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18 “I hear the people of Israel say in grief,
Lord, we were like an untamed animal,
    but you taught us to obey.
Bring us back;
    we are ready to return to you,
    the Lord our God.
19 We turned away from you,
    but soon we wanted to return.
After you had punished us,
    we hung our heads in grief.
We were ashamed and disgraced
    because we sinned when we were young.’

20 “Israel, you are my dearest child,
    the one I love best.
Whenever I mention your name,
    I think[a] of you with love.
My heart goes out to you;
    I will be merciful.

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Footnotes

  1. Jeremiah 31:20 I mention … I think; or I threaten to punish, I still think.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
    ‘You disciplined(A) me like an unruly calf,(B)
    and I have been disciplined.
Restore(C) me, and I will return,
    because you are the Lord my God.
19 After I strayed,(D)
    I repented;
after I came to understand,
    I beat(E) my breast.
I was ashamed(F) and humiliated
    because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’(G)
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
    the child(H) in whom I delight?
Though I often speak against him,
    I still remember(I) him.
Therefore my heart yearns for him;
    I have great compassion(J) for him,”
declares the Lord.

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