Jeremiah 31:8–10

Behold, I will bring them from the north country

and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth,

among them the blind and the lame,

the pregnant woman and she who is in labor, together;

a great company, they shall return here.

With weeping they shall come,

and with pleas for mercy I will lead them back,

I will make them walk by brooks of water,

in a straight path in which they shall not stumble,

for I am a father to Israel,

and Ephraim is my firstborn.

“Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,

and declare it in the coastlands far away;

say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,

and will keep him as a shepherd keeps his flock.’

See, I will bring them from the land of the north

and gather them from the ends of the earth.

Among them will be the blind and the lame,

expectant mothers and women in labor;

a great throng will return.

They will come with weeping;

they will pray as I bring them back.

I will lead them beside streams of water

on a level path where they will not stumble,

because I am Israel’s father,

and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

“Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;

proclaim it in distant coastlands:

‘He who scattered Israel will gather them

and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’

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

I will gather them from remote regions of the earth—

the blind and the lame will be with them,

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

They will return here as a great assembly!

They will come weeping,

but I will bring them back with consolation.

I will lead them to wadis filled with water,

by a smooth way where they will not stumble,

for I am Israel’s Father,

and Ephraim is my firstborn.

Nations, hear the word of the Lord,

and tell it among the far off coasts and islands!

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

He will watch over him as a shepherd guards his flock,

For I will bring them from the north

and from the distant corners of the earth.

I will not forget the blind and lame,

the expectant mothers and women in labor.

A great company will return!

Tears of joy will stream down their faces,

and I will lead them home with great care.

They will walk beside quiet streams

and on smooth paths where they will not stumble.

For I am Israel’s father,

and Ephraim is my oldest child.

“Listen to this message from the Lord,

you nations of the world;

proclaim it in distant coastlands:

The Lord, who scattered his people,

will gather them and watch over them

as a shepherd does his flock.

Look, I am going to bring them from the land of the north,

and I will gather them from the remotest part of the earth.

Among them the blind, and the lame,

those who are pregnant, and those who give birth,

together, a great assembly,

they will return here.

With weeping they will come,

and with pleas for mercy I will bring them;

I will let them walk by streams of water in a straight path.

They will not stumble in it,

for I have become to Israel a father,

and Ephraim, he is my firstborn.”

Hear the word of Yahweh, O nations,

and declare in the coastlands from afar, and say,

“The scatterer of Israel will gather him,

and he will keep him as a shepherd his flock.

Behold, I will bring them from the north country,

And gather them from the coasts of the earth,

And with them the blind and the lame,

The woman with child and her that travaileth with child together:

A great company shall return thither.

They shall come with weeping,

And with supplications will I lead them:

I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters

In a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble:

For I am a father to Israel,

And Ephraim is my firstborn.

Hear the word of the Lord, O ye nations,

And declare it in the isles afar off, and say,

He that scattered Israel will gather him,

And keep him, as a shepherd doth his flock.