1“At that time,” says Yahweh, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.”
2Yahweh says, “The people who escaped the sword found favor in the wilderness; I brought Israel there to give them rest.”
3Yahweh appeared to me long ago, saying, “Yes, I have loved you with an eternal love. Therefore, I have drawn you to myself with unfailing kindness.
4I will rebuild you, and you will be rebuilt, O virgin Israel. You will again decorate yourself with tambourines and go out dancing with those who celebrate.
5Again, people will plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. Those who plant them will enjoy their fruit.
6Because a day is coming when the watchmen on the hills of Ephraim will shout, ‘Get up! Let’s go up to Zion, to Yahweh our God!’
7For Yahweh says, “Sing with joy for Jacob! Shout for the greatest among the nations! Announce it, praise it, and say, ‘Yahweh, save your people, the remaining few of Israel!’
8Look! I will bring them from the north country and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth. The blind and the lame will come with them, as well as pregnant women and those giving birth. They will return as a large crowd.
9They will come back weeping, and I will lead them as they pray. I will guide them along streams of water, on a straight path where they will not stumble. For I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn son.
10“Nations, hear Yahweh’s message! Announce it on the distant islands! Say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather them and watch over them, like a shepherd watches over his flock.’
11Because Yahweh has rescued Jacob and saved him from the one who was stronger than he.
12They will come and sing on the heights of Zion, and they will stream to the goodness of Yahweh—to the grain, the new wine, the oil, and the young of the flock and herd. Their lives will be like a well-watered garden, and they will never be sad again.
13Then young women will dance joyfully, and young men and old men will celebrate together. For I will turn their sadness into joy, comfort them, and make them happy instead of sorrowful.
14I will provide generously for the priests, and my people will be satisfied with my goodness,” says Yahweh.
15Yahweh says: “A sound is heard in Ramah—crying and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are gone.”
16Yahweh says: “Stop your crying and dry your tears. For your work will be rewarded,” says Yahweh. “Your children will return from the land of the enemy.
17There is hope for your future,” says Yahweh. “Your children will come back to their own land.
18“I have definitely heard Ephraim complaining to himself, ‘You punished me, and I was punished, like an untamed calf. Bring me back, and I will return, for you are Yahweh my God.’
19‘After I rebelled, I regretted it; and after I was taught a lesson, I hit my thigh in sorrow. I was ashamed and disgraced because of the sins of my youth.’
20“Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a cherished child? Even when I speak against him, I still remember him fondly. Therefore, my heart longs for him; I will certainly have mercy on him,” says Yahweh.
21“Set up road signs, put up guideposts. Pay attention to the highway, the way you went. Return, virgin Israel, return to these your cities.
22How long will you wander aimlessly, unfaithful daughter? For Yahweh has created a new thing on earth: a woman will protect a man.”
23Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Once again people will use this saying in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I restore their prosperity: ‘May Yahweh bless you, home of righteousness, holy mountain.’
24Judah and all its cities will live there together—the farmers and those who travel with flocks.
25For I have refreshed the weary soul and satisfied every sorrowful soul.”
26At this, I woke up and saw; and my sleep was sweet to me.
27“Look, the days are coming,” says Yahweh, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of people and animals.
28And just as I watched over them to uproot, tear down, overthrow, destroy, and bring harm, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” says Yahweh.
29“In those days, they will no longer say, ‘The parents ate sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.’
30But everyone will die for their own sin: anyone who eats sour grapes will have their teeth set on edge.
31“Look, the time is coming,” says Yahweh, “when I will make a new agreement with the people of Israel and Judah.
32This new agreement will not be like the one I made with their ancestors when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt. They broke that agreement, even though I was like a husband to them,” says Yahweh.
33“But this is the agreement I will make with the people of Israel after those days,” says Yahweh: “I will put my law deep within them, writing it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
34No longer will anyone need to teach their neighbor or their brother, saying, ‘Know Yahweh,’ because all of them, from the least important to the most important, will know me,” says Yahweh. “For I will forgive their wickedness and will no longer remember their sins.”
35Yahweh is the one who provides the sun for light by day, and the moon and stars for light by night. He stirs up the sea so that its waves roar. His name is Yahweh of Armies, and he says:
36“If these laws disappear from before me,” says Yahweh, “then the descendants of Israel will also stop being a nation before me forever.”
37Yahweh says: “If the heavens above can be measured, and the foundations of the earth below can be fully explored, then I will also reject all the descendants of Israel for everything they have done,” says Yahweh.
38“Look, the time is coming,” says Yahweh, “when the city will be rebuilt for Yahweh, from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate.
39The measuring line will extend straight ahead to the hill Gareb and then turn towards Goah.
40The entire valley where dead bodies and ashes are, all the fields as far as the Kidron Valley, and the corner of the Horse Gate toward the east, will be holy to Yahweh. It will never again be torn down or destroyed.”