¹⁸ Yet the Lord longs^(A) to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.^(B)
For the Lord is a God of justice.^(C)
    Blessed are all who wait for him!^(D)

⁸ “But you, Israel, my servant,^(A)
    Jacob, whom I have chosen,^(B)
    you descendants of Abraham^(C) my friend,^(D)

⁵ For your Maker^(A) is your husband^(B)—
    the Lord Almighty is his name—
the Holy One^(C) of Israel is your Redeemer;^(D)
    he is called the God of all the earth.^(E)

⁵ Again you will plant^(A) vineyards
    on the hills of Samaria;^(B)
the farmers will plant them
    and enjoy their fruit.^(C)
6 There will be a day when watchmen^(D) cry out
    on the hills of Ephraim,
‘Come, let us go up to Zion,
    to the Lord our God.’”^(E)

“Sing^(F) with joy for Jacob;
    shout for the foremost^(G) of the nations.
Make your praises heard, and say,
    ‘Lord, save^(H) your people,
    the remnant^(I) of Israel.’
⁸ See, I will bring them from the land of the north^(J)
    and gather^(K) them from the ends of the earth.
Among them will be the blind^(L) and the lame,^(M)
    expectant mothers and women in labor;
    a great throng will return.
⁹ They will come with weeping;^(N)
    they will pray as I bring them back.
I will lead^(O) them beside streams of water^(P)
    on a level^(Q) path where they will not stumble,
because I am Israel’s father,^(R)
    and Ephraim is my firstborn son.

¹⁰ “Hear the word of the Lord, you nations;
    proclaim it in distant coastlands:^(S)
‘He who scattered^(T) Israel will gather^(U) them
    and will watch over his flock like a shepherd.’^(V)
11 For the Lord will deliver Jacob
    and redeem^(W) them from the hand of those stronger^(X) than they.
¹² They will come and shout for joy^(Y) on the heights^(Z) of Zion;
    they will rejoice in the bounty^(AA) of the Lord—
the grain, the new wine and the olive oil,^(AB)
    the young of the flocks^(AC) and herds.
They will be like a well-watered garden,^(AD)
    and they will sorrow^(AE) no more.
¹³ Then young women will dance and be glad,
    young men and old as well.
I will turn their mourning^(AF) into gladness;
    I will give them comfort^(AG) and joy^(AH) instead of sorrow.
¹⁴ I will satisfy^(AI) the priests^(AJ) with abundance,
    and my people will be filled with my bounty,^(AK)”
declares the Lord.

“A voice is heard in Ramah,^(AL)
    mourning and great weeping,
Rachel weeping for her children
    and refusing to be comforted,^(AM)
    because they are no more.”^(AN)

“Restrain your voice from weeping
    and your eyes from tears,^(AO)
for your work will be rewarded,^(AP)”
declares the Lord.
    “They will return^(AQ) from the land of the enemy.
¹⁷ So there is hope^(AR) for your descendants,”
declares the Lord.
    “Your children^(AS) will return to their own land.

¹⁸ “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined^(AT) me like an unruly calf,^(AU)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore^(AV) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
¹⁹ After I strayed,^(AW)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat^(AX) my breast.
I was ashamed^(AY) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’^(AZ)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child^(BA) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember^(BB) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion^(BC) for him,”
declares the Lord.