15. The Lord says, "A voice is heard in Ramah. It is the sound of crying and deep sadness. Rachel is crying over her children. She refuses to be comforted, because they are gone."
16. The Lord says, "Do not sob anymore. Do not let tears fall from your eyes. I will reward you for your work," announces the Lord. "Your children will return from the land of the enemy.
17. So I am giving you hope for the years to come," announces the Lord. "Your children will return to their own land.
18. "I have heard the groans of Ephraim's people. They say, 'You corrected us like a calf you were training. And we have been trained. Bring us back to you, and we will come back. You are the Lord our God.
19. After we wandered away from you, we turned away from our sins. After we learned our lesson, we beat our chests in sorrow. We were full of shame. What we did when we were young brought dishonor on us.'
20. Aren't the people of Ephraim my dear children? Aren't they the children I take delight in? I often speak against them. But I still remember them. So my heart longs for them. I love them with a tender love," announces the Lord.
21. The Lord says, "Put up road signs. Set up stones to show the way. Look carefully for the highway. Look for the road you will take. Return, people of Israel. Return to your towns.
22. How long will you wander, you people who are not faithful to me? I will create a new thing on earth. A woman will guard a man."
23. The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, "I will bring them back from the place where they were taken. The people in Judah and its towns will say once again, 'Holy temple in Jerusalem, may the Lord bless you. Sacred mountain, may he bless you.'
24. "People will live together in Judah and all of its towns. Farmers and shepherds will live there.
25. I will give rest to those who are tired. I will satisfy those who are weak."
26. When I heard that, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant.
27. The Lord announces, "The days are coming when I will plant the nation of Israel and Judah again. I will plant it with children and young animals.
28. "I watched over Israel and Judah to pull them up by the roots. I tore them down. I crushed them. I destroyed them. I brought horrible trouble on them. But now I will watch over them to build them up and plant them," announces the Lord.
29. "In those days people will no longer say, 'The fathers have eaten sour grapes. But the children have a bitter taste in their mouths.'