4 Yahweh declares that at a future time, the people of Yisrael and the people of Yehudah,

will join together to go to their god Yahweh with weeping and a desire to worship him. 5 They’ll ask the way to Tsiyyon (Zion) and will set off toward it

to join themselves to Yahweh with a permanent commitment that will never be forgotten.

6 My people have been a lost flock.

Their shepherds have led them astray in the mountains.

They’ve gone from hill to hill.

They went—they’d forgotten the place where they’d lived.

7 Everyone who found them devoured them

and their enemies told themselves that they weren’t guilty

because the people they attacked had sinned against Yahweh who was their true home—

Yahweh, who their ancestors had placed their hope in.

8 You Judeans, leave Babylon.

≈ Get out from the land of the Chaldeans.

Be like male goats that leave ahead of the rest of the flock,[ref]

9 because listen, I’m about to set in motion and raise up a group of powerful nations from the north against Babylon.

They’ll line up against her—Babylon will be captured from there.

Their arrows will be like a skilled warrior who always returns and never empty-handed.