18. For after I returned, I repented, and after that I was instructed, I struck my thigh— I was ashamed and also humiliated, for I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
19. Is Ephraim a precious son to Me? Is he a delightful child? For as often as I spoke against him, I still certainly remember him. Therefore My heart yearns for him. I will surely have compassion on him.” It is a declaration of Adonai.
20. Erect road markers, set up signposts! Set your heart toward the highway, the way by which you traveled! Return, O virgin Israel, return to your cities.
21. How long will you waver, O backsliding daughter? For Adonai has created a new thing on earth: a woman surrounds a man.
22. Thus says Adonai-Tzva’ot, the God of Israel: “Yet again will they use this expression in the land of Judah and in its cities, when I will return them from exile: ‘Adonai bless you, O dwelling of righteousness, O mountain of holiness.’
23. Judah and all its cities will dwell there together—the farmer and those who go about with flocks.
24. For I will satisfy the weary soul, and every languishing soul will refresh.”
25. At this point I awoke, and looked around, and my sleep was sweet to me.
26. “Behold, days are coming”—it is a declaration of Adonai—“when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and with the seed of beast.
27. Now just as I have watched over them to uproot and to pull down, to overthrow, to destroy, and to bring disaster, then I will watch over them to build and to plant,” says Adonai.
28. “In those days they will no longer say: ‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are blunted.’
29. Rather each will die for his own iniquity: if anyone eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be blunted.”