7. For thus says the Lord: Sing with gladness for Jacob,and shout among the chief of the nations;publish, praise, and say,“O Lord, save Your people,the remnant of Israel.”
8. See, I will bring them from the north country,and gather them from the remote parts of the earth,and with them the blind and the lame,the woman with child and her who is in labor with child, together;a great company will return here.
9. They will come with weeping,and with supplications I will lead them.I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters,in a straight way in which they shall not stumble.For I am a Father to Israel,and Ephraim is My firstborn.
10. Hear the word of the Lord, O nations,and declare it in the coastlands far off, and say,“He who scattered Israel will gather himand keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.”
11. For the Lord has redeemed Jacoband ransomed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
12. Therefore they will come and sing in the height of Zion,and will be joyful over the goodness of the Lord,for wheat and for wine and for oiland for the young of the flock and of the herd;and their souls will be as a watered garden.And they will not sorrow any more at all.
13. Then the virgin shall rejoice in the dance,both young men and old together;for I will turn their mourning into joy,and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow.
14. I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance,and My people shall be satisfied with My goodness,says the Lord.
15. Thus says the Lord: A voice is heard in Ramah,lamentation and bitter weeping,Rachel weeping for her children,refusing to be comforted for her children,because they are no more.
16. Thus says the Lord: Keep your voice from weepingand your eyes from tears;for your work shall be rewarded,says the Lord,and they shall come back from the land of the enemy.
17. There is hope for your future,says the Lord,that your children will come back to their own border.
18. I have surely heard Ephraim pleading:“You have chastised me,and I was chastised, as an untrained calf;turn me back and I will be turned,for you are the Lord my God.
19. Surely after I turned back,I repented;and after I was instructed,I struck myself on my thigh;I was ashamed and even humiliatedbecause I bore the reproach of my youth.”