¹⁴ But the city of Zion said, “The Lord has deserted me.
    The Lord has forgotten me.”

¹⁵ The Lord answers, “Can a mother forget the baby
    who is nursing at her breast?
Can she stop having tender love
    for the child who was born to her?
She might forget her child.
    But I will not forget you.
¹⁶ I have written your name on the palms of my hands.
    Your walls are never out of my sight.
¹⁷ Your people will hurry back.
    Those who destroyed you so completely will leave you.
¹⁸ Look up. Look all around you.
    All your people are getting together
    to come back to you.
You can be sure that I live,”
    announces the Lord.
“And you can be just as sure that your people
    will be like decorations you will wear.
    Like a bride, you will wear them proudly.

¹⁹ “Zion, you were destroyed. Your land was left empty.
    It was turned into a dry and empty desert.
But now you will be too small to hold all your people.
    And those who destroyed you will be far away.
²⁰ The children born during your time of sorrow
    will speak to you. They will say,
‘This city is too small for us.
    Give us more space to live in.’
²¹ Then you will say to yourself,
    ‘Whose children are these?
I lost my children.
    And I couldn’t have any more.
My children were taken far away from me.
    And no one wanted them.
    Who brought these children up?
I was left all alone.
    So where have these children come from?’ ”