18. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus, Thou hast afflicted me, and I was chastised as an indomitable bullock: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the Lord my God.
19. Surely after I was turned, I repented; and after I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh; I was ashamed, and even confounded, because I bore the reproach of my youth.
20. Peradventure is Ephraim a precious son unto me? Peradventure is he unto me a delightful child? With all this since I spoke of him, I have remembered him constantly. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him; in tenderness I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord.
21. Establish signs, make thee high markers; consider the highway with great care, even the way which thou didst come; return, O virgin of Israel, return unto these thy cities.
22. How long wilt thou wander, O thou backsliding daughter? for the Lord will bring forth a new thing upon the earth, A woman shall compass the man.
23. Thus hath the Lord of the hosts the God of Israel said; Even yet shall they speak this word in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof when I shall turn their captivity: The Lord bless thee, O habitation of justice and mountain of holiness.
24. And Judah shall dwell in her, and also in all her cities, husbandmen, and those that go forth with flocks.
25. For I have satiated the weary soul, and I have filled every sorrowful soul.
26. Upon this I awoke, and beheld; and my sleep was sweet unto me.
27. Behold, the days come, said the Lord, that I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast.