I appeared to them from far away. People of Israel, I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love.

Once again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria, and those who plant them will eat what the vineyards produce.

The LORD says, "Sing with joy for Israel, the greatest of the nations. Sing your song of praise, 'The LORD has saved his people; he has rescued all who are left.'

My people will return weeping, praying as I lead them back. I will guide them to streams of water, on a smooth road where they will not stumble. I am like a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my oldest son."

I have set Israel's people free and have saved them from a mighty nation.

I will take them out of foreign countries, gather them together, and bring them back to their own land. I will lead them back to the mountains and the streams of Israel and will feed them in pleasant pastures.

how you yourself drove out the heathen and established your people in their land; how you punished the other nations and caused your own to prosper.

They are like trees planted in the house of the LORD, that flourish in the Temple of our God,

To give to those who mourn in Zion Joy and gladness instead of grief, A song of praise instead of sorrow. They will be like trees That the LORD himself has planted. They will all do what is right, And God will be praised for what he has done.

I will watch over them and bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not pull them up.

I will take pleasure in doing good things for them, and I will establish them permanently in this land.

Your wisdom and skill made you rich with treasures of gold and silver.

But from now on it will no longer eat people and rob you of your children. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken.

The land will no longer have to listen to the nations making fun of it or see the peoples sneer at it. The land will no longer rob the nation of its children. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken."

They will live on the land I gave to my servant Jacob, the land where their ancestors lived. They will live there forever, and so will their children and all their descendants. A king like my servant David will rule them forever.

I will plant my people on the land I gave them, and they will not be pulled up again." The LORD your God has spoken.

He will wipe away all tears from their eyes. There will be no more death, no more grief or crying or pain. The old things have disappeared."

His enemies will never succeed against him; the wicked will not defeat him.

At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God.

Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger.

Do not let anyone deceive you with foolish words; it is because of these very things that God's anger will come upon those who do not obey him.

"Those who will rebuild you are coming soon, and those who destroyed you will leave.

The sounds of violence will be heard no more; Destruction will not shatter your country again. I will protect and defend you like a wall; You will praise me because I have saved you.

and made their lives miserable by forcing them into cruel slavery. They made them work on their building projects and in their fields, and they had no pity on them.

(SEE 1:13)

Years later the king of Egypt died, but the Israelites were still groaning under their slavery and cried out for help. Their cry went up to God,