Future Glory for Israel

1“Rejoice, childless one, who did not give birth;

burst into song and shout,

you who have not been in labor!a

For the children of the desolate one will be more

than the children of the married woman,”b

says the Lord.

2“Enlarge the site of your tent,

and let your tent curtains be stretched out;a

do not hold back;

lengthen your ropes,

and drive your pegs deep.

3For you will spread out to the right and to the left,a

and your descendants will dispossess nations

and inhabit the desolate cities.

4“Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame;a

don’t be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced.

For you will forget the shame of your youth,

and you will no longer remember

the disgrace of your widowhood.b

5Indeed, your husband is your Makera —

his name is the Lord of Armies —

and the Holy One of Israelb is your Redeemer;c

he is called the God of the whole earth.

6For the Lord has called you,

like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit,a

a wife of one’s youthb when she is rejected,”

says your God.

7“I deserted you for a brief moment,a

but I will take you back with abundant compassion.

8In a surge of anger

I hid my facea from you for a moment,

but I will have compassion on you

with everlasting love,”b

says the Lord your Redeemer.

9“For this is like the daysA of Noah to me:

when I swore that the water of Noah

would never flood the earth again,a

so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you

or rebuke you.b

10Though the mountains move

and the hills shake,

my love will not be removed from you

and my covenant of peacea will not be shaken,”

says your compassionate Lord.

11“Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted,

I will set your stones in black mortar,A

and lay your foundations in lapis lazuli.a

12I will make your fortificationsA out of rubies,

your gates out of sparkling stones,

and all your walls out of precious stones.

13Then all your children will be taught by the Lord,a

their prosperity will be great,

14and you will be established

on a foundation of righteousness.

You will be far from oppression,

you will certainly not be afraid;

you will be far from terror,

it will certainly not come near you.

15If anyone attacks you,

it is not from me;

whoever attacks you

will fall before you.

16Look, I have created the craftsman

who blows on the charcoal fire

and produces a weapon suitable for its task;

and I have created the destroyer to cause havoc.

17No weapon formed against you will succeed,

and you will refute any accusationA

raised against you in court.

This is the heritage of the Lord’s servants,a

and their vindication is from me.”b

This is the Lord’s declaration.