Thus spoke Adonoy: The people that survived the sword¹⁷ found favour in My eyes; in the desert, on their way to seek rest in the land of Yisrael. From afar, Adonoy appeared to me, saying: I have loved you with everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you to Me with affection. I shall build you again and then shall you be rebuilt, maiden of Yisrael; once again you shall adorn your drums and go forth in the dances of the merry. Once again, you shall plant vineyards in the hills of Samaria; the planters shall plant them and redeem them.¹⁸ Because there will come the day when the watchmen on the mountains of Ephraim will call out: Arise, and let us go up to Tziyon, to Adonoy, our God. For thus spoke Adonoy: Sing joyously for Yaakov and shout joyously from the hilltops of the nations; make it known; praise and proclaim: Adonoy, deliver Your people, the remnant of Yisrael. I shall bring them from the north country¹⁹ and I shall gather them from the ends of the earth; the blind and the lame among them, pregnant women and nursing mothers, together; a large gathering shall return, here.

footnotes: ¹⁷ This refers to the armies of Egypt and Amalek.—Rashi ¹⁸ This refers to the fruits of the fourth year after planting which must be eaten in Yerushalayim or redeemed with money. The money is then spent in Yerushalayim on foodstuff.—Metsudas Dovid ¹⁹ This refers to Babylonia.

They shall come weeping;²⁰ I will lead them with supplications; I will guide them along streams of water, on a straight path upon which they shall not stumble—because I am a Father to Yisrael and Ephraim is my firstborn. Hear the words of Adonoy, you nations, and speak of it in far-off islands and say: He who scattered Yisrael will gather them and He guards them as a shepherd guards his flock. For Adonoy has redeemed Yaakov and freed him from a hand mightier than his (own). And they shall come and sing joyously from the heights of Tziyon and they shall stream towards the goodness of Adonoy; to the corn, the wine, the oil, the sheep and the cattle. And their soul shall be like a well-watered garden and they shall no longer have to worry.

footnotes: ²⁰ Weeping in this sense indicated that they will be moved to tears by their prayers and repentance.—Rashi

Then the maiden shall rejoice in dancing and the young men and the old, together and I will change their mourning into joy and I shall comfort them and make them rejoice from their sorrow. And I shall satiate the souls of the priests with fatness²¹ and My nation shall be satisfied with My goodness, says Adonoy. For thus spoke Adonoy: A voice is heard on high, crying and lamenting bitterly; it is Rachel weeping over her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are gone. For thus spoke Adonoy: Refrain (your voice) from crying and your eyes from shedding tears; for there is a reward for your deeds, said Adonoy; and they shall return from the land of the enemy. And there is hope for your future, said Adonoy; and the sons shall return to their borders.

footnotes: ²¹ During the Exile, the Kohanim were deprived of their share of the sacrifices and tithes. Upon the deliverance of the people, they will again receive their due.

I have heard Ephraim reproaching himself, saying: You have punished me, and I have been chastised, like an untrained calf; bring me back to You and I shall return, for You, Adonoy, are my God. After I repented, I regretted,²² and after I examined myself, I struck my thigh; I am ashamed and disgraced because of the sins of my youth. Ephraim is a precious son to Me; a child in whom I delight. For when I speak of him, I remember him more; therefore I long for him and shall surely have compassion on him, said Adonoy.

footnotes: ²² The sinner regrets the sins of the past.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

our God, King of the Universe,

Rock of all the worlds,

Righteous in all generations,

the Almighty, the Faithful One,

Who says and does,

Who speaks and fulfills,

for all His words are true and right.

Dependable are You, Adonoy, our God,

and dependable are Your words,

and not one of Your words

is ever retracted unfulfilled,

for You are the Almighty,

a King who is dependable and merciful.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

the Almighty

Who is dependable in all His words.

Have compassion on Tziyon

for it is the home of our life,

and the one whose soul is humiliated,²³

footnotes: ²³ This is the People of Yisrael, which is humiliated in exile. According to Avudraham and the siddur of Rav Amram Gaon, the text reads: וְלַעֲגוּמַת נֶפֶשׁ which would mean “the one whose soul is grieved.”

deliver speedily, in our days.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Who causes Tziyon to rejoice

with her children.

Cause us to rejoice, Adonoy, our God,

with Elijah the prophet, Your servant,

and with the kingdom of the House of Dovid,

Your anointed.

Speedily may he come

and cause our heart to exult.

Upon his throne, no stranger²⁴ shall sit,

footnotes: ²⁴ “Stranger” in this context means anyone not of the seed of Dovid.

and others will no longer inherit

his honor.

For by Your Holy Name,

You swore to him,

that his light will never be extinguished.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

Shield of Dovid.

For the Torah, for the Divine Service

for the Prophets,

(and for this Sabbath Day)

and for this Day of Remembrance

which You gave us, Adonoy, our God,

(for holiness and for rest,)

for honor and for glory.

For all this, Adonoy, our God,

we thank You,

and bless You;

blessed be Your Name

by the mouth of all the living

continually forever.

and Your word is true and enduring forever.

Blessed are You, Adonoy,

King over all the earth,

Sanctifier

(of the Sabbath and)

of Yisrael and the Day of Remembrance.