13. Then young women will rejoice and dancealong with young men and old men.I will turn their mourning into joy.I will comfort them.I will give them joy in place of their sorrow.
14. I will satisfy the priests with rich food.My people will be filled with my blessings,” declares the Lord.
15. This is what the Lord says:A sound is heard in Ramah,the sound of crying in bitter grief.Rachel is crying for her children.She refuses to be comforted,because they are dead.
16. This is what the Lord says:Stop your crying, and wipe away your tears.You will be rewarded for your work, declares the Lord.You will return from the land of the enemy.
17. Your future is filled with hope, declares the Lord.Your children will return to their own territory.
18. “I have certainly heard Ephraim mourn and say,‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined.I was like a young, untrained calf.Turn me, and I will be turned,because you are the Lord my God.
19. After I was turned around, I changed the way I thought and acted.After I was taught a lesson, I hung my head in shame.I was so ashamed and humiliated,because of all the stupid things I have doneever since I was young.’
20. Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child?Even though I have often spoken against him, I still think fondly of him.That is why my heart longs for him,and I will certainly have compassion on him,” declares the Lord.
21. Set up landmarks!Put up road signs!Remember the highway, the road on which you traveled.Come back, my dear people Israel, come back to your cities.
22. How long will you wander around, you unfaithful people?The Lord will create something new on earth:A woman will protect a man.
23. This is what the Lord of Armies, the God of Israel, says: When I have brought them back from captivity, they will once again use this saying in Judah and in its cities:“The Lord bless you, home of righteousness, holy mountain.
24. Judah and all its cities will live there together.Farmers and shepherds will also live there.
25. I will give those who are weary all they need.I will refresh everyone who is filled with sorrow.”