They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.

But I said, How shall I put thee among the children, and give thee a pleasant land, a goodly heritage of the hosts of nations? and I said, Thou shalt call me, My father; and shalt not turn away from me.

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.

For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

For the LORD shall judge his people, and repent himself for his servants, when he seeth that their power is gone, and there is none shut up, or left.

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.

For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

For the Lord will not cast off for ever:

But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel? how shall I make thee as Admah? how shall I set thee as Zeboim? mine heart is turned within me, my repentings are kindled together.

I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.

And Joseph made haste; for his bowels did yearn upon his brother: and he sought where to weep; and he entered into his chamber, and wept there.

Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, Let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.

My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him.

For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

Therefore mine heart shall sound for Moab like pipes, and mine heart shall sound like pipes for the men of Kirheres: because the riches that he hath gotten are perished.

Wherefore my bowels shall sound like an harp for Moab, and mine inward parts for Kirharesh.

Look down from heaven, and behold from the habitation of thy holiness and of thy glory: where is thy zeal and thy strength, the sounding of thy bowels and of thy mercies toward me? are they restrained?

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.