Jeremiah 31:13 - Easy To Read Version Then the young women of Israel\par will be happy and dance.\par And the young men and old men\par will join in the dancing.\par I will change their sadness into happiness.\par I will comfort the people of Israel.\par I will change their sadness to happiness.\par Tuilleadh leaganachaKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, both young men and old together: for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Then will the maidens rejoice in the dance, and the young men and old together. For I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them rejoice after their sorrow. American Standard Version (1901) Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, and the young men and the old together; for I will turn their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Common English Bible Then the young women will dance for joy; the young and old men will join in. I will turn their mourning into laughter and their sadness into joy; I will comfort them. Catholic Public Domain Version Then the virgin will rejoice with singing, the young and the old together, and I will turn their mourning into gladness, and I will console them and gladden them after their sorrow. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Then shall the virgin rejoice in the dance, the young men and old men together: and I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and make them joyful after their sorrow. |
They celebrated the Festival of Unleavened Bread {\cf2\super [41]} with much joy for seven days. The Lord made them very happy because he had changed the attitude of the king of Assyria. {\cf2\super [42]} So the king of Assyria had helped them do the work on God’s temple.
The people dedicated the wall of Jerusalem. They brought all the Levites to Jerusalem. The Levites came from the towns they lived in. They came to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem. The Levites came to sing songs of praise and thanks to God. They played their cymbals, {\cf2\super [73]} harps, and lyres. {\cf2\super [74]}
So, on that special day, the priests offered many sacrifices. {\cf2\super [77]} Everyone was very happy. God had made everyone happy. Even the women and children were excited and happy. People far away could hear the happy sounds coming from Jerusalem.
The Jews were to celebrate those days because on those days the Jews got rid of their enemies. And they were also to celebrate that month as the month when their sadness was turned into joy. And it was a month when their crying was changed into a day of celebration. Mordecai wrote letters to all the Jews. He told them to celebrate those days as a happy holiday. They should have parties and give gifts to each other and give presents to poor people.
A person might be sad\par when he plants the seeds,\par but he will be happy\par when he gathers the crops!\par
God made the young men and women.\par God made the old and young people.\par
Let those people praise God by dancing\par and playing their tambourines and harps.\par
\{I prayed and you helped me!\}\par You changed my crying into dancing.\par You took away my clothes of sadness.\par And you wrapped me in happiness.\par
At that time, you will say:\par “I praise you Lord!\par You have been angry at me.\par But don’t be angry with me now!\par Show your love to me.”\par
God will make his people free! And those people will come back to him. The people will be happy when they come into Zion. {\cf2\super [333]} The people will be happy forever. Their happiness will be like a crown on their heads. Their gladness and joy will fill them completely. Sorrow and sadness will be gone far, far away.
The Lord will save his people.\par They will return to Zion {\cf2\super [419]} with joy.\par They will be very, very happy.\par Their happiness will be like\par a crown on their heads forever.\par They will be singing with joy.\par All sadness will be gone far away.\par
\{In the same way,\} the Lord will bless Zion. {\cf2\super [417]} The Lord will feel sorry for her and her people, and he will do a great thing for her. The Lord will change the desert. The desert will become a garden like the garden of Eden. That land was empty, but it will become like the Lord’s Garden. People there will be very, very happy. People there will show their joy. They will sing songs about thanks and victory.
Your ‘sun’ will never go down again.\par Your ‘moon’ will never be dark again.\par Because the Lord will be your light forever.\par And your time of sadness will end.\par
God sent me to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness. God sent me to announce the time when our God will punish evil people. God sent me to comfort sad people.
God sent me to the sad people of Zion. \{I will get them ready for the celebration.\} I will take away the ashes on their head, and I will give them a crown. I will take away their sadness, and I will give them the oil of happiness. I will take away their sorrow, and I will give them celebration clothes. God sent me to name those people ‘Good Trees’ and ‘The Lord’s Wonderful Plant.’
Israel, my bride, I will build you again.\par You will be a country again.\par You will pick up your tambourines again.\par You will dance with all the other people\par that are having fun.\par
There will be sounds of joy and happiness. There will be the happy sounds of a bride and groom. There will be the sounds of people bringing their gifts to the Lord’s temple. {\cf2\super [278]} Those people will say, ‘Praise the Lord All-Powerful! The Lord is good! The Lord’s kindness continues forever!’ The people will say these things because I will again do good things to Judah. It will be like in the beginning.” The Lord said these things.
The Lord All-Powerful says, “You have special days of sadness and fasting in the fourth month, the fifth month, the seventh month, and the tenth month. {\cf2\super [22]} Those days of sadness must be changed into days of happiness. Those will be good and happy holidays. And you must love truth and peace!”
It is the same with you. Now you are sad. But I will see you again and you will be truly happy. You will have a happiness that no one can take away.
Watch for the time during the festival when the young women from Shiloh come out to join the dancing. Then run out from where you are hiding in the vineyards. Each of you should take one of the young women from the city of Shiloh. Take those young women to the land of Benjamin and marry them.