4. I will rebuild you, my dear children Israel,so that you will once again be built up.Once again you will take up the tambourineand join in the happy throng of dancers.
5. Once again you will plant vineyardson the hills of Samaria.Those who plant themwill once again enjoy their fruit.
6. Yes, a time is comingwhen watchmen will call out on the mountains of Ephraim,“Come! Let us go to Zionto worship the Lord our God!”’”
7. Moreover, the Lord says,“Sing for joy for the descendants of Jacob.Utter glad shouts for that foremost of the nations.Make your praises heard. Then say, ‘Lord, rescue your people.Deliver those of Israel who remain alive.’
8. Then I will reply, ‘I will bring them back from the land of the north.I will gather them in from the distant parts of the earth.Blind and lame people will come with them,so will pregnant women and women about to give birth.A vast throng of people will come back here.
9. They will come back shedding tears of contrition.I will bring them back praying prayers of repentance.I will lead them besides streams of water,along smooth paths where they will never stumble.I will do this because I am Israel’s father;Ephraim is my firstborn son.’”