Jeremiah 31:3–20

³I appeared to themⁿ from far away. People of Israel, I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love. ⁴Once again I will rebuild you. Once again you will take up your tambourines and dance joyfully. ⁵Once again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria, and those who plant them will eat what the vineyards produce. ⁶Yes, the time is coming when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Let’s go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’ ”

⁷The Lord says,

“Sing with joy for Israel,

the greatest of the nations.

Sing your song of praise,

‘The Lord has saved his^o people;

he has rescued all who are left.’

⁸I will bring them from the north

and gather them from the ends of the earth.

The blind and the lame will come with them,

pregnant women and those about to give birth.

They will come back a great nation.

⁹My people will return weeping,

praying as I lead them back.

I will guide them to streams of water,

on a smooth road where they will not stumble.

I am like a father to Israel,

and Ephraim is my eldest son.”

¹⁰The Lord says,

“Nations, listen to me,

and proclaim my words on the far-off shores.

I scattered my people, but I will gather them

and guard them as a shepherd guards his flock.

¹¹I have set Israel’s people free

and have saved them from a mighty nation.

¹²They will come and sing for joy on Mount Zion

and be delighted with my gifts—

gifts of corn and wine and olive oil,

gifts of sheep and cattle.

They will be like a well-watered garden;

they will have everything they need.

¹³Then the young women will dance and be happy,

and men, young and old, will rejoice.

I will comfort them and turn their mourning into joy,

their sorrow into gladness.

¹⁴I will fill the priests with the richest food

and satisfy all the needs of my people.

I, the Lord, have spoken.”

The ’s Mercy on Israel

^15*The Lord says,

“A sound is heard in Ramah,

the sound of bitter weeping.

Rachel is crying for her children;

they are gone,

and she refuses to be comforted.

¹⁶Stop your crying

and wipe away your tears.

All that you have done for your children

will not go unrewarded;

they will return from the enemy’s land.

¹⁷There is hope for your future;

your children will come back home.

I, the Lord, have spoken.

¹⁸“I hear the people of Israel say in grief,

‘Lord, we were like an untamed animal,

but you taught us to obey.

Bring us back;

we are ready to return to you,

the Lord our God.

¹⁹We turned away from you,

but soon we wanted to return.

After you had punished us,

we hung our heads in grief.

We were ashamed and disgraced,

because we sinned when we were young.’

²⁰“Israel, you are my dearest son,

the child I love best.

Whenever I mention your name,

I think^p of you with love.

My heart goes out to you;

I will be merciful.