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! c
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of the married woman,” d
says the LORD.
2 “Enlarge the site of your tent,
and let your tent curtains be stretched out; e
do not hold back;
lengthen your ropes,
and drive your pegs deep.
3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left, f
and your descendants will dispossess nations
and inhabit the desolate cities.
4 “Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; g
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. h
5 Indeed, your husband is your Maker i—
his name is the LORD of Armies—
and the Holy One of Israel j is your Redeemer; k
he is called the God of the whole earth.
6 For the LORD has called you,
like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, l
a wife of one’s youth m when she is rejected,”
says your God.
7 “I deserted you for a brief moment, n
but I will take you back with abundant compassion.
I hid my face o from you for a moment,
but I will have compassion on you
with everlasting love,” p
says the LORD your Redeemer.
9 “For this is like the days J of Noah to me:
when I swore that the water of Noah
would never flood the earth again, q
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
or rebuke you. r
and the hills shake,
my love will not be removed from you
and my covenant of peace s will not be shaken,”
says your compassionate LORD.
11 “Poor Jerusalem, storm-tossed, and not comforted,
I will set your stones in black mortar, K
and lay your foundations in lapis lazuli. t
12 I will make your fortifications L out of rubies,
your gates out of sparkling stones,
and all your walls out of precious stones.
13 Then all your children will be taught by the LORD, u
their prosperity will be great,
14 and 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.
it is not from me;
whoever attacks you
will fall before you.
16 Look, 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.
17 No weapon formed against you will succeed,
and you will refute any accusation M
raised against you in court.
This is the heritage of the LORD’S servants, v
and their vindication is from me.” w
This is the LORD’S declaration.