16. Thus says the Lord, "Restrain your voice from weeping And your eyes from tears; For your work will be rewarded," declares the Lord, "And they will return from the land of the enemy.
17. "There is hope for your future," declares the Lord, "And your children will return to their own territory.
18. "I have surely heard Ephraim grieving, 'You have chastised me, and I was chastised, Like an untrained calf; Bring me back that I may be restored, For You are the Lord my God.
19. 'For after I turned back, I repented; And after I was instructed, I smote on my thigh; I was ashamed and also humiliated Because I bore the reproach of my youth.'
20. "Is Ephraim My dear son? Is he a delightful child? Indeed, as often as I have spoken against him, I certainly still remember him; Therefore My heart yearns for him; I will surely have mercy on him," declares the Lord.
21. "Set up for yourself roadmarks, Place for yourself guideposts; Direct your mind to the highway, The way by which you went. Return, O virgin of Israel, Return to these your cities.
22. "How long will you go here and there, O faithless daughter? For the Lord has created a new thing in the earth- A woman will encompass a man."
23. Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, "Once again they will speak this word in the land of Judah and in its cities when I restore their fortunes, 'The Lord bless you, O abode of righteousness, O holy hill!'
24. Judah and all its cities will dwell together in it, the farmer and they who go about with flocks.
25. For I satisfy the weary ones and refresh everyone who languishes."
26. At this I awoke and looked, and my sleep was pleasant to me.