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C. Jerusalem Addresses Diaspora

17 What can I do to help you?
18     The one who has brought this evil upon you
    must himself deliver you from your enemies’ hands.(A)
19 Farewell, my children, farewell;
    I am left desolate.
20 I have taken off the garment of peace,
    have put on sackcloth for my prayer of supplication;
    while I live I will cry out to the Eternal One.(B)

21 “Take courage, my children; call upon God;
    he will deliver you from oppression, from enemy hands.(C)
22 I have put my hope for your deliverance in the Eternal One,
    and joy has come to me from the Holy One
Because of the mercy that will swiftly reach you
    from your eternal Savior.
23 With mourning and lament I sent you away,
    but God will give you back to me
    with gladness and joy forever.(D)
24 As Zion’s neighbors lately saw you taken captive,
    so shall they soon see God’s salvation come to you,
    with great glory and the splendor of the Eternal One.(E)

25 “My children, bear patiently the wrath(F)
    that has come upon you from God;
Your enemies have persecuted you,
    but you will soon see their destruction
    and trample upon their necks.[a]
26 My pampered children have trodden rough roads,
    carried off by their enemies like sheep in a raid.(G)
27 Take courage, my children; call out to God!
    The one who brought this upon you will remember you.(H)
28 As your hearts have been disposed to stray from God,
    so turn now ten times the more to seek him;
29 For the one who has brought disaster upon you
    will, in saving you, bring you eternal joy.”(I)

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Footnotes

  1. 4:25 Trample upon their necks: a sign of victory over the enemy (cf. Ps 44:6; Is 14:25). The Israelites considered their enemies to be God’s enemies as well.