Daily Bible CEV July 17 Verses

The LORD Offers Hope

¹⁵In Ramah a voice is heard, crying and weeping loudly.

Rachel mourns for her children

and refuses to be comforted, because they are dead.

^*16But I, the LORD, say to dry your tears.

Someday your children will come home

from the enemy's land.

Then all you have done for them will be greatly rewarded.

¹⁷So don't lose hope.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

¹⁸The people of Israel moan and say to me,

"We were like wild bulls, but you, LORD, broke us,

and we learned to obey.

You are our God-- please let us come home.

¹⁹When we were young, we strayed and sinned,

but then we realized what we had done.

We are ashamed and disgraced and want to return to you."

²⁰People of Israel, you are my own dear children.

Don't I love you best of all?

Though I often make threats, I want you to be near me,

so I will have mercy on you.

I, the LORD, have spoken.

²¹With rock piles and signposts, mark the way home,

my dear people.

It is the same road by which you left.

²²Will you ever decide to be faithful?

I will make sure that someday things will be different,

as different as a woman protecting a man.

The LORD Will Bring Judah Home

²³The LORD All-Powerful, the God of Israel, said:

I promise to set the people of Judah free and to lead them back to their hometowns. And when I do, they will once again say,

"We pray that the LORD will bless his home,

the sacred hill in Jerusalem where his temple stands."

²⁴The people will live in Jerusalem and in the towns of Judah. Some will be farmers, and others will be shepherds. ²⁵Those who feel tired and worn out will find new life and energy, ²⁶and when they sleep, they will wake up refreshed.

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