He told me to go and say to Israel, "Unfaithful Israel, come back to me. I am merciful and will not be angry; I will not be angry with you forever.

Instead, they will swear by me as the living God who brought the people of Israel out of a northern land and out of all the other countries where I had scattered them. Then they will live in their own land."

Yes, I say, you will find me, and I will restore you to your land. I will gather you from every country and from every place to which I have scattered you, and I will bring you back to the land from which I had sent you away into exile. I, the LORD, have spoken.'

and has brought you back from foreign countries, from east and west, from north and south.

The LORD said to his people, "I scattered you in all directions. But now, you exiles, escape from Babylonia and return to Jerusalem.

You answer us by giving us victory, and you do wonderful things to save us. People all over the world and across the distant seas trust in you.

He kept his promise to the people of Israel with loyalty and constant love for them. All people everywhere have seen the victory of our God.

I will tell the north to let them go and the south not to hold them back. Let my people return from distant lands, from every part of the world.

"Turn to me now and be saved, people all over the world! I am the only God there is.

The LORD will use his holy power; he will save his people, and all the world will see it.

I will show you my power and my anger when I gather you together and bring you back from all the countries where you have been scattered.

After I bring you out of the countries where you have been scattered and gather you together, I will accept the sacrifices that you burn, and the nations will see that I am holy.

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.

He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.

"I will lead my blind people by roads they have never traveled. I will turn their darkness into light and make rough country smooth before them. These are my promises, and I will keep them without fail.

"I will look for those that are lost, bring back those that wander off, bandage those that are hurt, and heal those that are sick; but those that are fat and strong I will destroy, because I am a shepherd who does what is right.

"The time is coming," says the LORD, "when I will gather together the people I punished, those who have suffered in exile.

The time is coming! I will punish your oppressors; I will rescue all the lame and bring the exiles home. I will turn their shame to honor, and all the world will praise them.

He will not break off a bent reed, nor put out a flickering lamp. He will persist until he causes justice to triumph,

After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Lord," he answered, "you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Take care of my lambs."

Suppose a person whose conscience is weak in this matter sees you, who have so-called "knowledge," eating in the temple of an idol; will not this encourage him to eat food offered to idols?

We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin.

Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees!