Jeremiah 31:18

Repentance Prayer New life and rebirth Humility

¹⁶ 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.

¹⁷ 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 thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.

¹⁹ Surely after that I was turned, I repented; and after that I was instructed, I smote upon my thigh: I was ashamed, yea, even confounded, because I did bear the reproach of my youth.

²⁰ Is Ephraim my dear son? is he 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.

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning: ‘You disciplined me severely, like an untrained calf. Restore me, that I may return, for You are the LORD my God.
KJV: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself thus; Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a bullock unaccustomed to the yoke: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God.
WEB: “I have surely heard Ephraim grieving thus, ‘You have chastised me, and I was chastised, as an untrained calf. Turn me, and I will be turned, for you are the LORD my God.
ASV: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus], Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised, as a calf unaccustomed [to the yoke]: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.
DARBY: I have indeed heard Ephraim bemoaning himself [thus]: Thou hast chastised me, and I was chastised as a bullock not trained: turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art Jehovah my God.
BLB: I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: ‘You disciplined me, and I was disciplined as an untrained heifer; turn me back and I will return, for You [are] YHWH my God.

ÅB: Jeg har hørt Efra'im klage: Du har tuktet meg, ja, jeg ble tuktet som en utemmet kalv; omvend meg du, så blir jeg omvendt, du er jo Herren min Gud.
OTB: "Jeg har sannelig hørt Efraim sørge, 'Du disiplinerte meg som en uregjerlig kalv, og jeg har blitt rettet. Gjenopprett meg, og jeg vil vende tilbake, for du er Herren min Gud.'"
B1930: Jeg har hørt Efra'im klage: Du har tuktet mig, ja, jeg blev tuktet som en utemmet kalv; omvend mig du, så blir jeg omvendt, du er jo Herren min Gud.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

Jeremiah 31:9
They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.
Read in context
Psalms 80:3
Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.
Read in context
Job 5:17
Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Read in context
Isaiah 9:13
For the people turneth not unto him that smiteth them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
Read in context
Jeremiah 17:14
Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.
Read in context
Jeremiah 3:21–22
A voice was heard upon the high places, weeping and supplications of the children of Israel: for they have perverted their way, and they have forgotten the LORD their God.
Read in context
Lamentations 5:21
Turn thou us unto thee, O LORD, and we shall be turned; renew our days as of old.
Read in context
Hosea 5:15–6:2
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face: in their affliction they will seek me early.
Read in context