Isaiah 49:14-21

GOD’S WORD Translation

¹⁵ Can a woman forget her nursing child?
Will she have no compassion on the child from her womb?
Although mothers may forget,
I will not forget you.
¹⁶ I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.
Your walls are always in my presence.
¹⁷ Your children will hurry back.
Those who destroyed you and laid waste to you will leave you.
¹⁸ Look up, look around, and watch!
All of your children are gathering together and returning to you.
“I solemnly swear as I live,” declares the Lord,
“you will wear all of them like jewels
and display them on yourself as a bride would.”

¹⁹ Though you are destroyed and demolished and your land is in ruins,
you will be too crowded for ⌞your⌟ people now.
Those who devoured you will be long gone.
²⁰ The children taken from you will say to you,
“This place is too crowded for me.
Make room for me to live here.”
²¹ Then you will ask yourself,
“Who has fathered these ⌞children⌟ for me?
I was childless and unable to have children.
I was exiled and rejected.
Who raised these ⌞children for me⌟?
I was left alone.
Where have they come from?”