Jeremiah 31

Israel, I promise

that some day all your tribes

will again be my people,

and I will be your God.

₂In the desert I was kind

to those who escaped death.

I gave them peace,

and when the time is right,

I'll do the same for you.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

Israel, I will always love you;

that's why I've been so patient

and kind.

₄You are precious to me,

and so I will rebuild

your nation.

Once again you will dance for joy

and play your tambourines.

₅You will plant vineyards

on the hills of Samaria

and enjoy the grapes.

₆Some day those who guard

the hill country of Ephraim

will shout, “Let's go to Zion

and worship the LORD our God.”

Celebrate and sing for Israel,

the greatest of nations.

Offer praises and shout,

“Come and rescue

your people, LORD!

Save what's left of Israel.”

₈I, the LORD, will bring

my people back from Babylonia

and everywhere else on earth.

The blind and the lame

will be there.

Expectant mothers

and women about to give birth

will come and be part

of that great crowd.

₉They will weep and pray

as I bring them home.

I will lead them

to streams of water.

They will walk on a level road

and not stumble.

I am a father to Israel,

my favourite children.

₁₀Listen to me, you nations

nearby or across the sea.

I scattered the people of Israel,

but I will gather them again.

I will protect them like a shepherd

guarding a flock;

₁₁I will rescue them from enemies

who could overpower them.

₁₂My people will come

to Mount Zion

and celebrate;

their faces will glow

because of my blessings.

I'll give them grain, grapes,

and olive oil,

as well as sheep and cattle.

Israel will be prosperous

and grow like a garden

with plenty of water.

₁₃Young women and young men,

together with the elderly,

will celebrate and dance,

because I will comfort them

and turn their sorrow

into happiness.

₁₄I will bless my people

with more food

than they need,

and the priests will enjoy

the choice cuts of meat.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₁₅In Ramah a voice is heard,

crying and weeping loudly.

Rachel mourns for her children

and refuses to be comforted,

because they are dead.

_16-17But I, the LORD, tell you

to dry your tears.

Some day your children

will come home

from the enemy's land.

Then all you have done for them

will be greatly rewarded.

So don't lose hope.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₁₈The people of Israel moan

and say to me,

“We were like wild bulls,

but you, LORD, broke us,

and we learnt to obey.

You are our God—

please let us come home.

₁₉When we were young,

we strayed and sinned,

but then we realized

what we had done.

We are ashamed and disgraced

and want to return to you.”

₂₀People of Israel,

you are my own dear children.

Don't I love you best of all?

Though I often make threats,

I want you to be near me,

so I will have mercy on you.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₂₁With rock piles and signposts,

mark the way home,

my dear people.

It is the same road

by which you left.

₂₂Will you ever decide

to be faithful?

I will make sure that some day

things will be different,

as different as a woman

protecting a man.

“We pray that the LORD

will bless his home,

the sacred hill in Jerusalem

where his temple stands.”

“Sour grapes eaten by parents

leave a sour taste in the mouths

of their children.”

“I will write my laws

on their hearts and minds.

I will be their God,

and they will be my people.

₃₅I am the LORD All-Powerful.

I command the sun

to give light each day,

the moon and stars

to shine at night,

and ocean waves to roar.

₃₆I will never forget

to give those commands,

and I will never let Israel

stop being a nation.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

₃₇Can you measure the heavens?

Can you explore

the depths of the earth?

That's how hard it would be

for me to reject Israel for ever,

even though they have sinned.

I, the LORD, have spoken.