20. Aren't the people of Ephraim my dear children? Aren't they the children I take delight in? I often speak against them. But I still remember them. So my heart longs for them. I love them with a tender love," announces the Lord.
21. The Lord says, "Put up road signs. Set up stones to show the way. Look carefully for the highway. Look for the road you will take. Return, people of Israel. Return to your towns.
22. How long will you wander, you people who are not faithful to me? I will create a new thing on earth. A woman will guard a man."
23. The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, "I will bring them back from the place where they were taken. The people in Judah and its towns will say once again, 'Holy temple in Jerusalem, may the Lord bless you. Sacred mountain, may he bless you.'
24. "People will live together in Judah and all of its towns. Farmers and shepherds will live there.
25. I will give rest to those who are tired. I will satisfy those who are weak."
26. When I heard that, I woke up and looked around. My sleep had been pleasant.
27. The Lord announces, "The days are coming when I will plant the nation of Israel and Judah again. I will plant it with children and young animals.
28. "I watched over Israel and Judah to pull them up by the roots. I tore them down. I crushed them. I destroyed them. I brought horrible trouble on them. But now I will watch over them to build them up and plant them," announces the Lord.