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1Sing and shout,[#Ga 4.27.]
even though you have never
had children!
The Lord has promised that you
will have more children
than someone married
for a long time.
2Make your tents larger!
Spread out the tent pegs;
fasten them firmly.
3You and your descendants
will take over the land
of other nations.
You will settle in towns
that are now in ruins.
4Don't be afraid or ashamed
and don't be discouraged.
You won't be disappointed.
Forget how sinful you were
when you were young;
stop feeling ashamed
for being left a widow.
5The Lord All-Powerful,
the Holy God of Israel,
rules all the earth.
He is your Creator and husband,
and he will rescue you.
6You were like a young wife,
brokenhearted and crying
because her husband
had divorced her.
But the Lord your God says,
“I am taking you back!
7I rejected you for a while,
but with love and tenderness
I will embrace you again.
8For a while, I turned away
in furious anger.
Now I will have mercy
and love you forever!
I, your protector and Lord ,
make this promise.”
9I once promised Noah that I[#Gn 9.8-17.]
would never again destroy
the earth by a flood.
Now I have promised that I
will never again get angry
and punish you.
10Every mountain and hill[#Jdt 16.15.]
may disappear.
But I will always be kind
and merciful to you;
I won't break my agreement
to give your nation peace.
11Jerusalem, you are sad[#Rev 21.18-21.; #Tb 13.16,17.]
and discouraged,
tossed around in a storm.
But I, the Lord ,
will rebuild your city
with precious stones;
for your foundation
I will use blue sapphires.
12Your fortresses[#54.12 One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.]
will be built of rubies,
your gates of jewels,
and your walls of gems.
13I will teach your children[#Jn 6.45.]
and make them successful.
14You will be built on fairness
with no fears of injustice;
every one of your worries
will be taken far from you.
15I will never send anyone
to attack your city,
and you will make prisoners
of those who do attack.
16Don't forget that I created
metalworkers who make weapons
over burning coals.
I also created armies
that can bring destruction.
17Weapons made to attack you
won't be successful;
words spoken against you
won't hurt at all.
My servants, Jerusalem is yours!
I, the Lord , promise
to bless you with victory.