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54 “Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth;
    break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who didn’t travail with child:
    for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Yahweh.
“Enlarge the place of your tent,
    and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations;
    don’t spare: lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out on the right hand and on the left;
    and your offspring will possess the nations
    and settle in desolate cities.

“Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed.
    Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed.
For you will forget the shame of your youth.
    You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.
For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name.
    The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer.
    He will be called the God of the whole earth.
For Yahweh has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
    even a wife of youth, when she is cast off,” says your God.

“For a small moment I have forsaken you,
    but I will gather you with great mercies.
In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment,
    but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer.

“For this is like the waters of Noah to me;
    for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth,
    so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
10 For the mountains may depart,
    and the hills be removed;
but my loving kindness will not depart from you,
    and my covenant of peace will not be removed,”
    says Yahweh who has mercy on you.

11 “You afflicted, tossed with storms, and not comforted,
    behold, I will set your stones in beautiful colors,
    and lay your foundations with sapphires.
12 I will make your pinnacles of rubies,
    your gates of sparkling jewels,
    and all your walls of precious stones.
13 All your children will be taught by Yahweh;
    and your children’s peace will be great.
14 You will be established in righteousness.
    You will be far from oppression,
    for you will not be afraid,
    and far from terror,
    for it shall not come near you.
15 Behold, they may gather together, but not by me.
    Whoever gathers together against you will fall because of you.

16 “Behold, I have created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame,
    and forges a weapon for his work;
    and I have created the destroyer to destroy.
17 No weapon that is formed against you will prevail;
    and you will condemn every tongue that rises against you in judgment.
This is the heritage of Yahweh’s servants,
    and their righteousness is of me,” says Yahweh.

Future Glory for Jerusalem

54 “Sing, O childless woman,
    you who have never given birth!
Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem,
    you who have never been in labor.
For the desolate woman now has more children
    than the woman who lives with her husband,”
    says the Lord.
“Enlarge your house; build an addition.
    Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
    Your descendants will occupy other nations
    and resettle the ruined cities.

“Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
    Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.
You will no longer remember the shame of your youth
    and the sorrows of widowhood.
For your Creator will be your husband;
    the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
    the God of all the earth.
For the Lord has called you back from your grief—
    as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,”
    says your God.
“For a brief moment I abandoned you,
    but with great compassion I will take you back.
In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
    But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
    says the Lord, your Redeemer.

“Just as I swore in the time of Noah
    that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
    that I will never again be angry and punish you.
10 For the mountains may move
    and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
    My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
    says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

11 “O storm-battered city,
    troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
    and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
12 I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,
    your gates of shining gems,
    and your walls of precious stones.
13 I will teach all your children,
    and they will enjoy great peace.
14 You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.
    Your enemies will stay far away.
You will live in peace,
    and terror will not come near.
15 If any nation comes to fight you,
    it is not because I sent them.
    Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.

16 “I have created the blacksmith
    who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
    And I have created the armies that destroy.
17 But in that coming day
    no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
    raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
    their vindication will come from me.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!