Berean Standard Bible

Jeremiah 31:8-34

8Behold, I will bring them from the land of the north and gather them from the farthest parts of the earth, including the blind and the lame, expectant mothers and women in labor. They will return as a great assembly!

9They will come with weeping,and by their supplication I will lead them;I will make them walk beside streams of waters,on a level path where they will not stumble.For I am Israel’s Father,and Ephraim is My firstborn.”

10Hear, O nations, the word of the LORD,and proclaim it in distant coastlands:

“The One who scattered Israel will gather them and keep themas a shepherd keeps his flock.11For the LORD has ransomed Jacoband redeemed him from the hand that had overpowered him.12They will come and shout for joy on the heights of Zion;they will be radiant over the bounty of the LORD—the grain, new wine, and oil,and the young of the flocks and herds.Their life will be like a well-watered garden,and never again will they languish.

13Then the maidens will rejoice with dancing,young men and old as well.I will turn their mourning into joy,and give them comfort and joy for their sorrow.14I will fill the souls of the priests abundantly,and will fill My people with My goodness,”declares the LORD.

15This is what the LORD says:

“A voice is heard in Ramah,mourning and great weeping,Rachel weeping for her childrenand refusing to be comforted,because they are no more.”1

16This is what the LORD says:

“Keep your voice from weepingand your eyes from tears,for the reward for your work will come,declares the LORD.Then your children will returnfrom the land of the enemy.17So there is hope for your future,declares the LORD,and your children will returnto their own land.

18I have surely heard Ephraim’s2 moaning:

‘You disciplined me severely,like an untrained calf.Restore me, that I may return,for You are the LORD my God.19After I returned, I repented;and after I was instructed, I struck my thigh in grief.I was ashamed and humiliatedbecause I bore the disgrace of my youth.’

20Is not Ephraim a precious son to Me,a delightful child?Though I often speak against him,I still remember him.Therefore My heart yearns for him;3I have great compassion for him,”declares the LORD.21“Set up the road markers,put up the signposts.Keep the highway in mind,the road you have traveled.Return, O Virgin Israel,return to these cities of yours.22How long will you wander,O faithless daughter?For the LORD has created a new thing in the land—a woman will shelter4 a man.”

23This is what the LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, says: “When I restore them from captivity,5 they will once again speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities: ‘May the LORD bless you, O righteous dwelling place, O holy mountain.’ 24And Judah and all its cities will dwell together in the land, the farmers and those who move with the flocks, 25for I will refresh the weary soul and replenish all who are weak.”

26At this I awoke and looked around. My sleep had been most pleasant to me.

27“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will sow the house of Israel and the house of Judah with the seed of man and of beast. 28Just as I watched over them to uproot and tear down, to demolish, destroy, and bring disaster, so I will watch over them to build and to plant,” declares the LORD.

29“In those days, it will no longer be said:

‘The fathers have eaten sour grapes,and the teeth of the children are set on edge.’

30Instead, each will die for his own iniquity. If anyone eats the sour grapes, his own teeth will be set on edge.

31Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD,when I will make a new covenantwith the house of Israeland with the house of Judah.32It will not be like the covenantI made with their fatherswhen I took them by the handto lead them out of the land of Egypt—a covenant they broke,though I was a husband to them,6”declares the LORD.33“But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israelafter those days, declares the LORD.I will put My law in their mindsand inscribe it on their hearts.And I will be their God,and they will be My people.34No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother,saying, ‘Know the LORD,’because they will all know Me,from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.For I will forgive their iniquitiesand will remember their sins no more.”7

Read all of Jeremiah 31

Notes

1. Jeremiah 31:15 Cited in Matthew 2:18 ↩
2. Jeremiah 31:18 That is, the northern kingdom of Israel; also in verse 20 ↩
3. Jeremiah 31:20 Hebrew My bowels yearn for him ↩
4. Jeremiah 31:22 Or will surround or will return to ↩
5. Jeremiah 31:23 Or restore their fortunes ↩
6. Jeremiah 31:32 Hebrew; LXX for they did not abide in My covenant, and I disregarded them; see also Syriac. ↩
7. Jeremiah 31:34 Cited in Hebrews 8:8–12 and Hebrews 10:16–17 ↩

Notes

Commentaries on Jeremiah 31