which you travel.

People of Israel, come home,

come back to your towns.

22 You are an unfaithful daughter.

How long will you wander before you come home?

The Lord has made something new happen in the land:

A woman will go seeking a man.”

20 Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a darling child? for as often as I speak against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my heart yearneth for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah.

21 Set thee up waymarks, make thee guide-posts; set thy heart toward the highway, even the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. 22 How long wilt thou go hither and thither, O thou backsliding daughter? for Jehovah hath created a new thing in the earth: A woman shall encompass a man.

20 Is Ephraim a dear son unto me? is he a child of delights? For whilst I have been speaking against him, I do constantly remember him still. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him: I will certainly have mercy upon him, saith Jehovah. 21 Set up waymarks, make for thyself signposts; set thy heart toward the highway, the way by which thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities. 22 How long wilt thou wander about, thou backsliding daughter? For Jehovah hath created a new thing on the earth, a woman shall encompass a man.

20 Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? 

Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him. 

That is why my heart longs for him, 

and I will certainly have compassion on him,” declares the Lord. 

21 Set up landmarks! 

Put up road signs! 

Remember the highway, the road on which you traveled. 

Come back, my dear people Israel, come back to your cities. 

22 How long will you wander around, you unfaithful people? 

The Lord will create something new on earth: 

A woman will protect a man. 

20 Isn’t Ephraim a precious son to Me,

a delightful child?

Whenever I speak against him,

I certainly still think about him.

Therefore, My inner being yearns for him;

I will truly have compassion on him.

This is the Lord’s declaration.

21 Set up road markers for yourself;

establish signposts!

Keep the highway in mind,

the way you have traveled.

Return, Virgin Israel!

Return to these cities of yours.

22 How long will you turn here and there,

faithless daughter?

For the Lord creates something new in the land —

a female will shelter a man.

20 Is Ephraim my dear son?

Is he the child in whom I delight?

As often as I speak against him,

I still remember him.

Therefore I am deeply moved for him;

I will surely have mercy on him,

says the Lord.

21 Set up road markers for yourself;

make yourself signposts;

consider well the highway,

the road by which you went.

Return, O virgin Israel,

return to these your cities.

22 How long will you waver,

O faithless daughter?

For the Lord has created a new thing on the earth:

a woman encompasses a man.

20 Is Ephraim my dear son,

or the child of my delight?

For as often as I have earnestly spoken against him,

I still remember him.

Therefore my bowels are turbulent for him,

surely I will have compassion on him,” declares Yahweh.

21 “Set up for yourself road markers,

make for yourself signposts,

set your mind to the main road,

the road by which you went.

Return, O virgin of Israel,

return to these your cities.

22 How long will you waver, O unfaithful daughter?

For Yahweh has created a new thing on the earth,

a woman, she shelters a man.”

20 Aren’t the people of Ephraim my dear children?

Aren’t they the children I take delight in?

I often speak against them.

But I still remember them.

So my heart longs for them.

I love them with a tender love,”

announces the Lord.

21 The Lord says, “Put up road signs.

Set up stones to show the way.

Look carefully for the highway.

Look for the road you will take.

Return, people of Israel.

Return to your towns.

22 How long will you wander,

you people who are not faithful to me?

I will create a new thing on earth.

A woman will guard a man.”

20 “Is Ephraim My dear son?

Is he a delightful child?

Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him,

I certainly still remember him;

Therefore My heart yearns for him;

I will surely have mercy on him,” declares the Lord.

21 “Set up for yourself roadmarks,

Place for yourself guideposts;

Direct your mind to the highway,

The way by which you went.

Return, O virgin of Israel,

Return to these your cities.

22 “How long will you go here and there,

O faithless daughter?

For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth—

A woman will encompass a man.”