Jeremiah Chapter 31

¹ “At that time,” Yahveh says,

“I’ll be the God of every family in Israel,

       and they’ll be my people.

                  ²The people that survived the sword

      found grace in the desert

      when Israel was looking for rest.”

³ Yahveh appeared to him from afar and said,

      “I’ve loved you with enduring love;

      so I’ve drawn you with lovingkindness.

⁴ I’ll rebuild you, virgin of Israel!

      You’ll pick up your tambourines again

      and join the dance.

⁵ You’ll plant your vineyards on Samaria’s hills again;

      you that plant them will enjoy them.

⁶ There’ll be a time when watchmen

         on the hilltops in Ephraim will call out,

      ‘Let’s go up to Zion to Yahveh our God.’”                     

Jer 31:1-6

⁷ Yahveh says,

“Sing out loud with happiness for Jacob;

      shout among the chiefs of the nations.

Proclaim, give praise, and say,

      ‘Yahveh, save the remnant of Israel.’

⁸ I’ll bring them from the north country;

      I’ll gather them from the remote parts of the world,

            the blind and lame among them,

            the pregnant,

             and those in labor—

      that large company will come back here.

⁹ They’ll come weeping,

      and I’ll be leading them with consolation;

I’ll make them walk by streams

      on a straight path where they won’t stumble;

I’m Israel’s father;

      Ephraim’s my firstborn.”                                                

Jer 31:7-9

¹⁰ Nations, listen to a message from Yahveh

      and announce it in distant lands:

“The One that scattered Israel will gather him

      and keep him like a shepherd keeps his flock.”

¹¹ Yahveh has ransomed Jacob,

      redeemed him from someone stronger than he is.

¹² “They’ll come and shout for joy on Zion’s hill,

         and be radiant over the bounty from Yahveh—

            the grain, new wine, and olive oil;

            the young in the flock and herd;

      they’ll thrive like a watered garden

            and never wilt again.

¹³ The virgins will celebrate in the dance;

      the young men and old will celebrate together.

I’ll turn your mourning into joy,

      comfort you, and replace sorrow with happiness.

¹⁴ I’ll fill the soul of the priests with abundance;

      my goodness will be satisfying to my people.”              

Jer 31:10-14

¹⁵ Yahveh says,

      “A sound was heard in Ramah,

                  weeping and bitter crying,

                  Rachel weeping for her children;

                                    she couldn’t be consoled,

                                    because they were gone.”                                                               

Jer 31:15

¹⁶ Yahveh says,

                  “Don’t cry or shed tears;

                  your work will be rewarded.

            They’ll come back from their enemy’s land.

         ¹⁷There’s hope for your future;

            your children will return to their own land.

         ¹⁸I’ve heard Ephraim moaning,

                        ‘You’ve disciplined me like an untrained calf.

                  Bring me back so I can be restored

                        because you’re Yahveh my God.

                           ¹⁹After I turned around, I repented;

                        after I was instructed, I struck my thigh.

                  I was ashamed and humiliated

                        because I carried the disgrace of my youth.’

         ²⁰Is Ephraim my dear son,

            my delightful child?

      As often as I’ve spoken against him,

            I’ll still remember him.

      My heart yearns to have mercy on him.                          

Jer 31:16-20

         ²¹“Set up road signs, erect guideposts;

                  look at the highway you used when you left.

      Come, virgin of Israel;

            come back to your cities.

         ²²How long will you wander around,

            unfaithful daughter?

      Yahveh has created a new thing in the world—

            a woman protecting a man.”

Jer 31:21-22

²³ Yahveh of Hosts, the God of Israel, says, “They’ll speak this message again in Judah’s towns when I restore their fortunes:

         ‘Yahveh bless you, righteous home, holy hill!’

²⁴ Judah’s townspeople, farmers and herdsmen will live in harmony. ²⁵ I’ll satisfy the weary and refresh the fainting.”              

Jer 31:23-25

²⁶ Then I woke up; my sleep was pleasant.

²⁷ “The time’s coming when I’ll sow Israel and Judah with people and animals. ²⁸ As I’ve watched over them to pull up, tear down, overthrow, destroy, and bring disaster; so I’ll watch over them to plant and build. ²⁹ They won’t say anymore,

                  ‘The parents ate sour grapes,

            and the children’s mouths puckered.’

³⁰ Everybody will die for their own sin. Those who eat sour grapes will be the ones whose mouths pucker.           

³¹ “The time’s coming,” Yahveh says, “when I’ll make a new covenant with Israel and Judah. ³² It won’t be like the one I made with their ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. They broke that covenant even though I was a husband to them. ³³ I’ll make this kind of covenant with them: I’ll put my Law inside them; I’ll write it on their heart. I’ll be their God and they’ll be my people. ³⁴ No one will be teaching their brother and fellow citizen to know Yahveh, because they’ll all know me from least to greatest. I’ll forgive their sin; I won’t keep it in mind anymore.”

Jer 31:26-34

                  ³⁵Yahveh says—

                            who provides the sun to light the day

                        and the moon and stars for light at night,

                  who makes the sea roar,

                        whose name is Yahveh of Hosts—

            ³⁶ “If this fixed order can disappear,

                  then Israel’s offspring can disappear

                        from being a nation that serves me.

            ³⁷ If the sky above can be measured   

                           and the earth’s foundations can be explored,

            then I can throw away Israel’s offspring

                  for everything they’ve done.                                            

Jer 31:35-37

                  ³⁸“The time’s coming,” Yahveh says, “when the city will be rebuilt for me from the Tower of Hananel to the Corner Gate. ³⁹ The measuring line will go out farther straight ahead to the hill Gareb and then turn to Goah. ⁴⁰ The whole valley of dead bodies and ashes, the fields over to the Brook Kidron to the corner of the Horse Gate on the east—will be sacred to me, never again uprooted or thrown down.”

Jer 31:38-40