Jeremiah 31:3–20

³And from far away the Lord appeared to his people and said,

“I love you people

with a love that will last forever.

That is why I have continued

showing you kindness.

⁴People of Israel, I will build you up again,

and you will be rebuilt.

You will pick up your tambourines again

and dance with those who are joyful.

⁵You will plant vineyards again

on the hills around Samaria.

The farmers will plant them

and enjoy their fruit.

⁶There will be a time when watchmen in the mountains of Ephraim shout this message:

‘Come, let’s go up to Jerusalem to worship the Lord our God!’ ”

⁷This is what the Lord says:

“Be happy and sing for the people of Jacob.

Shout for Israel, the greatest of the nations.

Sing your praises and shout this:

‘Lord, save your people,

those who are left alive from the nation of Israel!’

⁸Look, I will soon bring Israel from the country in the north,

and I will gather them from the faraway places on earth.

Some of the people are blind and crippled.

Some of the women are pregnant, and some are ready to give birth.

A great many people will come back.

⁹They will be crying as they come,

but they will pray as I bring them back.

I will lead those people by streams of water

on an even road where they will not stumble.

I am Israel’s father,

and Israel is my firstborn son.

¹⁰“Nations, listen to the message from the Lord.

Tell this message in the faraway lands by the sea:

‘The one who scattered the people of Israel will bring them back,

and he will watch over his people like a shepherd.’

¹¹The Lord will pay for the people of Jacob

and will buy them back from people stronger than they were.

¹²The people of Israel will come to the high points of Jerusalem

and shout for joy.

Their faces will shine with happiness about all the good things from the Lord:

the grain, new wine, oil, young sheep, and young cows.

They will be like a garden that has plenty of water,

and they will not be troubled anymore.

¹³Then young women of Israel will be happy and dance,

the young men and old men also.

I will change their sadness into happiness;

I will give them comfort and joy instead of sadness.

¹⁴The priests will have more than enough sacrifices,

and my people will be filled with the good things I give them!” says the Lord.

¹⁵This is what the Lord says:

“A voice was heard in Ramah

of painful crying and deep sadness:

Rachel crying for her children.

She refused to be comforted,

because her children are dead!”

¹⁶But this is what the Lord says:

“Stop crying;

don’t let your eyes fill with tears.

You will be rewarded for your work!” says the Lord.

“The people will return from their enemy’s land.

¹⁷So there is hope for you in the future,” says the Lord.

“Your children will return to their own land.

¹⁸“I have heard Israel moaning:

‘Lord, you punished me, and I have learned my lesson.

I was like a calf that had never been trained.

Take me back so that I may come back.

You truly are the Lord my God.

¹⁹Lord, after I wandered away from you,

I changed my heart and life.

After I understood,

I beat my breast with sorrow.

I was ashamed and disgraced,

because I suffered for the foolish things I did when I was young.’

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.