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13 Sing for joy, O heavens!
    Rejoice, O earth!
    Burst into song, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted his people
    and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

14 Yet Jerusalem[a] says, “The Lord has deserted us;
    the Lord has forgotten us.”

15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?
    Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?
But even if that were possible,
    I would not forget you!
16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
    Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.
17 Soon your descendants will come back,
    and all who are trying to destroy you will go away.
18 Look around you and see,
    for all your children will come back to you.
As surely as I live,” says the Lord,
    “they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display.

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Footnotes

  1. 49:14 Hebrew Zion.

13 Shout for joy,(A) you heavens;
    rejoice, you earth;(B)
    burst into song, you mountains!(C)
For the Lord comforts(D) his people
    and will have compassion(E) on his afflicted ones.(F)

14 But Zion(G) said, “The Lord has forsaken(H) me,
    the Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast
    and have no compassion on the child(I) she has borne?
Though she may forget,
    I will not forget you!(J)
16 See, I have engraved(K) you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls(L) are ever before me.
17 Your children hasten back,
    and those who laid you waste(M) depart from you.
18 Lift up your eyes and look around;
    all your children gather(N) and come to you.
As surely as I live,(O)” declares the Lord,
    “you will wear(P) them all as ornaments;
    you will put them on, like a bride.

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