Olam 2

Thus saith the LORD; A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, <i>and</i> bitter weeping; Rahel weeping for her children refused to be comforted for her children, because they <i>were</i> not.

Thus saith the LORD; Refrain thy voice from weeping, and thine eyes from tears: for thy work shall be rewarded, saith the LORD; and they shall come again from the land of the enemy.

And there is hope in thine end, saith the LORD, that thy children shall come again to their own border.

I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself <i>thus</i>; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed <i>to the yoke</i>: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou <i>art</i> the LORD my God.

Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon <i>my</i> thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

<i>Is</i> Ephraim my dear son? <i>is he</i> a pleasant child? for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Set thee up waymarks, make thee high heaps: set thine heart toward the highway, <i>even</i> the way <i>which</i> thou wentest: turn again, O virgin of Israel, turn again to these thy cities.

How long wilt thou go about, O thou backsliding daughter? for the LORD hath created a new thing in the earth, A woman shall compass a man.

Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; As yet they shall use this speech in the land of Judah and in the cities thereof, when I shall bring again their captivity; The LORD bless thee, O habitation of justice, <i>and</i> mountain of holiness.

And there shall dwell in Judah itself, and in all the cities thereof together, husbandmen, and they <i>that</i> go forth with flocks.