“I have held My peace a long time,I have been still and restrained Myself.Now I will cry like a woman in labor,I will pant and gasp at once.

He will feed His flock like a shepherd;He will gather the lambs with His arm,And carry them in His bosom,And gently lead those who are with young.

Fear not, for I am with you;Be not dismayed, for I am your God.I will strengthen you,Yes, I will help you,I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

All your children shall be taught by the Lord,And great shall be the peace of your children.

But those who wait on the LordShall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles,They shall run and not be weary,They shall walk and not faint.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;Before you were born I sanctified you;I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,Because His compassions fail not.

For the Lord will not cast off forever.

“I taught Ephraim to walk,Taking them by their arms;But they did not know that I healed them.