Jeremiah 31:16-17

31:16 The Lord says to her, ¹ 

“Stop crying! Do not shed any more tears! ² 

For your heartfelt repentance ³  will be rewarded.

Your children will return from the land of the enemy.

I, the Lord, affirm it! ⁴ 

31:17 Indeed, there is hope for your posterity. ⁵ 

Your children will return to their own territory.

I, the Lord, affirm it! ⁶ 

[31:16]  ¹ tn The words “to her” are not in the text but are implicit from the context. They are supplied in the translation for clarity.

[31:16]  ² tn Heb “Refrain your voice from crying and your eyes from tears.”

[31:16]  ³ tn Heb “your work.” Contextually her “work” refers to her weeping and refusing to be comforted, that is, signs of genuine repentance (v. 15).

[31:16]  ⁴ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”

[31:17]  ⁵ tn For this nuance for the Hebrew word אַחֲרִית (’akharit) see BDB 31 s.v. אַחֲרִית d and compare usage in Pss 37:38; 109:13. Others translate “your future” but the “future” lies with the return of her descendants, her posterity.

[31:17]  ⁶ tn Heb “Oracle of the Lord.”